2019 Edition

Background

The State of Israel was declared in 1948, after Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine. The UN proposed partitioning the area into Arab and Jewish states, and Arab armies that rejected the UN plan were defeated. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle East, over the following years. Israel fought wars against its Arab neighbors in 1967 and 1973, followed by peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the 1967 war, and subsequently administered those territories through military authorities. Israel and Palestinian officials signed a number of interim agreements in the 1990s that created an interim period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. While the most recent formal efforts to negotiate final status issues occurred in 2013-2014, the US continues its efforts to advance peace. Immigration to Israel continues, with 28,600 new immigrants, mostly Jewish, in 2016. The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors. Offshore gas discoveries in the Mediterranean, most notably in the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields, place Israel at the center of a potential regional natural gas market. However, longer-term structural issues such as low labor force participation among minority populations, low workforce productivity, high costs for housing and consumer staples, and a lack of competition, remain a concern for many Israelis and an important consideration for Israeli politicians. Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU has led the Israeli Government since 2009; he formed a center-right coalition following the 2015 elections. In December 2018 the Knesset voted to dissolve itself, leading to an election in April 2019. When that election failed to result in formation of a government, Israel held a second election in September 2019, which also failed to result in the formation of a government. On 11 December 2019, the Knesset voted to hold a third election on 2 March 2020.

Area

Land

21,497 sq km

Total

21,937 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

Highest Point

Mitspe Shlagim 2,224 m; note - this is the highest named point, the actual highest point is an unnamed dome slightly to the west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m; both points are on the northeastern border of Israel, along the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range

Lowest Point

Dead Sea -431 m

Mean Elevation

508 m note - does not include elevation data from the Golan Heights

Environment Current Issues

limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources; 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

Geographic Coordinates

31 30 N, 34 45 E

Geography Note

note 1: 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) note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase; Mount Sodom is actually a hill some 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt (multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock) note 3: in March 2019, there were 380 Israeli settlements,to include 213 settlements and 132 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, as all were evacuated in 2005 (2019)

Irrigated Land

2,250 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Egypt 206 km, Gaza Strip 59 km, Jordan 336 km (20 km are within the Dead Sea), Lebanon 107 km, Syria 79 km, West Bank 278 km

Total

1,065 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

23.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

13.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

3.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

6.3% (2011 est.)

Forest

7.1% (2011 est.)

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

Population Distribution

population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

27.26% (male 1,175,106 /female 1,121,309)

15 24 Years

15.58% (male 670,121 /female 642,155)

25 54 Years

37.19% (male 1,601,516 /female 1,531,849)

55 64 Years

8.42% (male 350,050 /female 359,578)

65 Years And Over

11.55% (male 437,511 /female 535,709) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

17.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

7.3% (2016)

Death Rate

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

18.4 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

5.4 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

64.2 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

45.7 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

100% of population

Improved Total

100% of population

Improved Urban

100% of population

Unimproved Rural

0% of population

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population

Education Expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Jewish 74.4% (of which Israel-born 76.9%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 15.9%, Africa-born 4.6%, Asia-born 2.6%), Arab 20.9%, other 4.7% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.2% (2018)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<100 (2018)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

9,000 (2018)

Hospital Bed Density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

84.7 years

Male

80.8 years

Total Population

82.7 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

96.8% (2011)

Male

98.7%

Total Population

97.8%

Major Urban Areas Population

4.097 million Tel Aviv-Yafo, 1.141 million Haifa, 919,000 JERUSALEM (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

30.7 years

Male

29.5 years

Total

30.1 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

27.6 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Israeli

Noun

Israeli(s)

Net Migration Rate

2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

26.1% (2016)

Physicians Density

3.22 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

8,424,904 (includes populations of the Golan Heights or Golan Sub-District and also East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel after 1967) (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.49% (2018 est.)

Religions

Jewish 74.3%, Muslim 17.8%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.4% (2018 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

100% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

17 years (2016)

Male

15 years

Total

16 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.82 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.01 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.63 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

7.8% (2017 est.)

Male

6.7%

Total

7.3%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.64% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

92.5% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

Daylight Saving Time

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

Geographic Coordinates

31 46 N, 35 14 E

Name

Jerusalem; note - the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel&rsquo;s capital in December 2017 without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Israel

Dual Citizenship Recognized

yes, but naturalized citizens are not allowed to maintain dual citizenship

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

3 out of the 5 years preceding the application for naturalization

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by Government of Israel ministers or by the Knesset; passage requires a majority vote of Knesset members and subject to Supreme Court judicial review; 11 of the 13 Basic Laws have been amended at least once, latest in 2018 (2018)

History

no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws, and the Law of Return (as amended)

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

State of Israel

Conventional Short Form

Israel

Etymology

named after the ancient Kingdom of Israel; according to Biblical tradition, the Jewish patriarch Jacob received the name "Israel" ("He who struggles with God") after he wrestled an entire night with an angel of the Lord; Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the Israelites, also known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, who formed the Kingdom of Israel

Local Long Form

Medinat Yisra'el

Local Short Form

Yisra'el

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador David M. FRIEDMAN (since 23 May 2017)

Embassy

David Flusser St.14, Jerusalem, 9378322

Telephone

[972] (2) 630-4000

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 Reuben 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 on 9 April 2019); following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, tasks a Knesset member (usually the member of the largest party) with forming a government

Head Of Government

Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009); note - on 23 October 2019, following the inconclusive 25 September Knesset election, President RIVLIN tasked Benny GANTZ with forming a new government after Prime Minister NETANYAHU was unable to do so

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 (following 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 Courts

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 14 judges)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

judges selected by the Judicial Selection Committee, consisting of 3 Supreme Court judges, 2 Cabinet members including the Minister of Justice as chairman, 2 Knesset members, and 2 representatives from the Israel Bar Association; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement at age 70

Subordinate Courts

Court for Administrative Matters; 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 closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3.25% threshold to gain representation; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent by party - Blue and White 26%, Likud 25.1%, Joint List 10.6%, Shas 7.4%, Yisrael Beiteinu 7%, United Torah Judaism 6.1%, Yamina 5.9%, Labor-Gesher 4.8%, Democratic Union 4.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party - Blue and White 33, Likud 32, Joint List 13, Shas 9, Yisrael Beiteinu 8, United Torah Judaism 7, Yamina 7, Labor-Gesher 6, Democratic Union 5; composition - men 92, women 28, percent of women 23%

Elections

last held on 17 September 2019; note - on 11 December, the Knesset failed to submit a name for a new prime minister and dissolved itself; new elections are called for 2 March 2020

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN

Name

"Hatikvah" (The Hope)

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

Democratic Union [Nitzan HOROWITZ] (alliance includes Democratic Israel, Meretz, Green Movement) Joint List [Ayman ODEH] (alliance includes Hadash, Ta&rsquo;al, United Arab List, Balad) Kahol Lavan [Benny GANTZ] (alliance includes Israeli Resilience, Yesh Atid, Telem) Labor-Gesher [Amir PERETZ] Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU] Otzma Yehudit [Itamar BEN-GVIR] SHAS [Arye DERI] United Torah Judaism, or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN] (alliance includes Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah) Yamina [Ayelet SHAKED] Yisrael Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN] Zehut [Moshe FEIGLIN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; 17 years of age for municipal elections

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

100.2 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

93.11 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

15 December 2015

0.1%

31 December 2014

0.25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

3.42%

31 December 2017

3.5%

Current Account Balance

2016

$11.94 billion

2017

$10.12 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$87.96 billion

31 December 2017

$88.66 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2008

39.2

2013

42.8

Economy Overview

Israel has a technologically advanced free market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among its leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are offset 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 weathered the 2011 Arab Spring because strong trade ties outside the Middle East insulated the economy from spillover effects.Slowing domestic and international demand and decreased investment resulting from Israel’s uncertain security situation reduced GDP growth to an average of roughly 2.8% per year during the period 2014-17. 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 in the last decade. Political and regulatory issues have delayed the development of the massive Leviathan field, but production from Tamar provided a 0.8% boost to Israel's GDP in 2013 and a 0.3% boost in 2014. One of the most carbon intense OECD countries, Israel generates about 57% of its power from coal and only 2.6% from renewable sources.Income inequality and high housing and commodity prices continue to be a concern for many Israelis. 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. Government officials have called for reforms to boost the housing supply and to increase competition in the banking sector to address these public grievances. Despite calls for reforms, the restricted housing supply continues to impact younger Israelis seeking to purchase homes. Tariffs and non-tariff barriers, coupled with guaranteed prices and customs tariffs for farmers kept food prices high in 2016. Private consumption is expected to drive growth through 2018, with consumers benefitting from low inflation and a strong currency.In the long term, Israel faces structural issues including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultraorthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only about 8% of the workforce, with the rest mostly employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition. Expenditures on educational institutions remain low compared to most other OECD countries with similar GDP per capita.

Exchange Rates

2013

3.5779

2014

3.8869

2015

3.8406

2016

3.8406

2017

3.606

Currency

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$56.17 billion

2017

$58.67 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

US 28.8%, UK 8.2%, Hong Kong 7%, China 5.4%, Belgium 4.5% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

28.9% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

22.8% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

55.1% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-27.5% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

20.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.7% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

2.4% (2017 est.)

Industry

26.5% (2017 est.)

Services

69.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$350.7 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$35,200

2016

$35,900

2017

$36,400

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$295.3 billion

2016

$307 billion

2017

$317.1 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

2.6%

2016

4%

2017

3.3%

Gross National Saving

2015

25% of GDP

2016

24.2% of GDP

2017

23.6% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

31.3% (2010)

Lowest 10

1.7%

Imports

2016

$63.9 billion

2017

$68.61 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

US 11.7%, China 9.5%, Switzerland 8%, Germany 6.8%, UK 6.2%, Belgium 5.9%, Netherlands 4.2%, Turkey 4.2%, Italy 4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

3.5% (2017 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, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-0.5%

2017

0.2%

Labor Force

4.021 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

1.1%

Industry

17.3%

Services

81.6% (2015 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2013

$203.3 billion

31 December 2014

$200.5 billion

31 December 2015

$243.9 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

22% (2014 est.) (2014 est.)

Public Debt

2016

62.3% of GDP

2017

60.9% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$95.45 billion

31 December 2017

$113 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$79.58 billion

31 December 2017

$100.4 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$98.11 billion

31 December 2017

$100.3 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$107.3 billion

31 December 2017

$129.1 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$257.4 billion

31 December 2017

$290.7 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$79.58 billion

31 December 2017

$100.4 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

26.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

4.8%

2017

4.2%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

73.82 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

231,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Production

390 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

12.73 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

55 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

5.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

95% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

5% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

17.59 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

63.09 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

9.995 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

509.7 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

9.826 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

176 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

242,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

111,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

98,860 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

294,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

28 (2017 est.)

Total

2.342 million

Broadcast Media

the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (est 2015) broadcasts on 3 channels, two in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation 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 (2019)

Internet Country Code

.il

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

79.8% (July 2016 est.)

Total

6,521,539

Telephone System

Domestic

good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; competition among both fixed-line and mobile cellular providers results in good coverage countrywide; fixed-line 39 per 100 and 127 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)

General Assessment

most highly developed system in the Middle East; mobile broadband 100% population penetration; consumers enjoy inexpensive 3G services; 4G cellular service; fixed broadband available to 99% of all households (2019)

International

country code - 972; landing points for the MedNautilus Submarine System, Tameres North, Jonah and Lev Submarine System 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) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

39 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

3.24 million

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

127 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

10.54 million

Airports

47 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

6 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

5 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

11 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

2 (2017)

Total

29 (2017)

Under 914 M

5 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

1 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

3 (2013)

Total

18 (2013)

Under 914 M

14 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

4X (2016)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

container ship 5, general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 29 (2018)

Total

42

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

758,633,996 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

6,064,478 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

60 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

6 (2015)

Pipelines

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

Ports And Terminals

Container Port's Teus

Ashdod (1,443,000) (2016)

Major Seaport S

Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa

Railways

Standard Gauge

1,384 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

Total

1,384 km (2014)

Roadways

Paved

19,555 km (includes 449 km of expressways) (2017)

Total

19,555 km (2017)

Military And Security Forces

Israel Defense Forces (IDF); Ground Forces, Israel Naval Force (IN, includes commandos), Israel Air Force (IAF, includes air defense) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2013

5.6% of GDP

2014

5.6% of GDP

2015

5.3% of GDP

2016

5.3% of GDP

2017

5.1% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druze) military service; 17 years of age for voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 32 months for enlisted men and about 24 months for enlisted women (varies based on military occupation), 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9-year service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), age 24 (women) (2015)

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-controlled (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

14,516 (Eritrea) (2018), 7,857 (Ukraine) (2019)

Stateless Persons

42 (2018)

Terrorist Groups Home Based

aim(s): expel Arabs from Israel's biblical lands and, ultimately, restore the biblical state of Israel area(s) of operation: Israel and West Bank settlements note: considered to be operationally inactive in recent years ( 2018)