Page last updated on January 31, 2014
Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. (The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted.) On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. Progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2006 Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a February 2009 general election. Direct talks with the PA launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank.
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
total: 20,770 sq km
country comparison to the world: 154
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km
slightly larger than New Jersey
total: 1,017 km
border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
arable land: 13.68%
permanent crops: 3.69%
other: 82.62% (2011)
total: 1.95 cu km/yr (39%/6%/55%)
per capita: 282.4 cu m/yr (2009)
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes
limited arable land and natural freshwater resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti); there are about 355 Israeli civilian sites including about 145 small outpost communities in the West Bank, 41 sites in the Golan Heights, and 32 in East Jerusalem (2010 est.)
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli
Jewish 75.1% (of which Israel-born 73.6%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 17.9%, Africa-born 5.2%, Asia-born 3.2%), non-Jewish 24.9% (mostly Arab) (2012)
Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority), English (most commonly used foreign language)
Jewish 75.1%, Muslim 17.4%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 3.9% (2012 est.)
7,707,042 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
note: approximately 341,400 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2012); approximately 18,900 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2012); approximately 196,400 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2011)
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 1,077,081/female 1,028,192)
15-24 years: 15.7% (male 619,091/female 590,551)
25-54 years: 37.7% (male 1,485,292/female 1,422,352)
55-64 years: 8.8% (male 328,943/female 348,695)
65 years and over: 10.5% (male 355,049/female 451,796) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 62.5 %
youth dependency ratio: 45.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 17.4 %
potential support ratio: 5.7 (2013)
total: 29.7 years
male: 29 years
female: 30.4 years (2013 est.)
1.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
18.71 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
5.52 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
urban population: 91.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Tel Aviv-Yafo 3.219 million; Haifa 1.027 million; JERUSALEM (capital) 768,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 169
total: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 199
male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 81.17 years
country comparison to the world: 18
male: 78.96 years
female: 83.49 years (2013 est.)
2.65 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
7.7% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 71
3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
3.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
7,500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
26.2% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 49
5.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.9% (2004 est.)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2009)
total: 12.1%
country comparison to the world: 98
male: 11.6%
female: 12.7% (2012)
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el
name: Jerusalem
geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the first Sunday in October; note - if the end of DST falls on Rosh Hashanah, then the end of DST will fall on the first Monday after 1 October
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May
no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the Parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law; note - in mid-2013, a prominent Israeli law professor was appointed to draft a constitutional proposal (2013)
mixed legal system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
elections: president largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last held 13 June 2007 (next to be held in 2014 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, assigns the task of forming a governing coalition to a Knesset member whom he or she determines is most likely to accomplish that task
election results: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in first round - Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21; PERES elected president in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)
unicameral Knesset (120 seats; political parties are elected by popular vote and assigned seats for members on a proportional basis; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 January 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - Likud-Ahi 23.3%, Yesh Atid 14.3%, Labor 11.4%, The Jewish Home 9.1%, SHAS 8.7%, United Torah Judaism 5.2%, The Movement 5%, Meretz 4.5%, United Arab List 3.6%, HADASH 3%, Balad 2.6%, Kadima 2.1%; other 7.2%; seats by party - Likud-Ahi 31, Yesh Atid 19, Labor 15, The Jewish Home 12, SHAS 11, United Torah Judaism 7, The Movement 6, Meretz 6, United Arab List 4, HADASH 4, Balad 3, Kadima 2
note: Ehud BARAK and four others on 17 January 2011 split from the Labor Party and formed the Atzmaut (Independence) Party; the Labor Party holds 8 seats in the Knesset and the Independence Party holds 5 seats; Aztmaut did not submit a candidate list for the election on 22 January 2013
highest court(s): Supreme Court ( consists of the chief justice and 14 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the Judicial Selection Committee, made up of all three branches of the government and chaired by the Minister of Justice; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement age of 70
subordinate courts: district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; special and religious courts
Atzmaut (Independence) Party [Ehud BARAK]
B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights abuses
BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Ron DERMER (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5647
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel B. SHAPIRO (since 8 July 2011)
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7475
FAX: [972] (3) 516-4390
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times
name: "Hatikvah" (The Hope)
lyrics/music: Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN
note: adopted 2004, unofficial since 1948; used as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897; the 1888 arrangement by Samuel COHEN is thought to be based on the Romanian folk song "Carul cu boi" (The Ox Driven Cart)
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among the leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 spurred a brief recession in Israel, but the country entered the crisis with solid fundamentals - following years of prudent fiscal policy and a resilient banking sector. The economy has recovered better than most advanced, comparably sized economies. In 2010, Israel formally acceded to the OECD. Israel's economy also has weathered the Arab Spring because strong trade ties outside the Middle East have insulated the economy from spillover effects. Natural gasfields discovered off Israel's coast during the past two years have brightened Israel''s energy security outlook. The Leviathan field was one of the world''s largest offshore natural gas finds this past decade, and production from the Tama field is expected to meet all of Israel''s natural gas demand beginning mid-2013. In mid-2011, public protests arose around income inequality and rising housing and commodity prices. The government formed committees to address some of the grievances but has maintained that it will not engage in deficit spending to satisfy populist demands.
$260.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
3.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$33,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
21% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
household consumption: 56.2%
government consumption: 22.9%
investment in fixed capital: 20.4%
investment in inventories: 0.3%
exports of goods and services: 36.2%
imports of goods and services: -36%
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 32%
services: 65.6% (2012 est.)
citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products
high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles, footwear
4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
3.606 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
agriculture: 2%
industry: 16%
services: 82% (September 2008)
6.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
23.6%
note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2007)
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 24.3% (2008)
39.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 66
revenues: $63.54 billion
expenditures: $73.65 billion (2012 est.)
25% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
-4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
66.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
1.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
2.75% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
5.16% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$32.48 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$208.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$192.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$145 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 33
$609 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$62.32 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
US 27.8%, Hong Kong 7.7%, UK 5.7%, Belgium 4.6%, China 4.3% (2012)
$71.67 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods
US 12.9%, China 7.3%, Germany 6.3%, Switzerland 5.5%, Belgium 4.8% (2012)
$75.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$93.98 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$75.94 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$74.75 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
55.77 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
48.73 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
4.224 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
15.33 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
98.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
1.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
5,839 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
260,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
11.5 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 90
278,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
238,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
83,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
56,420 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
2.6 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
3.65 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
720 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
268.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 43
72.1 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
3.594 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 44
9.225 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 84
general assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East
domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; four privately owned mobile-cellular service providers with countrywide coverage
international: country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2011)
state broadcasting network, operated by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), broadcasts on 2 channels, one in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; 5 commercial channels including a channel broadcasting in Russian, a channel broadcasting Knesset proceedings, and a music channel supervised by a public body; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; IBA broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2008)
2.483 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 36
4.525 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
47 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 95
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m:
gas 763 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2013)
total: 975 km
country comparison to the world: 89
standard gauge: 975 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
total: 18,566 km
country comparison to the world: 115
paved: 18,566 km (includes 449 km of expressways) (2011)
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 120
by type: cargo 1, container 7
registered in other countries: 48 (Bermuda 3, Georgia 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 34, Malta 3, Moldova 2, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3) (2010)
major seaport(s): Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa
container port(s) TEUs): Ashdod (1,176,000), Haifa (1,238,000)
Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Force (IN), Israel Air Force (IAF) (2010)
18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) military service; 17 years of age for voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36 months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9 years service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2013)
males age 16-49: 1,797,960
females age 16-49: 1,713,230 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,517,510
females age 16-49: 1,446,132 (2010 est.)
male: 62,304
female: 59,418 (2010 est.)
5.69% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 9
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region
refugees (country of origin): 37,347 (Eritrea); 10,743 (Sudan) (2012)
stateless persons: 14 (2012)
