14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
$61,230,000,000 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)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.67 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), tolars per US dollar - 190.85 (2006), 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004) note: Slovenia adopted the euro as its currency on 1 January 2007
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.300%
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
5
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Area
20,770 km sq
20,273 km sq
Coastline
273 km
47 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
