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Israel

Asia ยท 9.5 million

About Israel

Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a sovereign country located in Asia, specifically within the Western Asia subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Jerusalem, and the country is home to approximately 10.1 million people. In its native languages, the country is known as โ€œุฅุณุฑุงุฆูŠู„โ€, โ€œื™ืฉืจืืœโ€. Arabic and Hebrew are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Israel. The official currency in circulation is the Israeli new shekel (โ‚ช), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Israel is widely recognised for Jerusalem's holy sites, the Dead Sea and a thriving tech industry. People from Israel are referred to as Israeli.

Geography & climate

Israel covers approximately 21,937 kmยฒ of territory, making it a small country by land area. It shares land borders with 6 neighbouring countries โ€” a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Israel sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 31.5ยฐ N, 35.1ยฐ E. Standard civil time follows UTC+02:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Israel can be summarised as: mediterranean coast & negev desert with hot & dry. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 10.1 million inhabitants, Israel is a country of significant population size. Linguistic life is plural here: Arabic and Hebrew are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Locals refer to their homeland as โ€œุฅุณุฑุงุฆูŠู„โ€ or โ€œื™ืฉืจืืœโ€, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Israeli, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Israeli new shekel (โ‚ช) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Israel should familiarise themselves with the capital, Jerusalem, the local time zone (UTC+02:00), the local currency (Israeli new shekel). The international dialling prefix is +972, which is required when phoning a Israel number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .il, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Sunday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Israel is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Israel is generally classified within the Asia region and more specifically the Western Asia subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "Middle East" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.

Bordering countries

Israel shares land borders with 5 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

One of the world's most extreme water bodies sits at 430 m below sea level โ€” so saline that swimming there feels like floating in mid-air.

Israel in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Israel appears as a moderately challenging puzzle, suited to players who already know the major continents. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints โ€” silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city โ€” before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Israel carries the personality tags โ€œ๐Ÿ• Holy Landโ€ and โ€œ๐Ÿ’ป Startup Nationโ€, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Israel to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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