Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general Prime minister: Baldwin Spencer
Population
7,590,758
89,018
Life Expectancy
81.070 years
75.690 years
Capital City
Jerusalem
Saint John's
Largest city
Jerusalem (population: 714,000)
Saint John's (population: 24,226)
Human Development Index
0.93
0.83
GDP per capita
$31,400 US
$18,200 US
Literacy Rate
97.1%
85.8%
Corruption Perception Index
6
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
14.2%
16.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Sammy Ofer & family ($4.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.600%
11.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished except for special circumstances
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
Independence date
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
1 November 1981 (from UK)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
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)
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
English (official), local dialects
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
$359,800,000 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)
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
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.300%
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Area
20,770 km sq
443 km sq
Coastline
273 km
153 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
