Large pockets of children living in poverty were found in Bnei Brak (40 percent), Jerusalem (34 percent), Netanya, Sderot, Beersheba, Ofakim, and Tel Sheva, among other places.

The preferred leisure activity of the country's youth during the past year was going to the movies, restaurants and coffee shops. Sixteen percent of youngsters reported watching six hours of television or more a day. Eighty-seven percent said they read a daily newspaper.

Statistician Asher Ben-Aryeh, the editor of the abstract, said the social gap between the poor and well-off youngsters in the country is widening in other areas as well, including education and leisure activities.