The State of Israel (Hebrew: (helpinfo), Med natYisr 'el; Arabic: , Dawlat Isr l), is a parliamentary

republic in Western Asia, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area.[6][7] Israel is the world's onlyJewish-majority state,[8] and is defined as a Jewish and democratic state in its Basic Laws.

Capital (and largest city)

Jerusalem[a]
3147 N 3513 E

Official language(s)

Hebrew, Arabic[1]

Ethnic groups

75.3% Jewish 20.5% Arab 4.2% other[2]

Demonym

Israeli

Government

Parliamentary democracy[1]

- President

Shimon Peres

- Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu

- Total 1

20,770 / 22,072 km2 (151st) 8,019 / 8,522 sq mi

- Water (%)

~2%

Population - 2011 estimate 7,746,000[2] (95th) 7,406,900[3] 365.3/km2 (30th) 946.1/sq mi

- 2008 census - Density

GDP (PPP)

2010 estimate $219.431 billion[4] $29,531[4]

- Total - Per capita

GDP (nominal)

2010 estimate $213.147 billion[4] $28,685[4]

- Total - Per capita

Gini (2008)

39.2[1]

HDI (2010)

0.872[5] (very high) (15th)

Currency

Shekel ( ) (ILS)

Time zone - Summer (DST)

IST (UTC+2) IDT (UTC+3)

Drives on the

right

ISO 3166 code

IL

Internet TLD

.il

Calling code

972

Languages
Israel has two official languages, Hebrew and Arabic. Hebrew is the primary language of the state and is spoken by the majority of the population, and Arabic is spoken by the Arab minority.