Israel Map: Geographical and Demographic Information

What you need to know about Israel

Israel is an Asian country located in the Middle East, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to its west.

The country is also called the Parliamentary Republic of Israel and its capital is Jerusalem. The country has an area ranging between 20,770 and 22,072 km2 and the Israeli population is 9,213,0003,4 inhabitants.

It is therefore the 148^th largest country and the 97^th most populous country in the world. The population density of Israel is between 417 and 443 inhabitants per km2. The country’s telephone code is 972, that is 00972 or +972.

Which countries border it?

The neighboring countries of Israel are: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Israel is also bordered by 3 seas including the Mediterranean Sea to the west, the Dead Sea to the east, and the Red Sea to the south.

Population of Israel

Currently, the population of Israel is 9,213,000 inhabitants, with an annual demographic growth rate of 1.58%. The fertility rate of Israelis is 3.09 children per woman. The birth rate is significantly higher than the death rate, amounting respectively to 20.8 ‰ and 5.0 ‰.

The life expectancy of an Israeli at birth is 82.5 years. The male/female ratio in the country is 105%. The migration flow of the country is 2.2%, and the ethnic groups mainly consist of Jews, Arabs, accounting for 74.7%, 20.8%, and 4.5% respectively.

What are the colors of the country?

The Israeli flag is a rectangular flag with a white background. It has two horizontal blue stripes. Between the stripes stands a six-pointed star, also blue. Israelis call it the Star of David.

The colors of the flag originate from a Jewish prayer shawl. The star represents the country’s religion: Judaism.

The best places to visit in Israel

Jerusalem

Jerusalem, besides being a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, is one of the most popular cities in the world. It is built on hills and was once the cradle of many wars, histories, and civilizations that have succeeded each other over time.

Despite the long history and the events for which Jerusalem was the cradle, many monuments are still preserved. This is what makes the city unique and one of the world’s must-see places.

The old city is made up of 4 sections according to religions. Thus, there is the Jewish quarter, the Christian quarter, the Armenian quarter, and the Muslim quarter. You will also see monuments in the old city expressing the history of Jesus. There is also the Wailing Wall of Jeremiah. The perfectly preserved buildings include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. You can also visit the city’s botanical garden and the biblical zoo.

Masada

The city of Massada is located in the southern part of Israel overlooking the Dead Sea. Formerly, it was the last Jewish city to fall to the Romans after the war between the two countries. The city thus encompasses the history of both Jewish and Roman civilizations. In the old city, you will see symbols of ancient Israel as well as the remains of Roman civilization. You can take the cable car to overlook the ancient Roman fortifications and reach the hill that offers a 360° view of the region.

Eilat

The city of Eilat is a very old city located on the shores of the Red Sea. It was once a port city during the reign of Solomon, a biblical king. You will see several beautiful beaches there as well as a warm and dry climate almost all year round. It is also a seaside resort and a true cradle of diving sites.

These sites are absolutely not to be missed due to the marine diversity and coral reefs. Once in Eilat, you will have the opportunity to visit a theme park illustrating biblical stories. This city is also a transit point for those who want to migrate between Europe and Africa. Finally, don’t forget to visit Timna Valley Park where you will see Solomon’s pillars and the oldest copper mine in the world.

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is the second largest Israeli urban area, and it is also the cradle of the country’s economy. This does not mean that the city lacks interesting places for backpackers. It is a very lively city especially at night because you can enjoy the frequent festivities held there.

This city also has a national opera and a symphony orchestra. It is also a place for lovers of beautiful beaches overlooking the Mediterranean; it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You will also see exceptional museums such as Beth Hatefutsoth which traces the history of Jewish oppression through the ages.

Where the cities are located on the map of Israel

Jerusalem

On the map of Israel, the city of Jerusalem is located in the center of the country halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. Geographic coordinates: 31° 47′ 00″ north, 35° 13′ 00″ east.

Massada

The city of Massada is located in the eastern section of Israel, overlooking the Dead Sea. Geographic coordinates: 31°18′56″N 35°21′14″E

Eilat

On the map of Israel, the city of Eilat is located in the southern section of the country in the gulf of the same name. Geographic coordinates: 29° 33′ 22″ north, 34° 57′ 03″ east

Tel Aviv

On the map of Israel, the city of Tel Aviv is located on the Mediterranean coastlines, that is in the western part of the country. Geographic coordinates: 32°4′N 34°47′E

Climate map of Israel

The climate in Israel is somewhat peculiar, meaning its summers are very hot with frequent sunshine and the winters are short. The hot periods occur mainly between May and September. There is also a rainy season that mainly takes place between November and March.

The Mediterranean coast

In this part of Israeli territory, the climate is strongly influenced by the sea (Mediterranean climate). This results in moderately cold winters and very hot summers with frequent sunshine.

The ambient humidity is high due to the sea breeze. The cities concerned are Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Netanya. In Tel Aviv, winter temperatures hover around 14°C, and autumn temperatures hover around 26.5°C.

On the other hand, the summer is extremely hot with higher temperatures that can exceed 40°C, especially along the coast. The annual rainfall in the city amounts to 580 mm, with the heaviest precipitation occurring between December and February. Sunshine in Tel Aviv is frequent and long throughout the day, even during the winter periods.

The central section of Israel

Inland, the climate is drier, defined as a continental climate. Notably, the city of Jerusalem is located in this part of the country. In this central zone, winter temperatures are milder.

However, this season could be influenced by cold winds coming from Russian territory. As a result, winter could be snowy. Summer, on the other hand, is hot and dry with warm winds coming from the Egyptian desert territory.

Summer temperatures hover around 29 to 30°C, while winter temperatures can be negative during brief periods of intense cold but average around 9°C. The annual rainfall in this central zone of Israel is about 550 mm and is mainly concentrated in the cold seasons.

Economic map of Israel

The IMF ranks Israel as the 22^nd most performing country in the world in terms of economy. This economy focuses on a free market and available exchanges with partner countries as well as a barter of knowledge and know-how.

According to the UN, Israel is an extremely developed country. This development owes its success to the sophistication of infrastructures and the high number of technological industries in the country. Moreover, many developed countries have relocated their firms to Israel.

The sectors dominating the country’s GDP are mainly the technological industry, industrial processing, and SMEs. Israel is especially renowned for being one of the largest countries in large-scale mining, particularly diamond cutting and polishing and other minerals. This industry represents about 23.2% of the added value.

The country does not have enough territory for mining or oil exploitation, so this sector represents only a small part (<15% of GDP). However, the country exploits arable land, meaning the most dominant crops are wheat, rice, and vineyards.

Here are some economic indicators:

• Official currency: Israeli Shekel
• GDP at nominal parity: 387.717 billion USD
• GDP at purchasing power parity: 334.675 billion USD
• Annual GDP growth rate: 5.0%
• GDP per capita at nominal parity: 42,823 USD
• GDP per capita at PPP: 39,121 USD
• Inflation (CPI): −1.9%
• Unemployment rate as % of active population: 4.2%

Administrative and demolinguistic data

Administrative subdivisions

Israel is divided into 6 administrative regions which are respectively:

• North
• Haifa
• Tel Aviv
• Center
• Jerusalem
•  

These regions are then subdivided into subregions also called local authorities, numbering 256.

These local authorities consist of

• 75 municipal councils
• 126 local councils
• 53 regional councils

Demolinguistic Data

According to the data received, the Israeli population is mainly composed of Jews at 80.5%, the rest being composed of Arabs at 17.8% and undefined ethnicities at 1.5%

Here are the subdivisions:

• Israeli Jews: 80.5%
• Israeli Arabs: 17.8%
  • Muslim Arabs 14.4%
  • Christian Arabs 1.7%
  • Druze 1.6%
• Others
  • Non-Arab Christians 0.3%
  • Undefined 1.1%

The official language of the country is Hebrew, this language is part of the Afro-Asiatic family. Speakers of this language represent 60% of the population. On the other hand, the other languages are:

• Russian (5.4%)
• Arabic (20%)
• Yiddish (3.2%)
• English (1.1%)
• Polish (1.4%)
• Amharic (0.8%)
• Spanish (0.5%)
• French (0.4%)