Israel

Israel is an active member of international organizations such as the UN, WTO, and OECD, and maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with the EU and the United States. As a highly developed State, Israel plays a key role in the development of technologies, especially in the field of cybersecurity and medicine. Despite its small territory, the country has a great influence on world politics and the economy due to its strategic position and innovative potential.

Climatic conditions

Israel is located in a subtropical climate zone dominated by arid and warm conditions. However, the climatic zones of the country vary depending on the region. On the Mediterranean coast, the climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild rainy winters. The average temperature in the winter months varies from +10°C to +15°C, and in summer it rises to +30°C and above. In the south of the country, in the Negev desert area, the climate is becoming more arid and desolate, with very high summer temperatures sometimes exceeding +40°C.

An important climatic factor is the diversity of the terrain. Mountains and uplands, such as the Galilee Mountains and the Golan Heights, have a significant impact on the distribution of temperatures and precipitation. For example, snow may fall in northern and mountainous areas in winter, while precipitation is limited in coastal and southern areas.

Annual precipitation varies depending on the region: from 1000 mm in the north to less than 30 mm in the southern desert areas. Most of the precipitation falls in the winter months (from November to March), which makes the summer in Israel almost dry. Such climatic conditions dictate the need to use modern irrigation systems and water conservation, which is especially important for agriculture.

Israel also faces frequent sandstorms, especially during the spring and autumn periods, when warm winds bring sand and dust from the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. In recent years, due to climate change, there has been an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation, increasing the need for rational management of water resources and adaptation to new climatic conditions.

Demographics

Israel is a multinational country, the majority of the population (about 74%) are Jews. Arab minorities (about 21%), including Muslims, Christians and Druze, also live here. Approximately 5% of the population consists of other ethnic groups, including immigrants from the countries of the former USSR and Ethiopia. The majority of the population lives in major cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem.

The average life expectancy in Israel is one of the highest in the world and is about 82.3 years. On average, women live up to 84.3 years, and men live up to 80.2 years. Such high rates are explained by high-quality medicine, high standard of living and good social protection.

The official language of the country is Hebrew. Until 2018, the same applied to the Arabic language, but after legislative changes it received a special status. Hebrew is the main language of business and everyday communication, while Arabic is widely used among the Arab population. English, Russian, Yiddish, Ukrainian, as well as many European and Asian languages are also common.

The religious structure of Israel is diverse: about 74% of the population identify themselves as Jews, while the rest represent Islam (16%), Christianity (2.1%) and other religious groups. Israel is the only country in the world where Judaism is the dominant religion, which plays a key role in cultural and social life.

Economy

The Israeli economy continues to grow steadily in 2024, despite global challenges. The GDP is estimated at $542 billion. with an annual growth of 3.5%. GDP per capita is $56,980, which puts Israel among the highly developed countries. The main sectors of the economy are technology, medicine, agriculture and tourism. Israel is considered a world leader in cybersecurity and innovation, actively attracting international investment in these sectors.

The technology sector, especially startups, is one of the key growth engines. In addition, the country is actively developing medicine, producing innovative medical technologies and drugs, which contributes to export growth and strengthening the economy.

Israel's agriculture, despite limited resources, especially water, remains efficient and highly developed thanks to advanced irrigation systems and technologies. The country actively exports fruits, vegetables and flowers, introducing new methods to increase productivity.

The unemployment rate in 2024 is about 4%, which indicates stability in the labor market. However, there are problems of social inequality and poverty in the country among some segments of the population, especially Arabs, as well as Orthodox Jews.

Freedom of movement (visa-free countries)

An Israeli passport gives its holders the opportunity to visit 155 countries without a visa. The state is ranked 19th in the global mobility passport ranking, which provides citizens with wide access to various countries, including the United States, Canada and most European countries.

Entry requirements may vary depending on the country, but for most destinations a visa is either not required at all (111 countries) or is issued upon arrival (44 countries).