Jerusalem District

Jerusalem District (population 1.24 million) is Israel's capital administrative region—a territory centered on Jerusalem, the country's largest and most populous city (966,000 residents) and its designated capital. The district presents one of the highest population densities at 4,912 people per square mile, concentrated in the Jerusalem metropolitan area and the rapidly growing city of Beit Shemesh. The Jerusalem municipality encompasses the Old City with sites sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, alongside modern government institutions and the Hebrew University. The district's demographics differ significantly from coastal Israel: it has a higher proportion of Orthodox Jewish residents and a substantial Arab population, creating distinct political and social dynamics. Foreign diplomatic missions largely remain in Tel Aviv despite Jerusalem's capital status, reflecting ongoing international disputes. The satellite towns of Beit Shemesh and Mevaseret Zion have absorbed population growth as Jerusalem's housing costs and density pushed middle-class families outward.