01
Physical geography
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley.
Local timeJerusalem ·
Asia / Western Asia · Card 017
Israel
Israel is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Jerusalem.
Find Israel
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- JerusalemIsrael designates Jerusalem as its capital. The city’s status, especially East Jerusalem, remains disputed internationally.
- Languages
- Hebrew; Arabic has special status
- Currency
- Israeli new shekel (ILS)
- Population
- 10.1 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 20,770 km²8,019 square miles
- Independence
- 1948
Israel in context
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Jerusalem; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Hebrew is the state language. Arabic has special status in law and is widely used by Arab communities.
03
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon. Israel designates Jerusalem as its capital. The city’s status, especially East Jerusalem, remains disputed internationally.
Flag
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 & independence
Israel declared independence in 1948 as the British Mandate ended, followed by war with neighboring Arab states and mass Palestinian displacement. The 1967 war brought the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and other territories under Israeli control. Peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 were major regional developments.
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Independence declared and war begins
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Peace treaty with Egypt
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Peace treaty with Jordan
Economy
Main activities
Technology, business services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and agriculture contribute to the economy. Natural gas production and international trade are also important.
Industry and production
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
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people10.12025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,974,000 | 2.974 |
| 1980 | 3,878,000 | 3.878 |
| 1990 | 4,660,000 | 4.660 |
| 2000 | 6,289,000 | 6.289 |
| 2010 | 7,623,600 | 7.624 |
| 2020 | 9,215,100 | 9.215 |
| 2025 | 10,122,800 | 10.123 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars431.22025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 104,366,768,914 | 104.367 |
| 1991 | 112,430,265,580 | 112.430 |
| 1992 | 121,154,029,224 | 121.154 |
| 1993 | 126,141,645,505 | 126.142 |
| 1994 | 135,511,251,853 | 135.511 |
| 1995 | 144,458,957,652 | 144.459 |
| 1996 | 152,893,804,290 | 152.894 |
| 1997 | 158,413,677,280 | 158.414 |
| 1998 | 164,911,702,425 | 164.912 |
| 1999 | 170,334,589,408 | 170.335 |
| 2000 | 184,968,923,141 | 184.969 |
| 2001 | 185,469,211,205 | 185.469 |
| 2002 | 185,185,665,146 | 185.186 |
| 2003 | 187,842,263,106 | 187.842 |
| 2004 | 196,575,885,063 | 196.576 |
| 2005 | 205,131,976,814 | 205.132 |
| 2006 | 216,601,040,002 | 216.601 |
| 2007 | 230,275,218,247 | 230.275 |
| 2008 | 237,680,439,766 | 237.680 |
| 2009 | 240,580,556,617 | 240.581 |
| 2010 | 253,920,041,345 | 253.920 |
| 2011 | 267,919,718,903 | 267.920 |
| 2012 | 274,376,417,087 | 274.376 |
| 2013 | 285,598,789,630 | 285.599 |
| 2014 | 296,217,764,318 | 296.218 |
| 2015 | 302,841,190,258 | 302.841 |
| 2016 | 316,578,125,376 | 316.578 |
| 2017 | 330,330,105,624 | 330.330 |
| 2018 | 343,720,034,899 | 343.720 |
| 2019 | 356,021,732,427 | 356.022 |
| 2020 | 349,605,974,158 | 349.606 |
| 2021 | 382,242,904,638 | 382.243 |
| 2022 | 406,569,119,634 | 406.569 |
| 2023 | 414,955,522,699 | 414.956 |
| 2024 | 418,912,615,203 | 418.913 |
| 2025 | 431,191,570,915 | 431.192 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.919Very High human developmentRank 27 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.787
20000.839
20100.889
20200.912
20230.919
82.4 yearsLife expectancy at birth
13.5 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary democracy. Parliament (Knesset) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Israel.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which city is identified as the capital of Israel?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.