|
Country
|
Israel | 
Saudi Arabia |
|
Leader
|
Prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
|
Head of state, prime minister: King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud
|
|
Population
|
7,590,758
| 26,534,504
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
81.070 years
| 74.350 years
|
|
Capital City
|
Jerusalem
| Riyadh
|
|
Largest city
|
| Jerusalem (population: 714,000) | Riyadh (population: 4,205,960) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.93
| 0.835
|
| GDP per capita |
$31,400 US
| $24,500 US
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
97.1%
| 78.8%
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
6
| 3.5
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
14.2%
| 0%
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
Sammy Ofer & family ($4.0bn US)
| Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud ($13.3bn US)
|
| Unemployment Rate |
5.600%
| 10.900%
|
|
Death Penalty
|
Abolished except for special circumstances
| Legal
|
| |
|
Political System
|
parliamentary democracy
| monarchy
|
|
Independence date
|
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
| 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
|
| Religions |
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
| Muslim 100%
|
| Languages |
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
| Arabic
|
| Exports |
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
| petroleum and petroleum products 90%
|
| External Debt |
$102,300,000,000 $
| $105,900,000,000 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)
| Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2008 est.), 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004)
|
| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
7.300%
| 10.000%
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
1
| 0
|
| Location |
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
| Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
|
| Area |
20,770 km sq
| 2,149,690 km sq
|
| Coastline |
273 km
| 2,640 km
|
| Climate |
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
| harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
|
|
|
|
