Israel

Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest, and has a border with the Palestinian Territories of Gaza and the West Bank. The capital is Jerusalem, a city of great historical and religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Israeli culture is a mix of Jewish traditions and influences from immigrants from around the world. Israel was founded in 1948 as a Jewish state, after centuries of Jewish diaspora. Israel's economy is advanced and diversified, with key sectors including technology, diamond production, agriculture, and tourism. The country is known for its developments in technology and medicine, and for historical and religious sites, such as the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and the historic city of Tel Aviv. Population of Israel from 2018 to 2020: 2018: Approximately 8.9 million inhabitants. 2019: Approximately 9.1 million inhabitants. 2020: Approximately 9.3 million inhabitants. Capital (Jerusalem): Population in 2020: About 936,000 inhabitants. Top 10 cities by number of inhabitants in 2020: (Figures are approximate) Jerusalem: ~936,000 Tel Aviv: ~460,000 Haifa: ~285,000 Rishon LeZion: ~254,000 Petah Tikva: ~247,000 Ashdod: ~225,000 Netanya: ~221,000 Be'er Sheva: ~209,000 Bnei Brak: ~204,000 Holon: ~196,000 Administrative Divisions: Israel is divided into 6 main districts. Some districts: Central District, Jerusalem District, Southern District, etc. GDP in millions of dollars from 2018 to 2020: 2018: About $370 billion. 2019: About $394 billion. 2020: Approximately $401 billion. Public deficit in millions of dollars from 2018 to 2020: 2018: About $11 billion. 2019: About $12 billion. 2020: Approximately $20 billion (estimate). % GDP/government debt ratio from 2018 to 2020: 2018: Around 60%. 2019: Around 61%. 2020: Estimated to be around 72%. Unemployment rate % from 2018 to 2020: 2018: Approximately 4.0%. 2019: Approximately 3.8%. 2020: Estimated to be around 4.5%. Inflation Rate from 2018 to 2020: 2018: Around 0.8%. 2019: Approximately 0.6%. 2020: Estimated to be around -0.7% (deflation).