parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives
Independence date
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
External Debt
$104,200,000,000 $
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)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Area
20,770 km sq
468 km sq
Coastline
273 km
0 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
