Israel (country), republic in the Middle East, formally known as the State of Israel (in Hebrew, Medinat Yisra'el) and established in 1948. Israel is on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered to the north by Lebanon, to the north-east by Syria, to the east by Jordan, and to the south-west by Egypt. Its southernmost tip extends to the Gulf of Aqaba, an arm of the Red Sea; Israel's area is 21,920 sq km (8,463 sq mi).
Population 5,481,000
(1996 official estimate)
Population Density
269 people/sq km
(699 people/sq mi)
(1996 official estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
92% Urban
8% Rural
Largest Cities
Jerusalem591,400
Tel Aviv-Yafo355,900
Haifa252,300
(1996 estimate)
Ethnic Groups
81% Israeli
19% Arab
Languages
Official Languages
Hebrew
Arabic
Other Languages
Yiddish, Russian, Romanian, English, and many other European languages;
Ethiopian dialects
Religions
81% Jewish
15% Muslim
5% Other
including Christianity and Druze Islam
Time and Date in Jerusalem
Countries Currency Unit
ILS/Unit
Units/ILS
DZD
Algeria Dinars
0.0612680
16.3217
USD
United States Dollars
4.74294
0.210840
ARS
Argentina Pesos
1.61051
0.620923
AUD
Australia Dollars
2.53043
0.395190
ATS
Austria Schillings **
0.300222
3.33086
BSD
Bahamas Dollars
4.74294
0.210840
BBD
Barbados Dollars
2.38339
0.419571
BEF
Belgium Francs **
0.102409
9.76481
BMD
Bermuda Dollars
4.74294
0.210840
BRL
Brazil Reals
2.03998
0.490202
GBP
United Kingdom Pounds
6.76278
0.147868
BGL
Bulgaria Leva
2.12148
0.471368
CAD
Canada Dollars
2.97333
0.336324
CLP
Chile Pesos
0.00722514
138.406
CNY
China Yuan Renminbi
0.572999
1.74520
CYP
Cyprus Pounds
7.21909
0.138522
CZK
Czech Republic Koruny
0.133796
7.47404
DKK
Denmark Kroner
0.556092
1.79826
XCD
East Caribbean Dollars
1.75665
0.569267
EGP
Egypt Pounds
1.02384
0.976714
EUR
Euro
4.13115
0.242063
FJD
Fiji Dollars
2.12212
0.471226
FIM
Finland Markkaa **
0.694810
1.43924
FRF
France Francs **
0.629790
1.58783
DEM
Germany Deutsche Marks **
2.11222
0.473435
XAU
Gold Ounces
1,433.53
0.000697577
GRD
Greece Drachmae **
0.0121237
82.4831
HKD
Hong Kong Dollars
0.608101
1.64446
HUF
Hungary Forint
0.0169891
58.8612
ISK
Iceland Kronur
0.0474324
21.0826
INR
India Rupees
0.0971836
10.2898
IDR
Indonesia Rupiahs
0.000482770
2,071.38
IEP
Ireland Pounds **
5.24548
0.190640
ILS
Israel New Shekels
1.00000
1.00000
ITL
Italy Lire **
0.00213356
468.700
JMD
Jamaica Dollars
0.0996207
10.0381
JPY
Japan Yen
0.0357553
27.9679
JOD
Jordan Dinars
6.68962
0.149485
LBP
Lebanon Pounds
0.00313272
319.211
LUF
Luxembourg Francs **
0.102409
9.76481
MYR
Malaysia Ringgits
1.24847
0.800980
MXN
Mexico Pesos
0.526390
1.89973
NZD
New Zealand Dollars
2.08919
0.478655
NOK
Norway Kroner
0.535704
1.86670
NLG
Netherlands Guilders **
1.87463
0.533437
PKR
Pakistan Rupees
0.0789832
12.6609
PHP
Philippines Pesos
0.0929624
10.7570
XPT
Platinum Ounces
2,461.48
0.000406259
PLN
Poland Zlotych
1.15351
0.866922
PTE
Portugal Escudos **
0.0206061
48.5293
ROL
Romania Lei
0.000144009
6,944.00
RUR
Russia Rubles
0.152408
6.56133
SAR
Saudi Arabia Riyals
1.26477
0.790661
XAG
Silver Ounces
21.9591
0.0455393
SGD
Singapore Dollars
2.57461
0.388409
SKK
Slovakia Koruny
0.0989141
10.1098
ZAR
South Africa Rand
0.417595
2.39467
KRW
South Korea Won
0.00359095
278.478
ESP
Spain Pesetas **
0.0248287
40.2759
XDR
IMF Special Drawing Rights
5.91358
0.169102
SDD
Sudan Dinars
0.0182421
54.8183
SEK
Sweden Kronor
0.457772
2.18449
CHF
Switzerland Francs
2.82105
0.354477
TWD
Taiwan New Dollars
0.135707
7.36884
THB
Thailand Baht
0.108904
9.18243
TTD
Trinidad and Tobago Dollars
0.774991
1.29034
TRL
Turkey Liras
0.00000352872
283,388.96
VEB
Venezuela Bolivares
0.00515095
194.139
ZMK
Zambia Kwacha
0.00106106
942.453
Israel :
Geographic coordinates
31 30 N, 34 45 E
Israel :
Population growth rate
1.58%
Israel :
Birth rate
19.12 births/1,000 population
Israel :
Death rate
6.22 deaths/1,000 population
Israel :
People living with HIV/AIDS
2,400
Israel :
Independence
14 May 1948
Israel :
National holiday
Independence Day, 14 May
Israel :
Constitution
1948
Israel :
GDP
purchasing power parity - $110.2 billion
Israel :
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $18,900
Israel :
Electricity - consumption
31.899 billion kWh
Israel :
Exports
$31.5 billion machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
Israel :
Imports
$35.1 billion raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, consumer goods
Israel :
Telephones
2.8 million
Israel :
Mobile cellular
2.5 million
Israel :
Radio broadcast stations
AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2
Israel :
Radios
3.07 million
Israel :
Television broadcast stations
17
Israel :
Televisions
1.69 million
Israel :
Internet country code
.il
Israel :
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
21
Israel :
Internet users
1 million
Israel :
Railways
647 km
Israel :
Highways
15,965 km
Israel :
Waterways
N/A
Israel :
Pipelines
crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km
Israel :
Ports and harbors
Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Israel :
Merchant marine
17 ships
Israel :
Airports
55
Israel :
Heliports
2
Israel :
Military branches
Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen
