JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s population increased to nearly 8.2 million, according to figures released just ahead of Israel Independence Day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut.

The population grew by 2 percent, about 157,000 people, according to the report released Thursday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Jews make up 75 percent of the population, or 6.135 million people. Arabs are 20.7 percent, or 1.694 million people.

About 178,000 babies were born in the last year and about 42,000 deaths were reported. In addition, some 24,000 people moved to Israel in the last year.

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