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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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)

Internet country code [time series]

.il

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2.483 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 36

Internet users [time series]

4.525 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 51

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3.5 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 47

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

9.2 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 81

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $62.64 billion expenditures: $72 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-3.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Central bank discount rate [time series]

2.75% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 2.02% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

4.8% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 5.54% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$2.579 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.873 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$104.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $102.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

39.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 65 35.5 (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Exchange rates [time series]

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.903 (2012 est.) 3.5781 (2011 est.) 3.739 (2010 est.) 3.93 (2009) 3.588 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$64.74 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $64.19 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel

Exports - partners [time series]

US 28.8%, Hong Kong 7.9%, Belgium 5.6%, UK 5%, India 4.5%, China 4% (2011)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$246.8 billion (2012 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$247.9 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $240.8 billion (2011 est.) $230.2 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 2.5% industry: 31.4% services: 66.1% (2012 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$32,200 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $32,000 (2011 est.) $31,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 4.6% (2011 est.) 5.7% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.3% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$77.59 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $72.03 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods

Imports - partners [time series]

US 11.8%, China 7.4%, Germany 6.2%, Belgium 6.1%, Switzerland 5.4%, Italy 4.2% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 3.5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Labor force [time series]

3.269 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 2% industry: 16% services: 82% (September 2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$145 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 33 $218.1 billion (31 December 2010) $182.1 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line [time series]

23.6% note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2007)

Public debt [time series]

74.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 72.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$75.24 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $74.87 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$208.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $195.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$74.53 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $69.83 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$73.07 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $66.57 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$180.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $178 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$30.23 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $30.21 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

25.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 5.6% (2011 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

70.32 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - imports [time series]

224,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Crude oil - production [time series]

100 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

11.8 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Electricity - consumption [time series]

45.59 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - exports [time series]

3.783 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

99.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

12.07 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - production [time series]

53.55 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.65 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - imports [time series]

2.1 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - production [time series]

1.55 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

270.7 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

238,400 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

71,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

50,490 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

242,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 20,770 sq km country comparison to the world: 154 land: 20,330 sq km water: 440 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than New Jersey

Climate [time series]

temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Coastline [time series]

273 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 2.05 cu km/yr (31%/7%/62%) per capita: 305 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

31 30 N, 34 45 E

Geography - note [time series]

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.)

Irrigated land [time series]

2,250 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 15.45% permanent crops: 3.88% other: 80.67% (2005)

Location [time series]

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Natural hazards [time series]

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes

Natural resources [time series]

timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Terrain [time series]

Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Total renewable water resources [time series]

1.7 cu km (2001)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Capital [time series]

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 first Friday in April; ends the Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Constitution [time series]

no formal constitution; some of the 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 - since May 2003 the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee of the Knesset has been working on a draft constitution

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel B. SHAPIRO embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903 telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575 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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael B. OREN chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 who 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)

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection Committee - made up of all three branches of the government; mandatory retirement age is 70)

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws

Legislative branch [time series]

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 2.5%; 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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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)

National holiday [time series]

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

National symbol(s) [time series]

Star of David

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Atzmaut (Independence) Party [Ehud BARAK]; Balad [Jamal ZAHALKA]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]; Kadima [Shaul MOFAZ]; Labor Party [Shelly YECHIMOVICH]; Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]; National Union Uri ARIEL]; SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]; The Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi) [Naftali BENNETT]; The Movement (Hatnuah) [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]; The New Movement-Meretz [Haim ORON]; United Arab List-Ta'al [Ibrahim SARSUR]; United Torah Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN]; Yesh Atid [Yair LAPID]; Yisrael Beiteinu or YB [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights abuses; Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary General] supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; YESHA Council of Settlements [Danny DAYAN, Chairman] promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise; Breaking the Silence [Yehuda SHAUL, Executive Director] collects testimonies from soldiers who served in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,797,960 females age 16-49: 1,713,230 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,517,510 females age 16-49: 1,446,132 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 62,304 female: 59,418 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Force (IN), Israel Air Force (IAF) (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

7.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 6

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and 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) (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 1,067,967/ female 1,019,451) 15-64 years: 62.2% (male 2,395,998/ female 2,326,884) 65 years and over: 10.3% (male 342,620/ female 437,838) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.97 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Death rate [time series]

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.9% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 30

Ethnic groups [time series]

Jewish 76.4% (of which Israel-born 67.1%, Europe/America-born 22.6%, Africa-born 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab) (2004)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

7,500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

9.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 36

Hospital bed density [time series]

5.83 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 199 male: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority), English (most commonly used foreign language)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.07 years country comparison to the world: 18 male: 78.88 years female: 83.36 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.1% male: 98.5% female: 95.9% (2004 est.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

Tel Aviv-Yafo 3.219 million; Haifa 1.027 million; JERUSALEM (capital) 768,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 164

Median age [time series]

total: 29.5 years male: 28.9 years female: 30.3 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Israeli(s) adjective: Israeli

Net migration rate [time series]

1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

22.9% (2001) country comparison to the world: 15

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.633 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population [time series]

7,590,758 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 note: approximately 325,500 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2011); approximately 18,700 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2011); approximately 186,929 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2010)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.541% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Religions [time series]

Jewish 75.6%, Muslim 16.9%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.7%, other 3.8% (2008)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.67 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 14.7% country comparison to the world: 78 male: 15.7% female: 13.9% (2009)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 92% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 31,119 (Eritrea); 9,000 (Sudan) (2011)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

47 (2012) country comparison to the world: 92

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 14 (2012)

Heliports [time series]

3 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

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)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 211 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa

Railways [time series]

total: 975 km country comparison to the world: 89 standard gauge: 975 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 18,290 km country comparison to the world: 114 paved: 18,290 km (includes 146 km of expressways) (2008)