Language
Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages. Several languages of immigrants' countries of origin are also spoken as well as Ladino, Circassian and Amharic.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	7.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	6.9 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	6.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	6.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	6.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	6.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	6.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	6.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	6.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
10.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Jews of European, American, African, Asian and Middle Eastern descent comprise 80 percent of the population; Arabs, Druze and others make up 20 percent.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Judaism is the official religion, but Arabs are Muslim or Christian.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	91.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	91.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1948
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
98 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	27.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	27.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	28.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	27.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	28.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	28.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +2

Climate description
Hot, dry summers, mild winters in northern Israel. On the coast, summer temperatures and humidity can be oppressive but tempered by sea breeze. Winters are mild with frost and snow a rarity. Inland, rainfall is heavier with cool nights but a drier, more comfortable heat in the summer. In the south, winter nights can be quite cold with occasional snow but summers are very hot.

Currency
New Shekel

Telephone dialling code
(+) 972

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	80.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	80.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	79.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	78.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	78.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	77.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	76.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	82.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	82.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	81.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	80.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	80.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	80.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel
No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	4 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	17 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	23	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	23	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	23	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	22	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	22	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	22	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation
No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	97.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	96.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	95.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	95.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	94.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	98.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	98.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	97.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	97.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	96.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	95.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	95.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	93.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	93.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	92.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	411 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	444 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	441 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	439 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	441 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	451 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	475 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	488 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	489 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1274 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	1284 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	1234 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	1159 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	1099 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	1026 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	995 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	886 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	723 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	289 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	289 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	277 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	251 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	227 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	195 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	177 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	174 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	209 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	33 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	30 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	34 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	28 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	26	Transparency International
2003	21 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	18 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	16 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	22	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	22170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	20920 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	20060 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	18580 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	17340 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	17100 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	18020 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	17890 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	164.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	143.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	133.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	125.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	117.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	111.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	121.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	123.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	5.1  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	5.2  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	4.8  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	1.5  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-0.9  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	-0.6  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	8.7  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	-0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	0.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	4.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.1 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
28.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	382 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	382 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	375 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	378 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	9 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	1494	UNHCR
2007	1541	UNHCR
2006	882	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	632	UNHCR
2004	672	UNHCR
2003	625	UNHCR
2002	564	UNHCR
2001	363	UNHCR
2000	416	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	394	UNHCR
2007	1156	UNHCR
2006	837	UNHCR
2005	609	UNHCR
2004	574	UNHCR
2003	4179	UNHCR
2002	4179	UNHCR
2001	4168	UNHCR
2000	4075	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2007	150000 - 420000	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2006	150000 - 420000	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2006
2005	150000 - 300000	IDMC 2006

Landmine casualties per year

2007	2	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	No data available	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	9.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	8.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	9.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	6.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	7.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	7.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	7.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	7.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	6.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	6.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	6.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	6.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	8.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003