14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
5 July 1962 (from France)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
$4,699,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.300%
3.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
2
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Area
20,770 km sq
2,381,741 km sq
Coastline
273 km
998 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
