Census Puts Jerusalem At 870,000 People, 1,000,000 Hair Salons

Hair salon growth has spiked in the last twenty years, overtaking the population at around the turn of the millennium.

Jerusalem, February 27 – Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released new data on the population of the country’s capital and largest city today, placing the population at over 800,000 and the number of hair styling establishments at just under a million.

The Bureau issued the statistics as a prelude to a more formal annual ritual that takes place in May or June to celebrate the city and its reunification in 1967. Demographers expect slight increases in both numbers by then, but the population currently stands at about 870,000 people, alongside 997,000 hair salons and studios. Both numbers represent an increase of one-third over a decade ago.

Hair salon growth has spiked in the last twenty years, overtaking the population at around the turn of the millennium. Demographers at the Bureau of Statistics note that both numbers would be much higher, but for economic factors that limit the growth of both human population and the number of hair care establishments.

“Both sectors show remarkable growth, given the challenges,” observed Shuki Zikri, Chief Demographer at the Bureau. “Rents have increased for most residential locations, and commercial rents have gone through the roof – but that hasn’t stopped these two groups from continuing their rise.”

Zikri elaborated that different factors have been driving the separate increases. “The human population increase in Jerusalem is as strong as it is because of Haredi and Arab birth rates,” he explained. “And the hair styling establishment increase has occurred primarily in the center of town, in shopping centers, and where older, less-gentrified businesses once stood.”

The increases in both groups have some municipal leaders worried about density, infrastructure, and wider social implications. “A diverse Jerusalem is a healthy Jerusalem,” noted Mayor Nir Barkat. “We still have much work to do toward maintaining the variegated ethnic fabric of this place. That means welcoming the burgeoning growth among Haredi and Arab Jerusalemites, while also implementing policies that invite and retain other populations. Hair salons are an integral part of Jerusalem’s makeup, as well as an indicator of the state of higher education in this city, and, indirectly, an indicator of how many people want Japanese hair-straightening or dyeing. Incidentally, how does mine look? You couldn’t even tell, right? That’s Asaf’s work. He just opened a place on the ground level at City Hall. No, not that one – three hair stylists over from that. Right. Just a wizard, I’m telling you.”

The report also noted that Hair salons overtook coffee shops as the dominant entity in Jerusalem last year.

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