To view the full message, click here.

To view this message as a PDF file, click here.

graphs and data

  • The economy’s outstanding liabilities to abroad increased by approximately $6 billion (about 0.8 percent) in the first quarter, to about $658 billion at the end of the quarter. During the quarter, nonresidents’ direct investments in Israel, including in share capital, increased relative to the previous 4 quarters. At the same time, the prices of Israeli securities held by nonresidents increased.
  • In the first quarter of 2026, the balance of assets held abroad by Israeli residents declined by approximately $5 billion (about 0.5 percent), to about $909 billion at the end of March. The decline in the balance was mainly due to price declines and net realizations of foreign securities by Israeli residents.
  • During the first quarter, there were a number of large-scale transactions that affected both assets and liabilities, including transfers between various investment channels. These transactions led to a decline in financial investments and an increase in direct investments by foreign residents in the economy. They also led to a decrease in direct investments by Israeli residents abroad.
  • The surplus of assets over liabilities vis-à-vis abroad declined by $11 billion (4 percent) during the first quarter of 2026, to about $250 billion at the end of the quarter.
  • The surplus of assets over liabilities vis-à-vis abroad in debt instruments alone (negative net external debt) declined by about $5 billion (1.5 percent) during the fourth quarter, to approximately $325 billion at the end of March.
  • The ratio of gross external debt to GDP (in dollar terms) increased by 0.3 percentage points in the first quarter, to about 27 percent at the end of March.