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 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
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
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Area
20,770 km sq
36,125 km sq
Coastline
273 km
350 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
