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)
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
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
7.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Area
20,770 km sq
245,857 km sq
Coastline
273 km
320 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
