2015 Edition

Background

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN proposed partitioning the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Nonetheless, an Israeli state was declared in 1948 and the Israelis subsequently 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"), enshrining the idea of a two-state solution to their conflict and 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 with the Palestinians was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between 2001 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). 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. Direct talks with the Palestinians launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank. In November 2012, Israel engaged in a seven-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip. Direct talks with the Palestinians resumed in July 2013 but were suspended in April 2014. Three months later HAMAS and other militant groups launched rockets into Israel, which led to a 51-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza.

Area

land

20,330 sq km

total

20,770 sq km

water

440 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Jersey

Climate

temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Coastline

273 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Har Meron 1,208 m

lowest point

Dead Sea -408 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

282.4 cu m/yr (2009)

total

1.95 cu km/yr (39%/6%/55%)

Geographic coordinates

31 30 N, 34 45 E

Geography - note

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); in 2014, there were 423 settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories - 42 settlements in the Golan Heights, 381 sites in the occupied Palestinian territories to include 212 settlements and 134 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip – all were evacuated in 2005 (2014 est.)

Irrigated land

2,250 sq km (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries (6)

Egypt 208 km, Gaza Strip 59 km, Jordan 307 km, Lebanon 81 km, Syria 83 km, West Bank 330 km

total

1,068 km

Land use

arable land 13.7%; permanent crops 3.8%; permanent pasture 6.3%

agricultural land

23.8%

forest

7.1%

other

69.1% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

continental shelf

to depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

1.78 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

27.95% (male 1,151,247/female 1,098,632)

15-24 years

15.5% (male 637,758/female 609,597)

25-54 years

37.13% (male 1,528,271/female 1,460,772)

55-64 years

8.57% (male 336,662/female 353,352)

65 years and over

10.85% (male 389,401/female 483,622) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

18.48 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

18.4%

potential support ratio

5.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

64.1%

youth dependency ratio

45.7%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

Jewish 75% (of which Israel-born 74.4%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 17.4%, Africa-born 5.1%, Asia-born 3.1%), non-Jewish 25% (mostly Arab) (2013 est.)

Health expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

3.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

3.51 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.21 years (2015 est.)

male

80.43 years

total population

82.27 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.8% (2011 est.)

male

98.7%

total population

97.8%

Major urban areas - population

Tel Aviv-Yafo 3.608 million; Haifa 1.097 million; JERUSALEM (capital) 839,000 (2015)

Median age

female

30.2 years (2015 est.)

male

28.9 years

total

39.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Israeli

noun

Israeli(s)

Net migration rate

2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.8% (2014)

Physicians density

3.34 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

8,049,314 (includes populations of the Golan Heights of Golan Sub-District and East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel after 1967) (July 2014 est.)

note

approximately 19,400 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights; approximately 200,000 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2013) (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.56% (2015 est.)

Religions

Jewish 75%, Muslim 17.5%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 3.9% (2013 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2012)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.68 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

12.7% (2012 est.)

male

11.6%

total

12.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.37% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

92.1% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

31 46 N, 35 14 E

name

Jerusalem: note - Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

no formal constitution; the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of Israel enacted by the Knesset beginning in 1958, the Nationality Law (1952), and the Law of Return (1950) have constitutional law status; note - several of the Basic Laws and the latter two laws have been amended (2015)

Country name

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Daniel B. SHAPIRO (since 29 September 2011)

embassy

71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 6343229

FAX

[972] (3) 516-4390

telephone

[972] (3) 519-7475

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Ron DERMER (since 3 December 2013)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 364-5607

telephone

[1] (202) 364-5500

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset

chief of state

President Reuven RIVLIN (since 27 July 2014)

election results

Reuven RIVLIN elected president in second round; Knesset vote - Reuven RIVLIN (Likud) 63, Meir SHEETRIT (The Movement) 53 , other/invalid 4

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the Knesset for a 7-year term (limited to 1 term); election last held on 10 June 2014 (next to be held in 2021 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, selects a Knesset member as prime minister most likely to form a new government

head of government

Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009)

Flag description

white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

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

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CERN, 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), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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 3 branches of the government and chaired by the Minister of Justice; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; special and religious courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Likud 23.4%, Zionist Camp 18.7%, Joint List 10.5%, Yesh Atid 8.8%, Kukanu 7.5%, Bayit Yehudi 6.7%, Shas, 5.7%, Israel Beitenu 5.1%, United Torah Judaism 5%, Meretz 3.9%, Yachad 3%, other 1.7%; seats by party - Likud 30, Zionist Camp 24, Joint List 13, Yesh Atid 11, Kulanu 10, Bayit Yehudi 8, Shas 7, Yisrael Beitenu 6, , United Torah Judaism 6, Meretz 5

elections

last held on 17 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019, but can be called earlier)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN

name

"Hatikvah" (The Hope)

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

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)

Star of David (Magen David), menorah (seven-branched lampstand); national colors: blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Balad [Jamal ZAHALKA]

Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]

Kadima [Shaul MOFAZ]

Kulanu [Moshe KAHLON]

Labor Party [Isaac HERZOG]

Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]

National Union [Uri ARIEL]

SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]

The Jewish Home (Bayit Yehudi) [Naftali BENNETT]

The Movement (Hatnuah) [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]

The New Movement-Meretz [Haim ORON]

The Zionist Camp (established for March 2015 election purposes)

United Arab List-Ta'al [Ibrahim SARSUR]

United Torah Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN] (an alliance of three parties)

Yesh Atid [Yair LAPID]

Yisrael Beiteinu or YB [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Breaking the Silence [Yehuda SHAUL, Executive Director] collects testimonies from soldiers who served in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

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 [Danny DAYAN, Chairman] promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$81.82 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$73.44 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.25% (31 December 2014)

1% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

4.54% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$11.49 billion (2014 est.)

$6.893 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$99.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$95.53 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.6 (2012)

39.2 (2008)

Economy - overview

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among the leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows. Between 2004 and 2013, growth averaged nearly 5% per year, led by exports. 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. Israel's economy also has weathered the Arab Spring because strong trade ties outside the Middle East have insulated the economy from spillover effects. Slowing demand domestically and internationally and reduced investment due to uncertainties caused by the Gaza conflict in summer 2014 have reduced GDP growth to about 2% during 2014. Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds this past decade. The massive Leviathan field is expected to come online no sooner than 2017, but production from Tamar provided a one percentage point boost to Israel's GDP in 2013 and a 0.5% boost in 2014. In mid-2011, public protests arose around income inequality and rising housing and commodity prices. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of "tycoons" have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. The government formed committees and has started splitting up the oligopolies to address some of the grievances but has maintained that it will not engage in deficit spending to satisfy populist demands. Over the long term, Israel faces structural issues, including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultra-orthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only 9% of the workforce, with the rest employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition.

Exchange rates

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -

3.908 (2014 est.)

3.6108 (2013 est.)

3.86 (2012 est.)

3.5781 (2011 est.)

3.739 (2010 est.)

Exports

$63.21 billion (2014 est.)

$61.96 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 26.9%, Hong Kong 8.9%, UK 5.8%, Belgium 4.8%, China 4%, Turkey 4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

31.8%

government consumption

22.6%

household consumption

57%

imports of goods and services

-30.7%

investment in fixed capital

18.9%

investment in inventories

0.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.4%

industry

25.7%

services

71.9% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$32,700 (2014 est.)

$31,800 (2013 est.)

$30,800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2014 est.)

3.2% (2013 est.)

3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$303.8 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$268.5 billion (2014 est.)

$261.3 billion (2013 est.)

$253 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

21.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

22% of GDP (2013 est.)

21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.3% (2008)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Imports

$69.73 billion (2014 est.)

$71.29 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 11.8%, China 8.3%, Switzerland 7.2%, Germany 6.4%, Belgium 5.3% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-4.6% (2014 est.)

Industries

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, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (2014 est.)

1.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

3.784 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1.6%

industry

18.1%

services

80.3% (2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$148.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$145 billion (31 December 2011)

$218.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

21%

note

Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2012 est.)

Public debt

67.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

66.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$88.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$81.79 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$153.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$155.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$83.62 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$78.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$97.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$86.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$204 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$193.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$45.46 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$35.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

6% (2014 est.)

6.2% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

62.5 million Mt (2014 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

268,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

490 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

11.5 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

59.83 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

4.2 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

97.4% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2.6% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

16.25 million kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

64.44 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

7.538 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

510 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.35 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

285 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

238,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

83,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

143,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

275,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.il

Internet users

percent of population

75.8% (2014 est.)

total

6 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 0 (2010)

Telephone system

domestic

good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; four privately owned mobile-cellular service providers with countrywide coverage

general assessment

most highly developed system in the Middle East

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

2.9 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (2014 est.)

total

9.5 million

Television broadcast stations

7 (2009)

Airports

47 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

11

over 3,047 m

2

total

29

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

14 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

18

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

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)

total

8

Pipelines

gas 763 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) TEUs)

Ashdod (1,176,000), Haifa (1,238,000)

major seaport(s)

Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa

Railways

standard gauge

1,250 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

1,250 km

Roadways

paved

18,566 km (includes 449 km of expressways) (2011)

total

18,566 km

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,713,230 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,797,960

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,446,132 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,517,510

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

59,418 (2010 est.)

male

62,304

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

5.69% of GDP (2012)

5.87% of GDP (2011)

5.69% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

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

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

refugees (country of origin)

32,668 (Eritrea); 6,588 (Sudan) (2014)

stateless persons

10 (2014)