constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
1 November 1981 (from UK)
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Religions
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Languages
English (official), local dialects
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Exports
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
External Debt
$441,200,000 $
$104,200,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.300%
7.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Area
443 km sq
20,770 km sq
Coastline
153 km
273 km
Climate
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
