Israel is a small country in the Middle East, bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Its capital and largest city is Jerusalem, while Tel Aviv is the financial and technological center.

Israel has a diverse population of around 9 million people, including Jews, Arabs, Druze, and other ethnic groups. Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages, while English is widely spoken.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy and one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, with a highly educated and skilled workforce. Its economy is based largely on technology, tourism, and agriculture.

Israel is known for its historical and religious significance, with many important sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam located within its borders. Some of the most popular attractions include the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, and the Dead Sea.

In addition to its rich history, Israel is also known for its vibrant cultural scene, including music, art, theater, and film. The country is also famous for its food, which is a fusion of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and European flavors.

Israel has a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit is in the spring (March-May) or fall (September-November), when the weather is mild and comfortable.

Overall, Israel is a unique and fascinating destination with a rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty.

Telephone Code
972

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 101; Fire: 102; Police: 100

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Israel is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

Climate
Temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Currency (Code)
New Israeli shekels (ILS); the shekel is also commonly referred to as NIS

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, H

Major Languages
Hebrew, Arabic, English (most commonly used foreign language)

Major Religions
Jewish 74.1%, Muslim 17.9%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%

Potable Water
Yes, but many opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Jerusalem (includes Temple Mount, al-Aqsa Mosque, Holy Sepulcher Church, Mount of Olives); Bethlehem; Timna Park; Sea of Galilee; Masada; Dead Sea; Haifa & Mount Carmel

Major Sports
Soccer, basketball

Cultural Practices
It is common to bring a present if invited to a home for dinner. Wine, flowers, or chocolates are appreciated gifts.

Tipping Guidelines
Tip servers 10-15% at restaurants. Tipping taxi drivers is not expected.

Souvenirs
Religious artifacts, jewelry, olive wood carvings, olive oil and Dead Sea mineral beauty products, antiquities replicas including Roman coins, olive oil and kosher foods

Traditional Cuisine
Falafel — deep-fried balls or patties of mashed chickpea most often served with tahina/tahini (a paste made from ground sesame seeds), hummus, vegetable salad, or other sides

Geography
Area
total: 21,937 sq km
land: 21,497 sq km
water: 440 sq km

Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Natural resources
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

People and Society
Population
9,043,387 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Jewish 74% (of which Israel-born 78.7%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 14.8%, Africa-born 4.2%, Asia-born 2.3%), Arab 21.1%, other 4.9% (2020 est.)

Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language)

Religions
Jewish 74%, Muslim 18%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.5% (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
1.43% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
parliamentary democracy

Capital
name: Jerusalem; note - the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017 without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty

Economy
Economic overview
high-income, technology- and industrial-based economy; recent debt spikes; high inequality and poverty disparities persist; significant tariff and regulatory burdens, especially in agriculture; hard-hit by COVID-19; quantitative easing in effect

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$393.861 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$42,100 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, poultry, tomatoes, carrots, turnips, tangerines/mandarins, green chillies/peppers, eggs, vegetables

Industries
high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear

Exports
$143.884 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
United States 26%, China 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2020)

Exports - commodities
diamonds, packaged medicines, medical instruments, integrated circuits, refined petroleum (2019)

Imports
$124.578 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
United States 12%, China 11%, Germany 7.5%, Switzerland 7%, Turkey 6% (2020)

Imports - commodities
diamonds, cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019)