14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
4 February 1948 (from UK)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
$22,810,000,000 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)
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.300%
2.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Area
20,770 km sq
65,610 km sq
Coastline
273 km
1,340 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
