14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
$136,100,000,000 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)
lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.5 (2008 est.), 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.300%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
8
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Area
20,770 km sq
238,391 km sq
Coastline
273 km
225 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
