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Compare Israel (2002) - Jordan (2001)

Compare Israel (2002) z Jordan (2001)

 Israel (2002)Jordan (2001)
 IsraelJordan
Administrative divisions 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv 12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Age structure 0-14 years: 27.1% (male 837,491; female 798,695)


15-64 years: 63% (male 1,905,677; female 1,889,525)


65 years and over: 9.9% (male 257,066; female 341,075) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
37.23% (male 980,345; female 938,081)

15-64 years:
59.44% (male 1,633,579; female 1,429,631)

65 years and over:
3.33% (male 84,815; female 86,927) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry
Airports 54 (2001) 18 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 28


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 4 (2002)
total:
15

over 3,047 m:
7

2,438 to 3,047 m:
6

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 24


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
total:
3

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total: 20,770 sq km


land: 20,330 sq km


water: 440 sq km
total:
92,300 sq km

land:
91,971 sq km

water:
329 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey slightly smaller than Indiana
Background Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives (from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip) and Syria, to achieve a permanent settlement. But progress toward a permanent status agreement has been undermined by the outbreak of Palestinian-Israeli violence since September 2000. For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-1999). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and established his domestic priorities.
Birth rate 18.91 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 25.44 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $40 billion


expenditures: $42.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues:
$2.8 billion

expenditures:
$3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Jerusalem; note - Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv Amman
Climate temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Coastline 273 km 26 km
Constitution no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law 8 January 1952
Country name conventional long form: State of Israel


conventional short form: Israel


local long form: Medinat Yisra'el


local short form: Yisra'el
conventional long form:
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

conventional short form:
Jordan

local long form:
Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah

local short form:
Al Urdun

former:
Transjordan
Currency new Israeli shekel (ILS) Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Death rate 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $42.8 billion (2001 est.) $8 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER


embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv


mailing address: PSC 98, Box 29, APO AE 09830


telephone: [972] (3) 519-7457/7369/7454/7458/7453


FAX: [972] (3) 517-4390


consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government
chief of mission:
Ambassador William J. BURNS

embassy:
Abdoum, Amman

mailing address:
P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200

telephone:
[962] (6) 5920101

FAX:
[962] (6) 5920121
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel AYALON


chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500


FAX: [1] (202) 364-3607


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHER

chancery:
3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 966-2664

FAX:
[1] (202) 966-3110
Disputes - international West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights) none
Economic aid - recipient NA ODA, $850 million (1996 est.)
Economy - overview Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and military aid. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR during the period 1989-99 coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early 1990s. But growth began moderating in 1996 when the government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration bonus petered out. Growth was a strong 6.4% in 2000. But the bitter Israeli-Palestinian conflict, increasingly the declines in the high-technology and tourist sectors, and fiscal austerity measures in the face of growing inflation have led to declines in GDP in 2001 and 2002. Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. The Persian Gulf crisis, which began in August 1990, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to stop most debt payments and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade revenues contracted. Refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf. After averaging 9% in 1992-95, GDP growth averaged only 1.5% during 1996-99. In an attempt to spur growth, King ABDALLAH has undertaken limited economic reform, including partial privatization of some state-owned enterprises and Jordan's entry in January 2000 into the World Trade Organization (WTrO). Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental ongoing economic problems.
Electricity - consumption 34.897 billion kWh (2000) 6.594 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 1.27 billion kWh (2000) 4 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 12 million kWh (2000) 407 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 38.876 billion kWh (2000) 6.657 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
99.79%

hydro:
0.21%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m


highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
lowest point:
Dead Sea -408 m

highest point:
Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Environment - current issues limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%, Israel-born 20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish 19.9% (mostly Arab) (1996 est.) Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Exchange rates new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.2757 (December 2001), 4.2057 (2001), 4.0773 (2000), 4.1397 (1999), 3.8001 (1998), 3.4494 (1997) Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.7090 (1996-present )

note:
since May 1989, the Jordanian dinar has been pegged to a group of currencies
Executive branch chief of state: President Moshe KATSAV (since 31 July 2000)


head of government: Prime Minister Ariel SHARON (since 7 March 2001)


cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset


elections: president elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term; election last held 31 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2007); following legislative elections, the president assigns a Knesset member - traditionally the leader of the largest party - the task of forming a governing coalition; election last held 28 January 2003 (next to be held fall of 2007)


election results: Moshe KATSAV elected president by the 120-member Knesset with a total of 60 votes, other candidate, Shimon PERES, received 57 votes (there were three abstentions); Ariel SHARON continues as prime minister after Likud Party victory in January 2003 Knesset elections; Likud won 38 seats and then formed coalition government with Shinui, the National Religious Party, and the National Union
chief of state:
King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH (half brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980)

head of government:
Prime Minister Ali Abul RAGHEB (since 19 June 2000)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Exports $28 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) $2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures
Exports - partners US 42.8%, Benelux 7.4%, Hong Kong 6.8%, Germany 4.8%, UK 4.8%, Japan 3.2% (2001) India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Ethiopia
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag three equal horizontal bands of black (top, the Abbassid Caliphate of Islam), white (the Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the Fatimid Caliphate of Islam) with a red isosceles triangle (representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations
GDP purchasing power parity - $122 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $17.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 30%


services: 67% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
3%

industry:
25%

services:
72% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -1.1% (2002 est.) 2% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 31 30 N, 34 45 E 31 00 N, 36 00 E
Geography - note there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (February 2002 est.); Sea of Galilee is an important freshwater source -
Heliports 3 (2002) 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 15,965 km


paved: 15,965 km (including 56 km of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
total:
8,000 km

paved:
8,000 km

unpaved:
0 km (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2%


highest 10%: 28% (1992) (1997)
lowest 10%:
2.4%

highest 10%:
34.7% (1991)
Illicit drugs increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and increasingly Jordan -
Imports $30.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) $4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, consumer goods crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods
Imports - partners US 23.5%, Benelux 10.2%, Germany 7.9%, uk 6.7%, Switzerland 6.0%, Italy 5.2% (2001) Iraq, Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia, Syria, China
Independence 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Industrial production growth rate -1.5% (2002 est.) 3.8% (2000 est.)
Industries high-technology projects (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, diamond cutting phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, tourism
Infant mortality rate 7.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 20.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.7% (2002 est.) 0.7% (2000 est.)
International organization participation BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 21 (2000) 5 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,990 sq km (1998 est.) 630 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (justices appointed for life by the president) Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)
Labor force 2.4 million (2000 est.) 1.15 million

note:
in addition, at least 300,000 workers are employed abroad (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation public services 31%, manufacturing 20%, finance and business 13%, commerce 13%, construction 8%, personal and other services 6%, transport, storage, and communications 6%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3% (1996) (1996) industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992)
Land boundaries total: 1,017 km


border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
total:
1,619 km

border countries:
Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Land use arable land: 17.02%


permanent crops: 4.17%


other: 78.81% (1998 est.)
arable land:
4%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
9%

forests and woodland:
1%

other:
85% (1993 est.)
Languages Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Legal system mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Knesset or parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 27 January 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - Likud Party 29.4%, Labor 14.5%, Shinui 12.3%, Shas 8.2%, National Union 5.5%, Meretz 5.2%, United Torah Judaism 4.3%, National Religious Party 4.2%, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3.0%, One Nation 2.8%, National Democratic Alliance 2.3%, YBA 2.2%, United Arab List 2.1%, Green Leaf Party 1.2%, Herut 1.2%, other 1.6%; seats by party - Likud 38, Labor 19, Shinui 15, Shas 11, National Union 7, Meretz 6, National Religious Party 6, United Torah Judaism 5, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3, One Nation 3, National Democratic Alliance 3, YBA 2, United Arab List 2
bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections:
House of Representatives - last held 4 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)

election results:
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2

note:
the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.86 years


male: 76.82 years


female: 81.01 years (2002 est.)
total population:
77.53 years

male:
75.1 years

female:
80.12 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 95%


male: 97%


female: 93% (1992 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
86.6%

male:
93.4%

female:
79.4% (1995 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Map references Middle East Middle East
Maritime claims continental shelf: to depth of exploitation


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea:
3 NM
Merchant marine total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 595,319 GRT/704,544 DWT


ships by type: container 15, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
total:
6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,919 GRT/57,777 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 3, container 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (includes ground, naval, and air components with Air Defense Forces), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal); note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military services Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $8.97 billion (FY02) $608.9 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 8.75% (FY02) 7.8% (FY98/99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,542,835


females age 15-49: 1,499,830 (2002 est.)
males age 15-49:
1,458,571 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 1,262,973


females age 15-49: 1,223,939 (2002 est.)
males age 15-49:
1,034,109 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 51,666


females: 49,207 (2002 est.)
males:
57,131 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Nationality noun: Israeli(s)


adjective: Israeli
noun:
Jordanian(s)

adjective:
Jordanian
Natural hazards sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes droughts
Natural resources timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand phosphates, potash, shale oil
Net migration rate 2.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 7.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km crude oil 209 km; note - may not be in use
Political parties and leaders Center Party [Dan MERIDOR]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) [Muhammad BARAKA]; Democratic Movement [Roman BRONFMAN]; Gesher [David LEVI]; Herut [michael KLEINER]; Labor Party [Binyamin BEN-ELIEZER]; Likud Party [Ariel SHARON]; Meimad [Rabbi Michael MELCHIOR]; Meretz [Yossi SARID]; National Democratic Alliance (Balad) [Azmi BISHARA]; National Religious Party [Yitzhak LEVY]; National Union [Benyamin ELON] (includes Tekuma and Moledet); One Israel [Ra'anan COHEN]; One Nation [Amir PERETZ]; Shas [Eliyahu YISHAI]; Shinui [Tommy LAPID]; United Arab List [Abd al-Malik DAHAMSHAH]; United Torah Judaism [Meir PORUSH]; Yisra'el Ba'Aliya or YBA [Natan SHARANSKY]; Yisra'el Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN] Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'eed THIYAB, secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Yesha (settler) Council promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise; B'Tselem monitors human rights abuses Council of Professional Association Presidents [Ahmad al-QADIRI, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]
Population 6,029,529 (July 2002 est.)


note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, more than 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (February 2003 est.)
5,153,378 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 30% (1998 est.)
Population growth rate 1.48% (2002 est.) 3% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo Al 'Aqabah
Radio broadcast stations AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios 3.07 million (1997) 1.66 million (1997)
Railways total: 647 km


standard gauge: 647 km 1.435-m gauge (2001)
total:
677 km

narrow gauge:
677 km 1.050-m gauge (2000)
Religions Jewish 80.1%, Muslim 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.) Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek Catholics, Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2000 est.)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.14 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.98 male(s)/female

total population:
1.1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 20 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East although not the largest


domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital


international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
general assessment:
service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by the urban public

domestic:
microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use is made of mobile cellular systems; Internet service is available

international:
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals; fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL; international links total about 4,000
Telephones - main lines in use 2.8 million (1999) 403,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2.5 million (1999) 11,500 (1995)
Television broadcast stations 17 (plus 36 low-power repeaters) (1995) 20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Total fertility rate 2.54 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.29 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 10.4% (2002 est.) 15% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (1999 est.)
Waterways none none
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