This entry provides the total and the number of each type of privately or publicly owned commercial ship for each country; military ships are not included; the five ships by type include: bulk carrier - for cargo such as coal, grain, cement, ores, and gravel; container ship - for loads in truck-size containers, a transportation system called containerization; general cargo - also referred to as break-bulk containers - for a wide variety of packaged merchandise, such as textiles, furniture and machinery; oil tanker - for crude oil and petroleum products; other - includes chemical carriers, dredgers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, refrigerated cargo ships called reefers, tugboats, passenger vessels (cruise and ferry), and offshore supply ships

Topic: Albaniatotal: 70

by type: general cargo 47, oil tanker 1, other 22 (2021)

Topic: Algeriatotal: 114

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 2, general cargo 11, oil tanker 11, other 89 (2021)

Topic: Angolatotal: 54

by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 33 (2021)

Topic: Anguillatotal: 2

by type: other 2 (2021)

Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 677

by type: bulk carrier 24, container ship 123, general cargo 473, oil tanker 2, other 55 (2021)

Topic: Argentinatotal: 202

by type: container ship 1,bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 159 (2021)

Topic: Arubatotal: 1

by type: other 1 (2021)

Topic: Australiatotal: 581

by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 76, oil tanker 7, other 496 (2021)

Topic: Austriatotal: 1

by type: other 1 (2021)

Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 305

by type: general cargo 38, oil tanker 43, other 224 (2021)

Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 1,323

by type: bulk carrier 333, container ship 45, general cargo 64, oil tanker 224, other 657 (2021)

Topic: Bahraintotal: 205

by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 4, other 189 (2021)

Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 468

by type: bulk carrier 48, container ship 6, general cargo 140, oil tanker 144, other 130 (2021)

Topic: Barbadostotal: 165

by type: bulk carrier 46, general cargo 103, other 16 (2021)

Topic: Belarustotal: 4

by type: other 4 (2021)

Topic: Belgiumtotal: 201

by type: bulk carrier 19, container ship 7, general cargo 16, oil tanker 21, other 138 (2021)

Topic: Belizetotal: 813

by type: bulk carrier 54, container ship 1, general cargo 428, oil tanker 70, other 260 (2021)

Topic: Benintotal: 6

by type: other 6 (2021)

Topic: Bermudatotal: 147

by type: container ship 12, oil tanker 18, other 117 (2021)

Topic: Boliviatotal: 45

by type: general cargo 29, oil tanker 2, other 14 (2021)

Topic: Braziltotal: 864

by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 19, general cargo 42, oil tanker 31, other 761 (2021)

Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 30

by type: general cargo 3, other 27 (2021)

Topic: Bruneitotal: 96

by type: general cargo 18, oil tanker 3, other 75 (2021)

Topic: Bulgariatotal: 79

by type: bulk carrier 4, general cargo 14, oil tanker 8, other 53 (2021)

Topic: Burmatotal: 95

by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 39, oil tanker 5, other 49 (2021)

Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 46

by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 3, other 27 (2021)

Topic: Cambodiatotal: 245

by type: container ship 2, general cargo 162, oil tanker 18, other 63 (2021)

Topic: Cameroontotal: 94

by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1,general cargo 35, oil tanker 24, other 31 (2021)

Topic: Canadatotal: 679

by type: bulk carrier 22, container ship 1, general cargo 66, oil tanker 15, other 575 (2021)

Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 160

by type: bulk carrier 32, container ship 1, general cargo 1, oil tanker 23, other 103 (2021)

Topic: Chiletotal: 231

by type: bulk carrier 6, container ship 5, general cargo 58, oil tanker 14, other 148 (2021)

Topic: Chinatotal: 6,662

by type: bulk carrier 1,558, container ship 341, general cargo 957, oil tanker 1,061, other 2,745 (2021)

Topic: Colombiatotal: 122

by type: general cargo 23, oil tanker 7, other 92 (2021)

Topic: Comorostotal: 236

by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 7, general cargo 112, oil tanker 31, other 78 (2021)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 22

by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 16 (2021)

Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 11

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 9 (2021)

Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 194

by type: bulk carrier 19, container ship 1, general cargo 57, oil tanker 54, other 63 (2021)

Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 11

by type: other 11 (2021)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 25

by type: oil tanker 2, other 23 (2021)

Topic: Croatiatotal: 354

by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 32, oil tanker 16, other 292 (2021)

Topic: Cubatotal: 59

by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 7, other 40 (2021)

Topic: Curacaototal: 63

by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 1, other 56 (2021)

Topic: Cyprustotal: 1,051

by type: bulk carrier 269, container ship 182, general cargo 197, oil tanker 59, other 344 (2021)

Topic: Denmarktotal: 717

by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 148, general cargo 68, oil tanker 105, other 388 (2021)

Topic: Djiboutitotal: 33

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 8, other 21 (2021)

Topic: Dominicatotal: 93

by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 19, other 44 (2021)

Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 38

by type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 34 (2021)

Topic: Ecuadortotal: 145

by type: container ship 1, general cargo 7, oil tanker 27, other 110 (2021)

Topic: Egypttotal: 421

by type: bulk carrier 14, container ship 8, general cargo 27, oil tanker 40, other 332 (2021)

Topic: El Salvadortotal: 2

by type: other 2 (2021)

Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 42

by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 6, other 27 (2021)

Topic: Eritreatotal: 9

by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4 (2021)

Topic: Estoniatotal: 68

by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 4, other 62 (2021)

Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 11

by type: general cargo 9, oil tanker 2 (2020)

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 2

by type: general cargo 1, other 1 (2021)

Topic: Faroe Islandstotal: 101

by type: container ships 6, general cargo 48, oil tanker 1, other 46 (2021)

Topic: Fijitotal: 73

by type: general cargo 20, oil tanker 4, other 49 (2021)

Topic: Finlandtotal: 272

by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 74, oil tanker 4, other 184 (2021)

Topic: Francetotal: 548

by type: container ship 29, general cargo 50, oil tanker 28, other 441 (2021)

note: includes Monaco

Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 24

by type: general cargo 14, other 10 (2021)

Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landstotal: 2

by type: other 2 (2021)

Topic: Gabontotal: 62

by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 17, oil tanker 17, other 27 (2021)

Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 8

by type: other 8 (2021)

Topic: Georgiatotal: 25

by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 3, other 20 (2021)

Topic: Germanytotal: 599

by type: container ship 77, general cargo 85, oil tanker 36, other 401 (2021)

Topic: Ghanatotal: 51

by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 3, other 41 (2021)

Topic: Gibraltartotal: 202

by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 19, general cargo 55, oil tanker 20, other 100 (2021)

Topic: Greecetotal: 1,236

by type: bulk carrier 158, container ship 5, general cargo 89, oil tanker 337, other 647 (2021)

Topic: Greenlandtotal: 8

by type: other 8 (2021)

Topic: Grenadatotal: 6

by type: general cargo 3, other 3 (2021)

Topic: Guamtotal: 3

by type: other 3 (2021)

Topic: Guatemalatotal: 9

by type: oil tanker 1, other 8 (2021)

Topic: Guineatotal: 2

by type: other 2 (2021)

Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 8

by type: general cargo 5, other 3 (2021)

Topic: Guyanatotal: 56

by type: general cargo 26, oil tanker 7, other 23 (2021)

Topic: Haititotal: 4

by type: general cargo 3, other 1 (2021)

Topic: Hondurastotal: 505

by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 244, oil tanker 82, other 178 (2021)

Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 2,718

by type: bulk carrier 1,158, container ship 558, general cargo 184, oil tanker 388, other 430 (2021)

Topic: Hungarytotal: 1

by type: other 1 (2021)

Topic: Icelandtotal: 41

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021)

Topic: Indiatotal: 1,801

by type: bulk carrier 63, container ship 22, general cargo 587, oil tanker 136, other 993 (2021)

Topic: Indonesiatotal: 10,427

by type: bulk carrier 148, container ship 226, general cargo 2,238, oil tanker 676, other 7,139 (2021)

Topic: Irantotal: 893

by type: bulk carrier 32, container ship 31, general cargo 371, oil tanker 84, other 375 (2021)

Topic: Iraqtotal: 68

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 6, other 61 (2021)

Topic: Irelandtotal: 96

by type: bulk carrier 12, general cargo 36, oil tanker 1, other 47 (2021)

Topic: Israeltotal: 41

by type: container ship 6, general cargo 2, oil tanker 4, other 29 (2021)

Topic: Italytotal: 1,296

by type: bulk carrier 36, container ship 7, general cargo 111, oil tanker 103, other 1,039 (2021)

Topic: Jamaicatotal: 43

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 5, general cargo 9, oil tanker 1, other 27 (2021)

Topic: Japantotal: 5,201

by type: bulk carrier 148, container ship 45, general cargo 1,900, oil tanker 666, other 2,442 (2021)

Topic: Jordantotal: 35

by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 1, other 28 (2021)

Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 119

by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 109 (2021)

Topic: Kenyatotal: 26

by type: oil tanker 3, other 23 (2021)

Topic: Kiribatitotal: 88

by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 35, oil tanker 12, other 38 (2021)

Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 264

by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 5, general cargo 189, oil tanker 33, other 29 (2021)

Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 1,904

by type: bulk carrier 78, container ship 91, general cargo 360, oil tanker 184, other 1,191 (2021)

Topic: Kuwaittotal: 165

by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 28, other 122 (2021)

Topic: Laostotal: 1

by type: general cargo 1 (2021)

Topic: Latviatotal: 70

by type: general cargo 22, oil tanker 9, other 39 (2021)

Topic: Lebanontotal: 48

by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 31, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2021)

Topic: Liberiatotal: 3,942

by type: bulk carrier 1,487, container ship 878, general cargo 131, oil tanker 851, other 595 (2021)

Topic: Libyatotal: 94

by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 12, other 80 (2021)

Topic: Liechtensteintotal: 20

by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Switzerland) (2021)

Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 64

by type: container ship 4, general cargo 24, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021)

Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 153

by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 1, general cargo 23, oil tanker 3, other 122 (2021)

Topic: Macautotal: 1

by type: other 1 (2021)

Topic: Madagascartotal: 27

by type: general cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 11 (2021)

Topic: Malaysiatotal: 1,769

by type: bulk carrier 16, container ship 28, general cargo 174, oil tanker 153, other 1,398 (2021)

Topic: Maldivestotal: 68

by type: general cargo 21, oil tanker 19, other 28 (2021)

Topic: Maltatotal: 2,137

by type: bulk carrier 601, container ship 310, general cargo 218, oil tanker 412, other 596 (2021)

Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 3,817

by type: bulk carrier 1,733, container ship 248, general cargo 66, oil tanker 970, other 800 (2021)

Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 5

by type: general cargo 2, other 3 (2021)

Topic: Mauritiustotal: 29

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 24 (2021)

Topic: Mexicototal: 671

by type: container ship 1, bulk carrier 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 31, other 624 (2021)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal: 38

by type: general cargo 19, oil tanker 4, other 15 (2021)

Topic: Moldovatotal: 147

by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 5, general cargo 97, oil tanker 7, other 33 (2021)

Topic: Mongoliatotal: 302

by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 7, general cargo 131, oil tanker 64, other 96 (2021)

Topic: Montenegrototal: 17

by type: bulk carrier 4, other 13 (2021)

Topic: Moroccototal: 93

by type: container ship 6, general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 80 (2021)

Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 30

by type: general cargo 9, other 21 (2021)

Topic: Namibiatotal: 14

by type: general cargo 1, other 13 (2021)

Topic: Naurutotal: 3

by type: oil tanker 1, other 2 (2021)

Topic: Netherlandstotal: 1,199

by type: bulk carrier 10, container ship 40, general cargo 559, oil tanker 26, other 564 (2021)

Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 24

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 18 (2021)

Topic: New Zealandtotal: 115

by type: container ship 1, general cargo 12, oil tanker 4, other 98 (2021)

Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 5

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 3 (2021)

Topic: Nigertotal: 1

by type: general cargo 1 (2021)

Topic: Nigeriatotal: 791

by type: general cargo 14, oil tanker 110, other 667 (2021)

Topic: Niuetotal: 69

by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 2, general cargo 25, oil tanker 7, other 32 (2021)

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 1

by type: other 1 (2019)

Topic: Norwaytotal: 1,644

by type: bulk carrier 109, container ship 1, general cargo 242, oil tanker 96, other 1,196 (2021)

Topic: Omantotal: 57

by type: general cargo 10, other 47 (2021)

Topic: Pakistantotal: 57

by type: bulk carrier 5, oil tanker 7, other 45 (2021)

Topic: Palautotal: 264

by type: bulk carrier 16, container ship 7, general cargo 107, oil tanker 40, other 94 (2021)

Topic: Panamatotal: 7,980

by type: bulk carrier 2,697, container ship 643, general cargo 1,381, oil tanker 771, other 2,488 (2021)

Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 177

by type: container ship 6, general cargo 81, oil tanker 3, other 87 (2021)

Topic: Paraguaytotal: 110

by type: container ship 3, general cargo 25, oil tanker 5, other 77 (2021)

note: as of 2017, Paraguay registered 2,012 fluvial vessels of which 1,741 were commercial barges

Topic: Perutotal: 98

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 8, other 89 (2021)

Topic: Philippinestotal: 1,805

by type: bulk carrier 62, container ship 44, general cargo 716, oil tanker 205, other 778 (2021)

Topic: Polandtotal: 143

by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 6, other 130 (2021)

Topic: Portugaltotal: 726

by type: bulk carrier 86, container ship 267, general cargo 137, oil tanker 27, other 209 (2021)

Topic: Qatartotal: 129

by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 5, other 107 (2021)

Topic: Romaniatotal: 121

by type: general cargo 11, oil tanker 6, other 104 (2021)

Topic: Russiatotal: 2,873

by type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 17, general cargo 946, oil tanker 406, other 1,491 (2021)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 244

by type: bulk carrier 6, container ship 7, general cargo 45, oil tanker 53, other 133 (2021)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 792

by type: bulk carrier 27, container ship 17, general cargo 155, oil tanker 16, other 577 (2021)

Topic: Samoatotal: 12

by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 6 (2021)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 22

by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 2, other 7 (2021)

Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 392

by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 1, general cargo 21, oil tanker 58, other 307 (2021)

Topic: Senegaltotal: 35

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 29 (2021)

Topic: Seychellestotal: 27

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 6, other 16 (2021)

Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 591

by type: bulk carrier 30, container ship 9, general cargo 319, oil tanker 108, other 125 (2021)

Topic: Singaporetotal: 3,321

by type: bulk carrier 576, container ship 514, general cargo 113, oil tanker 699, other 1,419 (2021)

Topic: Sloveniatotal: 9

by type: other 9 (2021)

Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 24

by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 15 (2021)

Topic: Somaliatotal: 4

by type: general cargo 1, other 3 (2021)

Topic: South Africatotal: 105

by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 1, oil tanker 7, other 95 (2021)

Topic: Spaintotal: 478

by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 36, oil tanker 24, other 417 (2021)

Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 90

by type: bulk carrier 6, general cargo 13, oil tanker 11, other 60 (2021)

Topic: Sudantotal: 15

by type: other 15 (2021)

Topic: Surinametotal: 10

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 2 (2021)

Topic: Swedentotal: 370

by type: general cargo 49, oil tanker 22, other 299 (2021)

Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 20

by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Liechtenstein) (2021)

Topic: Syriatotal: 28

by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 11, other 16 (2021)

Topic: Taiwantotal: 429

by type: bulk carrier 37, container ship 49, general cargo 57, oil tanker 33, other 253 (2021)

Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 314

by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 6, general cargo 144, oil tanker 49, other 111 (2021)

Topic: Thailandtotal: 839

by type: bulk carrier 26, container ship 27, general cargo 94, oil tanker 251, other 441 (2021)

Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 1

by type: other 1 (2021)

Topic: Togototal: 411

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 9, general cargo 265, oil tanker 56, other 80 (2021)

Topic: Tongatotal: 32

by type: container ship 4, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2021)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 105

by type: general cargo 1, other 104 (2021)

Topic: Tunisiatotal: 71

by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8 oil tanker 1, other 61 (2021)

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)total: 1,217

by type: bulk carrier 39, container ship 41, general cargo 317, oil tanker 126, other 694 (2021)

Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 73

by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 8, other 59 (2021)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 3

by type: general cargo 1, other 2 (2021)

Topic: Tuvalutotal: 245

by type: bulk carrier 22, container ship 3, general cargo 32, oil tanker 21, other 167 (2021)

Topic: Ukrainetotal: 409

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 84, oil tanker 15, other 308 (2021)

Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 623

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 3, general cargo 117, oil tanker 19, other 483 (2021)

Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 1,249

by type: bulk carrier 140, container ship 59, general cargo 109, oil tanker 84, other 857 (2021)

Topic: United Statestotal: 3,627

by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 60, general cargo 103, oil tanker 69, other 3,391 (2021)

Topic: Uruguaytotal: 61

by type: container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 4, other 52 (2021)

Topic: Vanuatutotal: 306

by type: bulk carrier 18, container ship 2, general cargo 55, oil tanker 2, other 229 (2021)

Topic: Venezuelatotal: 281

by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 18, other 232 (2021)

Topic: Vietnamtotal: 1,926

by type: bulk carrier 116, container ship 41, general cargo 1,193, oil tanker 125, other 451 (2021)

Topic: Virgin Islandstotal: 1,868

by type: bulk carrier 91, container ship 39, general cargo 1,205, oil tanker 118, other 415 (2019)

Topic: Wallis and Futunatotal: 1

by type: other 1 (2021)

Topic: Worldtotal: 98,202

by type: bulk carrier 12,319, container ship 5,428, general cargo 18,993, oil tanker 11,243, other 50,219 (2021)

Topic: Yementotal: 34

by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 4, other 28 (2021)

Topic: Zambiatotal: 2

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1 (2021)


This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge, which is the measure of the distance between the inner sides of the load-bearing rails. The four typical types of gauges are: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other gauges are listed in a note. Some 60% of the world's railways use the standard gauge of 1.4 m (4.7 ft). Gauges vary by country and sometimes within countries. The choice of gauge during initial construction was mainly in response to local conditions and the intent of the builder. Narrow-gauge railways were cheaper to build and could negotiate sharper curves, broad-gauge railways gave greater stability and permitted higher speeds. Standard-gauge railways were a compromise between narrow and broad gauges.

Topic: Albaniatotal: 677 km (2015) (447 km of major railway lines and 230 km of secondary lines)

standard gauge: 677 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Algeriatotal: 3,973 km (2014)

standard gauge: 2,888 km (2014) 1.432-m gauge (283 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,085 km (2014) 1.055-m gauge

Topic: Angolatotal: 2,852 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 2,729 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

123 km 0.600-m gauge

Topic: Argentinatotal: 36,917 km (2014)

standard gauge: 2,745.1 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.1 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 7,523.3 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge: 26,391 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge (149 km electrified)

258 km 0.750-m gauge

Topic: Armeniatotal: 780 km (2014)

broad gauge: 780 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (780 km electrified)

note: 726 km operational

Topic: Australiatotal: 33,343 km (2015)

standard gauge: 17,446 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (650 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 12,318 km (2015) 1.067-m gauge (2,075.5 km electrified)

broad gauge: 3,247 km (2015) 1.600-m gauge (372 km electrified)

Topic: Austriatotal: 5,800 km (2017)

standard gauge: 5,300 km 1.435-m gauge (3,826 km electrified) (2016)

Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 2,944 km (2017)

broad gauge: 2,944.3 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified)

Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 2,460 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge: 659 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge

Topic: Belarustotal: 5,528 km (2014)

standard gauge: 25 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

broad gauge: 5,503 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)

Topic: Belgiumtotal: 3,592 km (2014)

standard gauge: 3,592 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (2,960 km electrified)

Topic: Benintotal: 438 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Boliviatotal: 3,960 km (2019)

narrow gauge: 3,960 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 965 km (2014)

standard gauge: 965 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified)

Topic: Botswanatotal: 888 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 888 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Braziltotal: 29,850 km (2014)

standard gauge: 194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified)

broad gauge: 5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified)

dual gauge: 492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge

Topic: Bulgariatotal: 5,114 km (2014)

standard gauge: 4,989 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 125 km (2014) 0.760-m gauge

Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 622 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire

Topic: Burmatotal: 5,031 km (2008)

narrow gauge: 5,031 km (2008) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Cambodiatotal: 642 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 642 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

note: under restoration

Topic: Cameroontotal: 987 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

note: railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL

Topic: Canadatotal: 49,422 km (2021) note: 129 km electrified (2021)

standard gauge: 49,422 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Chiletotal: 7,282 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 3,853.5 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge: 3,428 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge (1,691 km electrified)

Topic: Chinatotal: 150,000 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (100,000 km electrified); 104,0000 traditional, 40,000 high-speed

Topic: Christmas Islandtotal: 18 km (2017)

standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)

note: the 18-km Christmas Island Phosphate Company Railway between Flying Fish Cove and South Point was decommissioned in 1987; some tracks and scrap remain in place

Topic: Colombiatotal: 3,528 km (2019)

standard gauge: 150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 4,007 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 3,882 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified)

125 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 510 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 278 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

note: the entire rail network fell into disrepair and out of use at the end of the 20th century; since 2005, certain sections of rail have been rehabilitated

Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 660 km (2008)

narrow gauge: 660 km (2008) 1.000-m gauge

note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso

Topic: Croatiatotal: 2,722 km (2014)

standard gauge: 2,722 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (980 km electrified)

Topic: Cubatotal: 8,125 km (2017)

standard gauge: 8,195 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (124 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 172 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

note: As of 2013, 70 km of standard gauge and 12 km of narrow gauge track were not for public use

Topic: Czechiatotal: 9,408 km (2017)

standard gauge: 9,385 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (3,218 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 23 km (2017) 0.760-m gauge

Topic: Denmarktotal: 3,476 km (2017)

standard gauge: 3,476 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (1,756 km electrified)

Topic: Djiboutitotal: 97 km (2017) (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)

standard gauge: 97 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 496 km (2014)

standard gauge: 354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge

Topic: Ecuadortotal: 965 km (2022)

narrow gauge: 965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

note: passenger service limited to certain sections of track, mostly for tourist trains

Topic: Egypttotal: 5,085 km (2014)

standard gauge: 5,085 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified)

Topic: El Salvadortotal: 13 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 12.5 km (2014) 0.914-m gauge

Topic: Eritreatotal: 306 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 306 km (2018) 0.950-m gauge

Topic: Estoniatotal: 2,146 km (2016)

broad gauge: 2,146 km (2016) 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified)

note: includes 1,510 km public and 636 km non-public railway

Topic: Eswatinitotal: 301 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)

standard gauge: 659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

note: electric railway with redundant power supplies; under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia and managed by a Chinese contractor

Topic: European Uniontotal: (2013) 230,548 km

Topic: Fijitotal: 597 km (2008)

narrow gauge: 597 km (2008) 0.600-m gauge

note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during the harvest season, which runs from May to December

Topic: Finlandtotal: 5,926 km (2016)

broad gauge: 5,926 km (2016) 1.524-m gauge (3,270 km electrified)

Topic: Francetotal: 29,640 km (2014)

standard gauge: 29,473 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (15,561 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 167 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified)

Topic: Gabontotal: 649 km (2014)

standard gauge: 649 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Georgiatotal: 1,363 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 37 km (2014) 0.912-m gauge (37 km electrified)

broad gauge: 1,326 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (1,251 km electrified)

Topic: Germanytotal: 33,590 km (2017)

standard gauge: 33,331 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (19,973 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 220 km 1.000-m gauge (79 km electrified)

15 km 0.900-m gauge, 24 km 0.750-m gauge (2015)

Topic: Ghanatotal: 947 km (2022)

narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Greecetotal: 2,548 km (2014)

standard gauge: 1,565 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 961 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

22 0.750-m gauge

Topic: Guatemalatotal: 800 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 800 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge

note: despite the existence of a railway network, all rail service was suspended in 2007 and no passenger or freight train currently runs in the country (2018)

Topic: Guineatotal: 1,086 km (2017)

standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Hondurastotal: 699 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 164 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

115 km 1.057-m gauge
420 km 0.914-m gauge

Topic: Hungarytotal: 8,049 km (2014)

standard gauge: 7,794 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (2,889 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 219 km (2014) 0.760-m gauge

broad gauge: 36 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge

Topic: Indiatotal: 68,525 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 1,604 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge: 63,950 km (2014) (39, 329 km electrified)

Topic: Indonesiatotal: 8,159 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 8,159 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (565 km electrified)

note: 4,816 km operational

Topic: Irantotal: 8,484 km (2014)

standard gauge: 8,389.5 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (189.5 km electrified)

broad gauge: 94 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge

Topic: Iraqtotal: 2,272 km (2014)

standard gauge: 2,272 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Irelandtotal: 4,301 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 1,930 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants)

broad gauge: 2,371 km (2018) 1.600-m gauge (53 km electrified)

Topic: Isle of Mantotal: 63 km (2008)

narrow gauge: 6 km (2008) 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified)

57 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified) note: primarily summer tourist attractions

Topic: Israeltotal: 1,599 km (2019) (2019)

standard gauge: 1,384 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Italytotal: 20,182 km (2014)

standard gauge: 18,770.1 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (12,893.6 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 122.3 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (122.3 km electrified)

1289.3 0.950-m gauge (151.3 km electrified)

Topic: Japantotal: 27,311 km (2015)

standard gauge: 4,800 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 124 km (2015) 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified)

dual gauge: 132 km (2015) 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)

22.207 km 1.067-m gauge (15,430 km electrified)
48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified)

Topic: Jordantotal: 1,596 km (2020)

narrow gauge: 509 km (2014) 1.050-m gauge

Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 16,636 km (2020)

broad gauge: 16,636 km (2020) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified)

Topic: Kenyatotal: 3,819 km (2018)

standard gauge: 485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 7,435 km (2014)

standard gauge: 7,435 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (5,400 km electrified)

note: figures are approximate; some narrow-gauge railway also exists

Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 3,979 km (2016)

standard gauge: 3,979 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (2,727 km electrified)

Topic: Kosovototal: 333 km (2015)

standard gauge: 333 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 424 km (2022)

broad gauge: 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge

Topic: Latviatotal: 1,860 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 34 km (2018) 0.750-m gauge

broad gauge: 1,826 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge

Topic: Lebanontotal: 401 km (2017)

standard gauge: 319 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 82 km (2017) 1.050-m gauge

note: rail system is still unusable due to damage sustained from fighting in the 1980s and in 2006

Topic: Liberiatotal: 429 km (2008)

standard gauge: 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge

note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt

Topic: Liechtensteintotal: 9 km (2018)

standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland

Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 1,768 km (2014)

standard gauge: 22 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

broad gauge: 1,746 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified)

Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 275 km (2014)

standard gauge: 275 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (275 km electrified)

Topic: Madagascartotal: 836 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Malawitotal: 767 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Malaysiatotal: 1,851 km (2014)

standard gauge: 59 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,792 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified)

Topic: Malitotal: 593 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 593 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 728 km (2014)

standard gauge: 728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Mexicototal: 23,389 km (2017)

standard gauge: 23,389 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (27 km electrified)

Topic: Moldovatotal: 1,171 km (2014)

standard gauge: 14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

broad gauge: 1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

Topic: Monaconote: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service;  the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco

Topic: Mongoliatotal: 1,815 km (2017)

broad gauge: 1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge

note: national operator Ulaanbaatar Railway is jointly owned by the Mongolian Government and by the Russian State Railway

Topic: Montenegrototal: 250 km (2017)

standard gauge: 250 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified)

Topic: Moroccototal: 2,067 km (2014)

standard gauge: 2,067 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified)

Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 4,787 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Namibiatotal: 2,628 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Nepaltotal: 59 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 59 km (2018) 0.762-m gauge

Topic: Netherlandstotal: 3,058 km (2016)

standard gauge: 3,058 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (2,314 km electrified)

Topic: New Zealandtotal: 4,128 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)

Topic: Nigeriatotal: 3,798 km (2014)

standard gauge: 293 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 3,505 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

note: as of the end of 2018, there were only six operational locomotives in Nigeria primarily used for passenger service; the majority of the rail lines are in a severe state of disrepair and need to be replaced

Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 925 km (2017)

standard gauge: 925 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (313 km electrified)

Topic: Norwaytotal: 4,200 km (2019)

standard gauge: 4,200 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge (2,480 km electrified)

Topic: Pakistantotal: 11,881 km (2021)

narrow gauge: 389 km (2021) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge: 11,492 km (2021) 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified)

Topic: Panamatotal: 77 km (2014)

standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Paraguaytotal: 30 km (2014)

standard gauge: 30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Perutotal: 1,940 km (2017)

standard gauge: 1,730.4 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 124 km (2014) 0.914-m gauge

Topic: Philippinestotal: 77 km (2017)

standard gauge: 49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge

Topic: Polandtotal: 19,231 km (2016)

standard gauge: 18,836 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (11,874 km electrified)

broad gauge: 395 km (2016) 1.524-m gauge

Topic: Portugaltotal: 3,075 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 108.1 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge: 2,439 km (2014) 1.668-m gauge (1,633.4 km electrified)

other: 528 km (2014) (gauge unspecified)

Topic: Romaniatotal: 11,268 km (2014)

standard gauge: 10,781 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (3,292 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 427 km (2014) 0.760-m gauge

broad gauge: 60 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge

Topic: Russiatotal: 87,157 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 957 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island)

broad gauge: 86,200 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified)

note: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrier lines serve industries

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 50 km (2008)

narrow gauge: 50 km (2008) 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists

Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 5,410 km (2016)

standard gauge: 5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)

Topic: Senegaltotal: 906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017)

narrow gauge: 906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Serbiatotal: 3,809 km (2015)

standard gauge: 3,809 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (3,526 km one-track lines and 283 km double-track lines) out of which 1,279 km electrified (1,000 km one-track lines and 279 km double-track lines)

Topic: Slovakiatotal: 3,580 km (2016)

standard gauge: 3,435 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (1,587 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 46 km (2016) 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge

broad gauge: 99 km (2016) 1.520-m gauge

Topic: Sloveniatotal: 1,229 km (2014)

standard gauge: 1,229 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified)

Topic: South Africatotal: 20,986 km (2014)

standard gauge: 80 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 19,756 km (2014) 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified)

other: (2014) 1,150 km (passenger rail, gauge unspecified, 1,115.5 km electrified)

Topic: South Sudantotal: 248 km (2018)

note: a narrow gauge, single-track railroad between Babonosa (Sudan) and Wau, the only existing rail system, was repaired in 2010 with $250 million in UN funds, but is not currently operational

Topic: Spaintotal: 15,333 km (2017) (9,699 km electrified)

standard gauge: 2,571 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (2,571 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,207 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge (400 km electrified)

broad gauge: 11,333 km (2017) 1.668-m gauge (6,538 km electrified)

mixed gauge: 190 km 1.668-m and 1.435m gage (190.1 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified); 4 km 0.600-m gauge

Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 1,562 km (2016)

broad gauge: 1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge

Topic: Sudantotal: 7,251 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 5,851 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations

Topic: Swedentotal: 14,127 km (2016)

standard gauge: 14,062 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (12,322 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 65 km (2016) 0.891-m gauge (65 km electrified)

Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 5,690 km (2015) (includes 19 km in neighboring countries)

standard gauge: 3,836 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (3,634 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,630 km (2015) 1.200-m gauge (2 km electrified) (includes 19 km in neighboring countries)

1188 km 1.000-m gauge (1,167.3 km electrified)
36 km 0.800-m gauge (36.4 km electrified)

Topic: Syriatotal: 2,052 km (2014)

standard gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 251 km (2014) 1.050-m gauge

Topic: Taiwantotal: 1,613 km (2018)

standard gauge: 345 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,118.1 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (793.9 km electrified)

150 0.762-m gauge note: the 0.762-gauge track belongs to three entities: the Forestry Bureau, Taiwan Cement, and TaiPower

Topic: Tajikistantotal: 680 km (2014)

broad gauge: 680 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 4,097 km (2022)

standard gauge: 421 km (2022)

narrow gauge: 969 km (2022) 1.067 m gauge

broad gauge: 2,707 km (2022) 1.000 m guage

2707 km 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Thailandtotal: 4,127 km (2017)

standard gauge: 84 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (84 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 4,043 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Togototal: 568 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 568 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Tunisiatotal: 2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use)

standard gauge: 471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

dual gauge: 8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge

Topic: Turkeytotal: 12,710 km (2018)

standard gauge: 11,497 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (1.435 km high speed train)

Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 5,113 km (2017)

broad gauge: 5,113 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge

Topic: Ugandatotal: 1,244 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Ukrainetotal: 21,733 km (2014)

standard gauge: 49 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (49 km electrified)

broad gauge: 21,684 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified)

Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 16,837 km (2015)

standard gauge: 16,534 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (5,357 km electrified)

broad gauge: 303 km (2015) 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland)

Topic: United Statestotal: 293,564 km (2014)

standard gauge: 293,564.2 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Uruguaytotal: 1,673 km (2016) (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)

standard gauge: 1,673 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge

Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 4,642 km (2018)

broad gauge: 4,642 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge (1,684 km electrified)

Topic: Venezuelatotal: 447 km (2014)

standard gauge: 447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified)

Topic: Vietnamtotal: 2,600 km (2014)

standard gauge: 178 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge

narrow gauge: 2,169 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Topic: Worldtotal: 1,148,186 km (2013)

Topic: Zambiatotal: 3,126 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)

Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 3,427 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 3,427 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified)


Topic: Photos of Israel

Topic: Introduction
Background: Israel has emerged as a regional economic and military powerhouse, leveraging its booming high-tech sector, massive defense industry, and concerns about Iran to foster partnerships around the world. The State of Israel was established in 1948. The UN General Assembly had proposed to partition the British Mandate for Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state. Arab states rejected the UN plan and were subsequently defeated militarily in the 1948 war that followed the withdrawal of the British on 14 May 1948. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle East, over the following years. Israel and its Arab neighbors fought wars in 1967 and 1973 and Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the course of the 1967 war, and subsequently administered those territories through military authorities. Israel and Palestinian officials signed interim agreements in the 1990s that created an interim period of Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. While the most recent formal efforts between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to negotiate final status issues occurred in 2013-2014, the US continues its efforts to advance peace. Immigration to Israel continues, with more than 20,000 new immigrants, mostly Jewish, in 2020.

The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors. Offshore gas discoveries in the Mediterranean, most notably in the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields, place Israel at the center of a potential regional natural gas market. However, longer-term structural issues such as low labor force participation among minority populations, low workforce productivity, high costs for housing and consumer staples, and a lack of competition, remain a concern for many Israelis and an important consideration for Israeli politicians. Former Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU dominated Israel's political landscape from 2009 to June 2021, becoming Israel's longest serving prime minister before he was unseated by Naftali BENNETT, after Israel's fourth election in two years. BENNETT formed the most ideologically diverse coalition in Israel's history, including the participation of an Arab-Israeli party. Under the terms of the coalition agreement, BENNETT would remain as prime minister until August 2023, then Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair LAPID would succeed him. Israel signed normalization agreements – brokered by the US – with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco in late 2020 and reached an agreement with Sudan in early 2021.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 21,937 sq km

land: 21,497 sq km

water: 440 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,068 km

border countries (6): Egypt 208 km; Gaza Strip 59 km; Jordan 327 km (20 km are within the Dead Sea); Lebanon 81 km; Syria 83 km; West Bank 330 km
Coastline: 273 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Elevation: highest point: Mitspe Shlagim 2,224 m; note - this is the highest named point, the actual highest point is an unnamed dome slightly to the west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m; both points are on the northeastern border of Israel, along the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range

lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m

mean elevation: 508 m note - does not include elevation data from the Golan Heights
Natural resources: timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
Land use: agricultural land: 23.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 13.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 6.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 7.1% (2018 est.)

other: 69.1% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km
note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Population distribution: population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes
Geography - note: note 1: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti)

note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase; Mount Sodom is actually a hill some 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt (multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock)

note 3: in March 2019, there were 380 Israeli settlements,to include 213 settlements and 132 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, as all were evacuated in 2005 (2019)
Map description: Israel map showing major cities and significant features including - but not limited to - Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. Note that in 2017 the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and in 2019 recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel.Israel map showing major cities and significant features including - but not limited to - Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. Note that in 2017 the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and in 2019 recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 8,914,885 (2022 est.) (includes populations of the Golan Heights or Golan Sub-District and also East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel after 1967)

note: approximately 227,100 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2019); following the March 2019 US recognition of the Golan Heights as being part of Israel, The World Factbook no longer includes Israeli settler population of the Golan Heights (estimated at 23,400 in 2019) in its overall Israeli settler total
Nationality: noun: Israeli(s)

adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups: Jewish 74% (of which Israel-born 78.7%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 14.8%, Africa-born 4.2%, Asia-born 2.3%), Arab 21.1%, other 4.9% (2020 est.)
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language)

major-language sample(s):
ספר עובדות העולם, המקור החיוני למידע בסיסי (Hebrew)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Jewish 74%, Muslim 18%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.5% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.76% (male 1,187,819/female 1,133,365)

15-24 years: 15.67% (male 694,142/female 665,721)

25-54 years: 37.2% (male 1,648,262/female 1,579,399)

55-64 years: 8.4% (male 363,262/female 365,709)

65 years and over: 11.96% (2020 est.) (male 467,980/female 569,816)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 67.3

youth dependency ratio: 46.6

elderly dependency ratio: 20.8

potential support ratio: 4.8 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 30.4 years

male: 29.8 years

female: 31 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.44% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 17.41 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Urbanization: urban population: 92.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.344 million Tel Aviv-Yafo, 1.164 million Haifa, 957,000 JERUSALEM (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.7 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.56 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.35 years

male: 81.45 years

female: 85.34 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7.5% (2019)
Physicians density: 3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 99.3% of population

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0.7% of population

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2018 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 9,000 (2018)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100
Major infectious diseases: note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Israel is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccinenote: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Israel is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.1% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 21.2% (2020 est.)

male: 28.9% (2020 est.)

female: 13.5% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 6.2% of GDP (2018)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.8%

male: 98.7%

female: 96.8% (2011)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 17 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.9%

male: 7.6%

female: 8.2% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 19.46 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 65.17 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 13.02 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Land use: agricultural land: 23.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 13.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 6.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 7.1% (2018 est.)

other: 69.1% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 92.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Israel is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccinenote: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Israel is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.4 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1.35 million tons (2017 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25% (2017 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km
note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 983 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 72 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.249 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.78 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Israel

conventional short form: Israel

local long form: Medinat Yisra'el

local short form: Yisra'el

former: Mandatory Palestine

etymology: named after the ancient Kingdom of Israel; according to Biblical tradition, the Jewish patriarch Jacob received the name "Israel" ("He who struggles with God") after he wrestled an entire night with an angel of the Lord; Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the Israelites, also known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, who formed the Kingdom of Israel
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: name: Jerusalem; note - the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017 without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty

geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October

etymology: Jerusalem's settlement may date back to 2800 B.C.; it is named Urushalim in Egyptian texts of the 14th century B.C.; "uru-shalim" likely means "foundation of [by] the god Shalim", and derives from Hebrew/Semitic "yry", "to found or lay a cornerstone", and Shalim, the Canaanite god of dusk and the nether world; Shalim was associated with sunset and peace and the name is based on the same S-L-M root from which Semitic words for "peace" are derived (Salam or Shalom in modern Arabic and Hebrew); this confluence has thus led to naming interpretations such as "The City of Peace" or "The Abode of Peace"
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence: 14 May 1948 (following League of Nations mandate under British administration)
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
Constitution: history: no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws, and the Law of Return (as amended)

amendments: proposed by Government of Israel ministers or by the Knesset; passage requires a majority vote of Knesset members and subject to Supreme Court judicial review; 11 of the 13 Basic Laws have been amended at least once, latest in 2020 (Basic Law: the Knesset)
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Israel

dual citizenship recognized: yes, but naturalized citizens are not allowed to maintain dual citizenship

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 out of the 5 years preceding the application for naturalization

note: Israeli law (Law of Return, 5 July 1950) provides for the granting of citizenship to any Jew - defined as a person being born to a Jewish mother or having converted to Judaism while renouncing any other religion - who immigrates to and expresses a desire to settle in Israel on the basis of the Right of aliyah; the 1970 amendment of this act extended the right to family members including the spouse of a Jew, any child or grandchild, and the spouses of children and grandchildren
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; 17 years of age for municipal elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Yair LAPID serving as caretaker (since 1 July 2022); under the terms of the coalition government made a year ago, LAPID becomes prime minister on 1 July 2022, replacing former Prime Minister Naftali BENNETT

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

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Knesset for a single 7-year term; election last held on 2 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2028); following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, tasks a Knesset member (usually the member of the largest party) with forming a new government

election results: Issac HERZOG elected president; Knesset vote - Issac HERZOG (independent) 87, Miriam PERETZ (independent) 26, invalid/blank 7
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3.25% vote threshold to gain representation; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 23 March 2021; the Knesset was dissolved on 30 June 2022 (next scheduled for 1 November 2022)

election results: percent by party - Likud 24.2%, Yesh Atid 13.9%, Shas 7.2%, Blue and White 6.6%, Yamina 6.2%, Labor 6.1%, UTJ 5.6%, Yisrael Beiteinu 5.6%, Religious Zionist Party 5.1%, Joint List 4.8%, New Hope 4.7%, Meretz 4.6%, Ra'am 3.8%, other 0.5%; seats by party - Likud 30, Yesh Atid 17, Shas 9, Blue and White 8, Yamina 7, Labor 7, UTJ 7, Yisrael Beiteinu 7, Religious Zionist Party 6, Joint List 6, New Hope 6, Meretz 6, Ra'am 4; composition as of March 2022 - men 84, women 36, percentage of women 30%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the president, deputy president, 13 justices, and 2 registrars) and normally sits in panels of 3 justices; in special cases, the panel is expanded with an uneven number of justices

judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the 9-member Judicial Selection Committee, consisting of the Minister of Justice (chair), the president of the Supreme Court, two other Supreme Court justices, 1 other Cabinet minister, 2 Knesset members, and 2 representatives of the Israel Bar Association; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts: district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; family and juvenile courts; special and Rabbinical courts
Political parties and leaders: Blue and White [Benny GANTZ]
Joint Arab List [Ayman ODEH] (alliance includes Hadash, Ta’al, Balad)
Labor [Merav MICHAELI]
Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]
Meretz [Nitzan HOROWITZ]
New Hope [Gideon SA'AR]
United Arab List [Mansour ABBAS]
Religious Zionist Party [Bezalel SMOTRICH, chairperson]
SHAS [Aryeh DERI]
United Torah Judaism, or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN] (alliance includes Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah)
Yamina [Naftali BENNETT]
Yesh Atid [Yair LAPID]
Yisrael Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

Blue and White [Benny GANTZ]
Joint Arab List [Ayman ODEH] (alliance includes Hadash, Ta’al, Balad)
Labor [Merav MICHAELI]
Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]
Meretz [Nitzan HOROWITZ]
New Hope [Gideon SA'AR]
United Arab List [Mansour ABBAS]
Religious Zionist Party [Bezalel SMOTRICH, chairperson]
SHAS [Aryeh DERI]
United Torah Judaism, or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN] (alliance includes Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah)
Yamina [Naftali BENNETT]
Yesh Atid [Yair LAPID]
Yisrael Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

International organization participation: BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CERN, CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael HERZOG (since 5 September 2021)

chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500

FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607

email address and website:
consular@washington.mfa.gov.il

https://embassies.gov.il/washington/Pages/default.aspx

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: ambassador Thomas NIDES (since 5 December 2021)

embassy: 14 David Flusser Street, Jerusalem, 9378322

mailing address: 6350 Jerusalem Place, Washington DC  20521-6350

telephone: [972] (2) 630-4000

FAX: [972] (2) 630-4070

email address and website:
JerusalemACS@state.gov

https://il.usembassy.gov/

branch office(s): Tel Aviv

note: on 14 May 2018, the US Embassy relocated to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv; on 4 March 2019, Consulate General Jerusalem merged into US Embassy Jerusalem to form a single diplomatic mission
Flag description: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times

note: the Israeli flag proclamation states that the flag colors are sky blue and white, but the exact shade of blue has never been set and can vary from a light to a dark blue
National symbol(s): Star of David (Magen David), menorah (seven-branched lampstand); national colors: blue, white
National anthem: name: "Hatikvah" (The Hope)

lyrics/music: Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN

note: adopted 2004, unofficial since 1948; used as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897; the 1888 arrangement by Samuel COHEN is thought to be based on the Romanian folk song "Carul cu boi" (The Ox Driven Cart)
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Masada; Old City of Acre; White City of Tel-Aviv - the Modern Movement; Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba; Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev; Bahá’i Holy Places; Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel; Caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin; Necropolis of Bet She’arim

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Israel has a technologically advanced free market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among its leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are offset by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows.   Since March 2020, economic growth has slowed compared to recent historical averages, but Israel's slump has been less severe than in other Middle Eastern countries because of its swift vaccine roll-out and diversified economic base. Between 2016 and 2019, growth averaged 3.6% per year, led by exports. Israel's new government is hoping to pass the country's first budget in two years, which, combined with prudent fiscal policy and strong global trade ties would probably enable Israel to recover from economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds in the last decade. In 2020, Israel began exporting gas to Egypt and Jordan.   Income inequality and high housing and commodity prices continue to be a concern for many Israelis. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries, and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of "tycoons" have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. Government officials have called for reforms to boost the housing supply and to increase competition in the banking sector to address these public grievances. Despite calls for reforms, the restricted housing supply continues to impact younger Israelis seeking to purchase homes. Tariffs and non-tariff barriers, coupled with guaranteed prices and customs tariffs for farmers kept food prices high. Private consumption is expected to drive growth through 2021, with consumers benefitting from low inflation and a strong currency.   In the long term, Israel faces structural issues including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultraorthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only about 8% of the workforce, with the rest mostly employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition. Expenditures on educational institutions remain low compared to most other OECD countries with similar GDP per capita.Israel has a technologically advanced free market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among its leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are offset by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows. Since March 2020, economic growth has slowed compared to recent historical averages, but Israel's slump has been less severe than in other Middle Eastern countries because of its swift vaccine roll-out and diversified economic base. Between 2016 and 2019, growth averaged 3.6% per year, led by exports. Israel's new government is hoping to pass the country's first budget in two years, which, combined with prudent fiscal policy and strong global trade ties would probably enable Israel to recover from economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds in the last decade. In 2020, Israel began exporting gas to Egypt and Jordan. Income inequality and high housing and commodity prices continue to be a concern for many Israelis. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries, and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of "tycoons" have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. Government officials have called for reforms to boost the housing supply and to increase competition in the banking sector to address these public grievances. Despite calls for reforms, the restricted housing supply continues to impact younger Israelis seeking to purchase homes. Tariffs and non-tariff barriers, coupled with guaranteed prices and customs tariffs for farmers kept food prices high. Private consumption is expected to drive growth through 2021, with consumers benefitting from low inflation and a strong currency. In the long term, Israel faces structural issues including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultraorthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only about 8% of the workforce, with the rest mostly employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition. Expenditures on educational institutions remain low compared to most other OECD countries with similar GDP per capita.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $353.39 billion (2020 est.)

$362.23 billion (2019 est.)

$350.15 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -2.6% (2020 est.)

3.28% (2019 est.)

3.69% (2018 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $38,300 (2020 est.)

$40,000 (2019 est.)

$39,400 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $394.93 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (2020 est.)

0.8% (2019 est.)

0.8% (2018 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A+ (2016)

Moody's rating: A1 (2008)

Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2018)

Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.)

industry: 26.5% (2017 est.)

services: 69.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 55.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 22.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 28.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -27.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, poultry, tomatoes, carrots, turnips, tangerines/mandarins, green chillies/peppers, eggs, vegetables
Industries: high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 3.893 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.1%

industry: 17.3%

services: 81.6% (2015 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.4% (2020 est.)

3.81% (2019 est.)

4% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.9%

male: 7.6%

female: 8.2% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22% (2014 est.)

note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37 (2018 est.)

39 (2016 est.)

39.2 (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7%

highest 10%: 31.3% (2010)
Budget: revenues: 93.11 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 100.2 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 72.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

59.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

60.4% of GDP (2018 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $20.642 billion (2020 est.)

$13.411 billion (2019 est.)

$7.888 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $113.87 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$115.57 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$110.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 26%, China 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2020)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, packaged medicines, medical instruments, integrated circuits, refined petroleum (2019)
Imports: $96.53 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$108.26 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$107.74 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United States 12%, China 11%, Germany 7.5%, Switzerland 7%, Turkey 6% (2020)
Imports - commodities: diamonds, cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $173.292 billion (2020 est.)

$113 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$95.45 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $132.5 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

$99.886 billion (2019 est.)

$94.247 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -

3.44 (2020 est.)

3.4684 (2019 est.)

3.7332 (2018 est.)

3.8869 (2014 est.)

3.5779 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 63.09 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 55 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 5.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 17.59 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 95% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 5% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 390 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 231,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 12.73 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 294,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 242,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 111,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 98,860 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production: 9.826 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 9.995 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 509.7 million cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 176 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3.37 million (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 12.27 million (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Israel’s developed economy largely revolves around high technology products, primarily used in the medical, biotechnology, agricultural, materials, and military industries; the country also attracts investment in its cyber-security industry, and has established itself as a hub for thousands of start-up companies; to underpin these developments, Israel has developed a robust telecoms sector; household broadband subscriptions is high, with a focus on fiber-network deployment; Bezeq offers FttP services with data rates of up to 2.5Gb/s; LTE services are almost universally available, while the August 2020 multi-frequency bands also enabled the MNOs to provide services based on 5G; 5G will be supported by moves to close down GSM and 3G networks in stages through to the end of 2025, with the physical assets and frequencies to be repurposed for LTE and 5G use.  (2022)

domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; competition among both fixed-line and mobile cellular providers results in good coverage countrywide; fixed-line nearly 36 per 100 and nearly 132 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020)

international: country code - 972; landing points for the MedNautilus Submarine System, Tameres North, Jonah and Lev Submarine System, submarine cables that provide links to Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (est 2015) broadcasts on 3 channels, two in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2019)
Internet country code: .il
Internet users: total: 8,293,590 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 90% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,602,079 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 64

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,404,373 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 994.54 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4X
Airports: total: 42 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 33

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 12

under 914 m: 8 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 6 (2021)
Heliports: 3 (2021)
Pipelines: 763 km gas, 442 km oil, 261 km refined products (2013)
Railways: total: 1,599 km (2019) (2019)

standard gauge: 1,384 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Roadways: total: 19,555 km (2017)

paved: 19,555 km (2017) (includes 449 km of expressways)
Merchant marine: total: 41

by type: container ship 6, general cargo 2, oil tanker 4, other 29 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa

container port(s) (TEUs): Ashdod (1,584,000) (2019)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Hadera

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Ground Forces, Israel Naval Force (IN, includes commandos), Israel Air Force (IAF, includes air defense); Ministry of Public Security: Border Police (2022)

note - the Border Police is a unit within the Israel Police with its own organizational and command structure; it works both independently as well as in cooperation with or in support of the Israel Police and the IDF
Military expenditures: 5% of GDP (2021 est.)

5% of GDP (2020 est.)

5.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $20 billion)

5.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $19.9 billion)

5.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $19.7 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 173,000 active personnel (130,000 Ground Forces; 9,000 Naval; 34,000 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the majority of the IDF's inventory is comprised of weapons that are domestically-produced or imported from Europe and the US; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of arms to Israel; Israel has a broad defense industrial base that can develop, produce, support, and sustain a wide variety of weapons systems for both domestic use and export, particularly armored vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, air defense, and guided missiles (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; Jews and Druze can be conscripted; Christians, Circassians, and Muslims may volunteer; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript liability 48 months for officers, 32 months for men of other ranks, 24 for women;  conscript service obligation - 32 months for enlisted men and about 24 months for enlisted women (varies based on military occupation), 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9-year service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), age 24 (women) (2022)

note(s) - women have served in the Israeli military since its establishment in 1948; as of 2021, women made up about 35% of IDF personnel; more than 90% of military specialties, including combat specialties, were open to women and more than 3,000 women were serving in combat units; the IDF's first mixed-gender infantry unit, the Caracal Battalion, was established in 2004; as of 2021, conscripts comprised about 70% of the IDF ground forces
Military - note: the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has operated in the Golan between Israel and Syria since 1974 to monitor the ceasefire following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and supervise the areas of separation between the two countries; as of February 2022, UNDOF consisted of about 1,100 personnel

as of 2022 and since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out air strikes in Syria targeting Iranian, Iranian-backed militia and Hizballah forces, and some Syrian Government military positions; over the same period, the IDF has carried out numerous strikes against Hizballah in Lebanon in response to attacks on Israeli territory; Israel fought a month-long war in Lebanon with Hizballah in 2006 (see Appendix-T for details on Hizballah) as of 2022, the IDF also conducted frequent operations against the HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist groups operating out of the Gaza Strip; since seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, HAMAS has claimed responsibility for numerous rocket attacks into Israel and organized protests at the border between Gaza and Israel, resulting in violent clashes, casualties, and reprisal military actions by the IDF; HAMAS and Israel fought an 11-day conflict in May of 2021, which ended in an informal truce; sporadic clashes continued into 2022, including incendiary balloon attacks from Palestinian territory and retaliatory IDF strikes; PIJ has conducted numerous attacks on Israel since the 1980s, including a barrage of mortar and rocket strikes in February 2020 (see Appendix-T for more details on HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad)

Israel has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments (2022)as of 2022, the IDF also conducted frequent operations against the HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist groups operating out of the Gaza Strip; since seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, HAMAS has claimed responsibility for numerous rocket attacks into Israel and organized protests at the border between Gaza and Israel, resulting in violent clashes, casualties, and reprisal military actions by the IDF; HAMAS and Israel fought an 11-day conflict in May of 2021, which ended in an informal truce; sporadic clashes continued into 2022, including incendiary balloon attacks from Palestinian territory and retaliatory IDF strikes; PIJ has conducted numerous attacks on Israel since the 1980s, including a barrage of mortar and rocket strikes in February 2020 (see Appendix-T for more details on HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad)

Israel has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments

Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine; Palestinian Islamic Jihad

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Israel-Gaza Strip: Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005 Israel-Syria: Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); in March 2019, the US Government recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Israel-West Bank: West Bank is Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier constructionIsrael-Gaza Strip: Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005Israel-Syria: Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); in March 2019, the US Government recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Israel-West Bank: West Bank is Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier construction
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 12,181 (Eritrea), 5,061 (Ukraine) (2019)

stateless persons: 42 (mid-year 2021)
Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center