Israel

• Negev desert in the south;
• low coastal plain;
• central mountains;
• Jordan Rift Valley

highest point:

• Mitspe Shlagim 2,224 m;
• note - this is the highest named point, the actual highest point is an unnamed dome slightly to the west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m;
• both points are on the northeastern border of Israel, along the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range

lowest point:

Dead Sea -431 m

mean elevation:

508 m

agricultural land:

24.8% (2023 est.)

arable land:

12.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops:

4.7% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture:

7.6% (2023 est.)

forest:

6.7% (2023 est.)

other:

68.5% (2023 est.)

• population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee;
• the south remains sparsely populated, with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

• sandstorms may occur during spring and summer;
• droughts;
• periodic earthquakes

noun:

Israeli(s)

adjective:

Israeli

total:

30.2 years (2025 est.)

male:

29.6 years

female:

30.7 years

• population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee;
• the south remains sparsely populated, with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.84 male(s)/female

total population:

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

2.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

83.1 years (2024 est.)

male:

81.1 years

female:

85.1 years

total:

3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

1.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.08 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.)

total:

18.6% (2025 est.)

male:

24.9% (2025 est.)

female:

12.4% (2025 est.)

• limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources;
• desertification;
• air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
• groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

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, Marine Life Conservation

agricultural land:

24.8% (2023 est.)

arable land:

12.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops:

4.7% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture:

7.6% (2023 est.)

forest:

6.7% (2023 est.)

other:

68.5% (2023 est.)

urban population:

92.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

energy:

29.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture:

40.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste:

272.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other:

0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

5.4 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

30.4% (2022 est.)

municipal:

1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

104.834 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

1.215 billion cubic meters (2022)

conventional long form:

State of Israel

conventional short form:

Israel

local long form:

Medinat Yisra'el

local short form:

Yisra'el

former:

Mandatory Palestine

etymology:

• named after the ancient Kingdom of Israel;
• according to Biblical tradition, the Jewish patriarch Jacob received the name Israel (meaning "He who struggles with God") after he wrestled with an angel of the Lord

name:

Jerusalem

geographic coordinates:

31 46 N, 35 14 E

time difference:

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time:

+1hr, Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October

etymology:

• the meaning of the ancient name is unclear;
• the city is called Ursalim or Urusalimmi in Egyptian texts from the 14th century B.C., which may come from the Western Semitic verb yaru , meaning "to establish," and the name Shalim, the Canaanite god of dusk;
• another theory says the root letters s-l-m in the name refer to shalom , meaning "peace"

note: the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017, without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty

history:

no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws, and the Law of Return (as amended)

amendment process:

proposed by Government of Israel ministers or by the Knesset; passage requires a majority vote of Knesset members and subject to Supreme Court judicial review

• 18 years of age;
• universal;
• 17 years of age for municipal elections

chief of state:

President Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021)

head of government:

Prime Minister Benyamin NETANYAHU (since 29 December 2022)

cabinet:

Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset

election/appointment process:

• president indirectly elected by the Knesset for a single 7-year term;
• following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, tasks a Knesset member (usually the member of the largest party) with forming a new government

most recent election date:

2 June 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

expected date of next election:

June 2028

legislature name:

Parliament (Knesset)

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

120 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

11/1/2022

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)

percentage of women in chamber:

24.2%

expected date of next election:

October 2026

note 1: a 3.25% vote threshold is required to gain representation

note 2: following the 1 November 2022 election, the Religious Zionism Alliance split into its three constituent parties in the Knesset: Religious Zionism 7 seats, Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) 6, and Noam 1

highest court(s):

• Supreme Court (consists of the president, deputy president, 13 justices, and 2 registrars) and normally sits in panels of 3 justices;
• in special cases, the panel is expanded with an uneven number of justices

judge selection and term of office:

• judges selected by the 9-member Judicial Selection Committee, consisting of the Minister of Justice (chair), the president of the Supreme Court, two other Supreme Court justices, 1 other Cabinet minister, 2 Knesset members, and 2 representatives of the Israel Bar Association;
• judges can serve up to mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts:

• district and magistrate courts;
• national and regional labor courts;
• family and juvenile courts;
• special and Rabbinical courts

• 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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) LEITER (since 4 February 2025)

chancery:

3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 364-5500

FAX:

[1] (202) 364-5607

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://embassies.gov.il/washington/Pages/default.aspx

consulate(s) general:

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

description:

white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

history:

• the design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl ( tallit ), which is white with blue stripes;
• the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times

note: the Israeli flag proclamation states that the flag colors are sky blue and white, but the exact shade of blue has never been set and can vary

title:

"Hatikvah" (The Hope)

lyrics/music:

Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN

history:

• adopted 2004, unofficial since 1948;
• used as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897;
• the 1888 arrangement by Samuel COHEN is thought to be based on the Romanian folk song "Carul cu boi" (The Ox-Driven Cart)

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

• high-income, technology- and industrial-based economy;
• economic contraction and fiscal deficits resulting from war in Gaza;
• labor force stabilizing following military reservist mobilization;
• high-tech industry remains resilient while construction and tourism among hardest-hit sectors

agriculture:

1.3% (2024 est.)

industry:

17.3% (2024 est.)

services:

72.5% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

6.1% (2024 est.)

male:

6.2% (2024 est.)

female:

6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

2.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

lowest 10%:

2% (2021 est.)

highest 10%:

26.6% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

consumption:

5.297 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

9 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

4.887 million metric tons (2023 est.)

total petroleum production:

15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

219,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

12.73 million barrels (2021 est.)

production:

24.186 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption:

12.608 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports:

11.505 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports:

59.369 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

176.018 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

• the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has 3 channels, two in Hebrew and one in Arabic;
• multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels;
• IBC broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters, and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations;
• about 15 privately owned radio stations (2019)

total:

1,497 km (2021) (2019)

standard gauge:

1,497 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge

total ports:

5 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

1

small:

2

very small:

2

ports with oil terminals:

4

key ports:

Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat, Hadera, Haifa

Israel Defense Forces (IDF):

Ground Forces, Israel Naval Force (IN, includes commandos), Israel Air Force (IAF, includes air defense)

Ministry of National Security:

Israeli Police (2025)

• the majority of the IDF's inventory is comprised of weapons that are domestically produced or imported from Europe and the US;
• the US has been the leading supplier of arms in recent years;
• Israel's defense industry can develop, produce, support, and sustain a wide variety of weapons systems for both domestic use and export, particularly armored vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, air defense, and guided missiles (2025)

• 18-28 years of age for voluntary military service;
• 18 months service for men, 12 months for women;
• 18-21 years of age for compulsory military service for men and women;
• Jews and Druze can be conscripted;
• Christians, Circassians, and Muslims may volunteer;
• conscript service obligation is up to 36 months for enlisted personnel (depending on sex, marital status, and military occupation);
• officers serve 48 months;
• Air Force pilots commit to 9 years of service (2024)

• Israel Space Agency (ISA; established 1983 under the Ministry of Science and Technology; origins go back to the creation of a National Committee for Space Research, established 1960);
• Ministry of Defense Space Department (2025)

• has an ambitious space program that is one of the most advanced in the region;
• designs, builds, operates, and launches communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites;
• designs, builds, and operates orbital satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs);
• researches and develops a range of other space-related capabilities, with a focus on lightweight and miniaturized technologies;
• has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, the ESA, individual ESA member states (such as France, Germany, and Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, and the US;
• has a substantial commercial space sector, as well as state-owned enterprises (2025)

• 1961 - first sounding rocket launched
• 1988 - first operational launch of small-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) (Shavit) placed first domestically produced technology-demonstrator satellite (Ofeq-1) in orbit
• 1995 - launched first fully operational remote sensing satellite (Ofeq-3) on Shavit SLV
• 2007 - unveiled Shavit-2 small-lift 3-stage SLV
• 2014 - joined ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project; domestically built lunar probe (Beresheet) launched by US (crashed on Moon’s surface)
• 2022 - joined US Artemis Moon exploration project

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP);
• Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ);
• HAMAS

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

refugees:

27,413 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

68,000 (2024 est.)

stateless persons:

35 (2024 est.)