CapitalJerusalem
Population9,402,617
Area21,937 km²
GDP per capita$47,300
LanguagesHebrew , Arabic , English
Currencynew Israeli shekels
Life Expectancy83.1 yr
Governmentparliamentary democracy.
Introduction
Background
Israel has become a regional economic and military powerhouse, leveraging its prosperous high-tech sector, large defense industry, and concerns about Iran to foster partnerships around the world. The State of Israel was established in 1948. The UN General Assembly proposed in 1947 partitioning the British Mandate for Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state. The Jews accepted the proposal, but the local Arabs and the Arab states rejected the UN plan and launched a war. The Arabs were subsequently defeated in the 1947-1949 war that followed the UN proposal and the British withdrawal. Israel joined the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to Jewish refugee migration from Europe and the Middle East. Israel and its Arab neighbors fought wars in 1956, 1967, and 1973, and Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Israel took control of the West Bank, the eastern part of Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights in the course of the 1967 war. It ceded the Sinai back to Egypt in the 1979-1982 period but has continued to administer the other territories through military authorities. Israel and Palestinian officials signed interim agreements in the 1990s that created a period of Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. The most recent formal efforts between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to negotiate final status issues occurred in 2013 and 2014, and the US continues its efforts to advance peace. Israel signed the US-brokered normalization agreements (the Abraham Accords) with Bahrain, the UAE, and Morocco in 2020 and reached an agreement with Sudan in 2021. Immigration to Israel continues, with more than 44,000 estimated new immigrants, mostly Jewish, in the first 11 months of 2023.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU returned to office in 2022, continuing his dominance of Israel's political landscape at the head of Israel's most rightwing and religious government. NETANYAHU previously served as premier from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, becoming Israel's longest serving prime minister.
On 7 October 2023, HAMAS militants launched a combined unguided rocket and ground terrorist attack from Gaza into southern Israel. The same day Israel’s Air Force launched air strikes inside Gaza and initiated a sustained air campaign against HAMAS targets across the Gaza Strip. The following day, NETANYAHU formally declared war on HAMAS, and on 28 October, the Israel Defense Forces launched a large-scale ground assault inside Gaza.
The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 30 years, led by cutting-edge high-tech sectors. Offshore gas discoveries in the Mediterranean place Israel at the center of a potential regional natural gas market. In 2022, a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon established their maritime boundary, allowing Israel to begin production on additional gas fields in the Mediterranean. However, Israel's economic development has been uneven. Structural issues such as low labor-force participation among religious and minority populations, low workforce productivity, high costs for housing and consumer staples, and high income inequality concern both economists and the general population. The current war with Hamas disrupted Israel’s solid economic fundamentals, but it is not likely to have long-term structural implications for the economy.
Geography
Area
land
21,497 sq km
water
440 sq km
total
21,937 sq km
Climate
temperate; characterized by hot and arid conditions in the southern and eastern desert regions
Terrain
Negev Desert located in the southern region; low coastal plains; central mountain ranges; Jordan Rift Valley
Land use
other
68.5% (2023 est.)
forest
6.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
24.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 4.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Location
Middle East, situated along the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Coastline
273 km
Elevation
lowest point
Dead Sea -431 m
highest point
Mitspe Shlagim at 2,224 m; note - this is the highest named elevation, while the true highest point is an unnamed dome slightly west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m; both elevations are found on Israel's northeastern border, at the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range
mean elevation
508 m
Irrigated land
1,927 sq km (2022)
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
1,068 km
border countries
Egypt 208 km; Gaza Strip 59 km; Jordan 327 km (with 20 km within the Dead Sea); Lebanon 81 km; Syria 83 km; West Bank 330 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
to depth of exploitation
Natural hazards
sandstorms may arise in the spring and summer; occurrences of drought; occasional earthquakes
Geography - note
note 1: Lake Tiberias (also known as the Sea of Galilee) serves as a vital freshwater resource; the Dead Sea ranks as the second most saline body of water worldwide (following Lake Assal in Djibouti)
note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom holds the title of the longest salt cave globally at 10 km (6 mi); Mount Sodom itself is a hill approximately 220 m (722 ft) tall, composed of 80% salt, layered with multiple salt deposits and capped with a rock layer
Natural resources
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
Area - comparative
marginally larger than New Jersey
Geographic coordinates
31 30 N, 34 45 E
Population distribution
the population is predominantly found in and around Tel-Aviv and near the Sea of Galilee; the southern region remains sparsely populated, except for the Gulf of Aqaba's coastline
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km
note - an endorheic hypersaline lake; possesses a salinity that is 9.6 times that of ocean water; the lake's shoreline is 431 meters below sea level
People & Society
Languages
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (widely spoken foreign language)
major-language sample(s)
ספר עובדות העולם, המקור החיוני למידע בסיסי (Hebrew)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Jewish 73.5%, Muslim 18.1%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.9% (2022 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.04 male(s)/female
total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.84 male(s)/female
Birth rate
18.89 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
29.6 years
total
30.2 years (2025 est.)
female
30.7 years
Population
male
4,731,275
total
9,402,617 (2024 est.)
female
4,671,342
Nationality
noun
Israeli(s)
adjective
Israeli
Tobacco use
male
24.9% (2025 est.)
total
18.6% (2025 est.)
female
12.4% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
92.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
27.5% (male 1,320,629/female 1,260,977)
15-64 years
60.3% (male 2,885,485/female 2,781,777)
65 years and over
12.3% (2024 est.) (male 525,161/female 628,588)
Ethnic groups
Jewish 73.5% (of which Israel-born 79.7%, born in Europe/America/Oceania 14.3%, born in Africa 3.9%, born in Asia 2.1%), Arab 21.1%, other 5.4% (2022 estimate)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
65.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
45.6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
4.9 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
20.4 (2024 est.)
Physician density
3.8 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
13% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
3.1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
16.1% national budget (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total
2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.59% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.41 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the population is primarily situated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as near the Sea of Galilee; the southern region remains sparsely populated, except for the coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba
Life expectancy at birth
male
81.1 years
female
85.1 years
total population
83.1 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 99% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
1.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
4.421 million Tel Aviv-Yafo, 1.174 million Haifa, 970,000 JERUSALEM (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
26.1% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.7 years (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.4% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
14 years (2022 est.)
total
15 years (2022 est.)
female
16 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
temperate; characterized by hot and arid conditions in the desert regions of the south and east
Land use
other
68.5% (2023 est.)
forest
6.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
24.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 4.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
92.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
272.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
29.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
40.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
5.4 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
30.4% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
scarce cultivable land and constrained natural freshwater supplies; desertification; air contamination resulting from industrial activities and vehicular emissions; groundwater contamination due to industrial and household waste, as well as chemical fertilizers and pesticides
Total water withdrawal
municipal
1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
104.834 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1.215 billion cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
64.401 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
24.066 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
11.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
28.793 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
1.78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Marine Biodiversity Protection
Government
Flag
description: the flag features a blue hexagram (a six-pointed star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) positioned centrally between two horizontal blue bands of equal width, located near the top and bottom edges of the flag.
history: this design is reminiscent of a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is primarily white with blue stripes; the hexagram has been associated with Jewish identity since medieval times.
Capital
name
Jerusalem
etymology
the origin of the ancient name remains uncertain; in 14th century B.C. Egyptian texts, the city is referred to as Ursalim or Urusalimmi, which may derive from the Western Semitic verb yaru, meaning "to establish," combined with the name Shalim, a Canaanite deity associated with dusk; another hypothesis suggests that the root letters s-l-m within the name relate to shalom, translating to "peace."
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time).
daylight saving time
+1 hour, effective Friday before the last Sunday in March; concludes on the last Sunday in October.
geographic coordinates
31 46 N, 35 14 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; 17 years of age for local elections.
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Israel
dual citizenship recognized
yes, although naturalized citizens are prohibited from holding dual citizenship.
residency requirement for naturalization
3 out of the 5 years preceding the application for naturalization
Constitution
history
there is no formal constitution; certain constitutional functions are fulfilled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws, and the Law of Return (as modified).
amendment process
legislation can be proposed by ministers of the Government of Israel or by the Knesset; its approval necessitates a majority vote from Knesset members and is subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court.
Country name
former
Mandatory Palestine
etymology
the name is derived from the ancient Kingdom of Israel; according to Biblical accounts, the Jewish patriarch Jacob was given the name Israel (meaning "He who struggles with God") after his encounter with an angel of the Lord.
local long form
Medinat Yisra'el
local short form
Yisra'el
conventional long form
State of Israel
conventional short form
Israel
Independence
14 May 1948 (following League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Legal system
a mixed legal system incorporating English common law, regulations from the British Mandate, and religious laws from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions.
Government type
parliamentary democracy.
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Supreme Court, which is composed of the president, the deputy president, 13 justices, and 2 registrars, typically convenes in panels of 3 justices; in exceptional circumstances, panels may consist of an uneven number of justices.
subordinate courts
includes district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; family and juvenile courts; as well as special and Rabbinical courts.
judge selection and term of office
judges are appointed by a 9-member Judicial Selection Committee, which includes the Minister of Justice (chair), the president of the Supreme Court, two other justices from the Supreme Court, one additional Cabinet minister, two Knesset members, and two representatives from the Israel Bar Association; judges are required to retire at the age of 70.
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
chief of state
President Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021)
election results
2021: Isaac HERZOG elected president; Knesset vote in first round - Isaac HERZOG (independent) 87, Miriam PERETZ (independent) 26, invalid/blank 7
2014: Reuven RIVLIN elected president in second round; Knesset vote - Reuven RIVLIN (Likud) 63, Meir SHEETRIT (The Movement) 53, other/invalid 4
head of government
Prime Minister Benyamin NETANYAHU (since 29 December 2022)
most recent election date
2 June 2021
election/appointment process
the president is indirectly elected by the Knesset for a single term of 7 years; following legislative elections, the president consults with party leaders to assign a Knesset member (typically from the largest party) to form a new government.
expected date of next election
June 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 14 May (1948)
National color(s)
blue, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
9 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Masada; Old City of Acre; White City of Tel-Aviv - the Modern Movement; Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba; Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev; Bahá’i Holy Places; Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel; Caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin; Necropolis of Bet She’arim.
Political parties
Balad
Blue and White
Hadash
Labor Party or HaAvoda
Likud
Meretz
National Unity (alliance includes Blue and White and New Hope)
New Hope
Noam
Otzma Yehudit
Religious Zionist Party
Shas
Ta'al
United Arab List
United Torah Judaism or UTJ (alliance includes Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah)
Yesh Atid
Yisrael Beiteinu
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
120 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Knesset)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/1/2022
expected date of next election
October 2026
percentage of women in chamber
24.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Likud (32); Yesh Atid (24); Religious Zionism (14); National Unity (12); Shas (11); United Torah Judaism (Yahadut Hatorah) (7); Yisrael Beiteinu (6); Other (14).
National anthem(s)
title
"Hatikvah" (The Hope)
history
adopted in 2004, though unofficial since 1948; it has served as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897; Samuel COHEN's arrangement from 1888 is believed to be based on the Romanian folk tune "Carul cu boi" (The Ox-Driven Cart).
lyrics/music
Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN.
National symbol(s)
Star of David (Magen David), menorah (the seven-branched lampstand).
Administrative divisions
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, and Tel Aviv.
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 364-5607
chancery
3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 364-5500
chief of mission
Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) LEITER (since 4 February 2025)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco.
email address and website
[email protected]
https://embassies.gov.il/washington/Pages/default.aspx
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[972] (2) 630-4070
embassy
14 David Flusser Street, Jerusalem, 9378322
telephone
[972] (2) 630-4000
mailing address
6350 Jerusalem Place, Washington DC 20521-6350.
branch office(s)
Tel Aviv
chief of mission
Ambassador Mike HUCKABEE (21 April 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://il.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CERN, CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not issued a declaration of jurisdiction to the ICJ; withdrew its acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$162.524 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$188.905 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$164.407 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$154.638 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$153.248 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$153.388 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$140.432 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$140.438 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
high-technology goods (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufacturing, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper goods, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, metal products, chemicals, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, and footwear
Labor force
4.71 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2019
59.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
3.442 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
3.23 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
3.36 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
3.667 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
3.7 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
a high-income economy characterized by technology and industrial sectors; economic contraction and fiscal deficits arising from the conflict in Gaza; labor force stabilizing after the mobilization of military reservists; the high-tech sector shows resilience, while construction and tourism are among the sectors most severely affected
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
3.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 29%, China 10%, Ireland 6%, Germany 4%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 17%, USA 12%, Germany 7%, Turkey 6%, Italy 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$48,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$47,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$47,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
0.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, tangerines/mandarins, bananas, eggs, avocados, beef, carrots/turnips (2023)
Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, medical instruments, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports - commodities
cars, diamonds, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$17.104 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$18.604 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$16.713 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
22.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$540.38 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
48% (2023 est.)
government consumption
22.3% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
1.7% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
24.4% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
30.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-27.6% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
2.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
4.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.1% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-4.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$459.698 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$468.095 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$472.177 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
6.2% (2024 est.)
total
6.1% (2024 est.)
female
6% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$194.231 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$204.661 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$214.544 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
17.3% (2024 est.)
services
72.5% (2024 est.)
agriculture
1.3% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2% (2021 est.)
highest 10%
26.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
37.9 (2021 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
9 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports
4.887 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
5.297 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
12.73 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
219,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
6.93 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
63.964 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
22.612 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
3.51 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
11.505 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
59.369 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
production
24.186 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
12.608 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
176.018 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
112.437 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
89.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
87% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) operates three channels, consisting of two in Hebrew and one in Arabic. Multi-channel satellite and cable television packages offer viewers access to international channels. IBC also transmits on eight radio networks, supported by numerous repeaters, while the Israel Defense Forces Radio is available across several stations. As of 2019, there are approximately 15 privately owned radio stations.
Internet country code
.il
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
2.905 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
31 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
13.8 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
152 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
2.76 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
30 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
2
medium
1
key ports
Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat, Hadera, Haifa
very small
2
total ports
5 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
4
Airports
40 (2025)
Railways
total
1,497 km (2021) (2019)
standard gauge
1,497 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge
Heliports
13 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
41 (2023)
by type
4 container ships, 1 general cargo vessel, 4 oil tankers, and 32 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
4X
Military & Security
Military - note
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are tasked with external defense while also holding certain domestic security duties. Their main operational priorities include addressing the threats from Iran, the instability in Syria, and combating terrorist organizations such as HAMAS, Hizballah, and Palestine Islamic Jihad. Established from armed Jewish militias during the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948-49, the IDF—especially its Ground Forces—has operated under the imperative to swiftly mobilize and safeguard the nation's territory against numerically superior neighboring states. The active military is supported by a substantial reserve force of approximately 300,000 to 400,000 trained personnel who can be mobilized quickly.
Israel’s foremost security ally is the United States. In accordance with a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (2019-2028), the US allocates over $3 billion annually for military financing and collaborative military initiatives, including missile defense systems. Moreover, the US grants Israel access to American-made military weaponry, which includes advanced fighter jets. Israel holds the status of Major Non-NATO Ally with the US, a classification under US law that offers foreign partners specific advantages in defense trade and security collaboration.
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has been present in the Golan Heights, between Israel and Syria, since 1974 to oversee the ceasefire established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and to manage the separation zones between the two nations. UNDOF is composed of approximately 1,300 personnel (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Ground Forces, Israel Naval Force (IN, which includes commandos), Israel Air Force (IAF, which includes air defense)
Ministry of National Security: Israeli Police (2025)
Military service age and obligation
Individuals aged 18-28 are eligible for voluntary military service. The duration of service is 18 months for men and 12 months for women. Compulsory military service applies to men and women aged 18-21. Jews and Druze are subject to conscription, while Christians, Circassians, and Muslims have the option to volunteer. The obligation for conscripted service can extend up to 36 months for enlisted personnel, varying by gender, marital status, and military role. Officers are required to serve for 48 months, whereas Air Force pilots must commit for 9 years (2024).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The vast majority of the IDF's arsenal consists of weapons that are either produced domestically or imported from Europe and the United States. In recent years, the US has been the predominant supplier of arms. Israel's defense sector is capable of developing, manufacturing, supporting, and maintaining a diverse array of weapon systems for both domestic application and export, focusing particularly on armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense systems, and guided missiles (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The IDF comprises approximately 170,000 active-duty personnel (130,000 in Ground Forces, 10,000 in Naval Forces, and 30,000 in the Air Force) along with over 400,000 reservists (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ); HAMAS
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
68,000 (2024 est.)
refugees
27,413 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
35 (2024 est.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
Palmachim Airbase (Central district) (2025)
Space agency/agencies
The Israel Space Agency (ISA), which was founded in 1983 under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Technology, traces its origins back to the establishment of a National Committee for Space Research in 1960. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense Space Department was created in 2025.
Space program overview
Israel maintains an ambitious space program recognized as one of the most sophisticated in the region. It engages in the design, construction, operation, and launch of communications satellites, remote sensing (RS) satellites, and scientific satellites. Furthermore, Israel designs, builds, and operates orbital satellite and space launch vehicles (SLVs). The country is also involved in research and development of various space-related technologies, emphasizing lightweight and miniaturized systems. Israel has established relationships with numerous international space agencies and industries, including those from Canada, the European Space Agency (ESA), specific ESA member countries such as France, Germany, and Italy, as well as India, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. The nation boasts a significant commercial space sector alongside state-owned enterprises as of 2025.
Key space-program milestones
1961 - The initial sounding rocket was launched.
1988 - The first operational launch of a small-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV), known as Shavit, successfully placed the first domestically produced technology-demonstrator satellite (Ofeq-1) into orbit.
1995 - The first fully operational remote sensing satellite (Ofeq-3) was launched using the Shavit SLV.
2007 - The Shavit-2, a small-lift 3-stage SLV, was revealed.
2014 - Israel became a participant in the ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project; a domestically constructed lunar probe (Beresheet) was launched by the US, but it ultimately crashed on the Moon’s surface.
2022 - Israel joined the US Artemis Moon exploration initiative.
