Israel (State of Israel)

Israel State of Israel
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	48th best
Capital	Jerusalem
Land Area	21 640km21
Location	Asia, The Mediterranean, The Middle East
Population	8.4m2
Life Expectancy	82.26yrs (2017)3
GNI	$41 524 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	IL, ISR, 3765
Internet Domain	.il6
Currency	Shekel (ILS)7
Telephone	+9728

1. Overview
2. Israel National and Social Development
3. Israel's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Israel's Health
6. Israel's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Israel's Modernity and Learning
8. Israel's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Divisions: Arabs Versus Jews
11. Links

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1. Overview

#egypt #israel #lebanon #syria

“Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. (The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted.) On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. Progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2006 Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a February 2009 general election. Direct talks with the PA launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“At the intersection of Asia, Europe and Africa, the region of Israel and the Palestinian Territories has been a meeting place of cultures, empires and religions since history began. The Holy Land, cradle of Judaism and Christianity and sacred to Muslims and Baha´is, offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the richness and variety of their own religious traditions and to discover the beliefs of other faiths.Human beings have lived in Israel and the Palestinian Territories since long before recorded history, and thanks to the painstaking work of archaeologists, you can explore and ponder what they left behind. After you´ve admired the 10,000-year-old mud-brick relics of Jericho, you might find inspiration in Jerusalem´s City of David, which dates from the time of Kings David and Solomon.

Distances are short, so you can relax on a Mediterranean beach one day, spend the next floating in the Dead Sea and the day after that scuba diving in the Red Sea.

In 2012 the Palestinian Territories were elevated to a `non-member observer state´ by the United Nations but as yet a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains only a vague hope.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Israel National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
19=	S. Korea	0.925
19=	Japan	0.925
21	USA	0.921
22	Israel	0.919
23=	Slovenia	0.918
23=	Malta	0.918
25	Austria	0.916
26	UAE	0.911
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
29	New Zealand	$44 057
30	Italy	$42 840
31	Japan	$42 274
32	Israel	$41 524
33	Slovenia	$39 746
34	Bahrain	$39 497
35	Malta	$38 884
36	Czechia	$38 745
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.0
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.8
	...
45	Bulgaria	67.3
46	Argentina	67.4
47	Sri Lanka	68.2
48	Israel	69.1
49	Barbados	69.8
50	Brazil	71.6
51	Montenegro	72.2
52	Serbia	72.3
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Israel's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Israel's population is predicted to rise to 9.816 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.89. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
97	Serbia	8.8m
98	Papua New Guinea	8.6m
99	Switzerland	8.5m
100	Israel	8.4m
101	Togo	7.9m
102	Sierra Leone	7.7m
103	Hong Kong	7.4m
104	Laos	7.1m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
16	Luxembourg	82.6
17	France	82.5
18	New Zealand	82.5
19	Israel	82.3
20	Finland	82.0
21	Ireland	82.0
22	Belgium	81.9
23	Netherlands	81.7
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
142	Spain	1.16
143	Malta	1.15
144	Egypt	2.88
145	Israel	2.89
146	Singapore	1.04
147	Lesotho	2.98
148	British Virgin Islands	1.02
149	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	3.05
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
124	Trinidad & Tobago	21.9
125	Bahamas	22.4
126	Costa Rica	22.6
127	Israel	22.9
128	Sri Lanka	23.7
129	Moldova	24.7
130	China	25.3
131	Mauritius	25.9
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
17	Australia	28.8%
18	Antigua & Barbuda	28.1%
19	Brunei	25.3%
20	Israel	23.6%
21	Palau	23.0%
22	New Zealand	22.7%
23	Canada	21.5%
24	Kazakhstan	20.0%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
44	Seychelles	14.6%
45	New Zealand	14.5%
46	Ukraine	14.4%
47	Israel	14.0%
48	Swaziland	13.4%
49	Lithuania	13.2%
50	Romania	13.1%
51	Iceland	13.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gaza_strip #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #israel #israel_gender #misogyny #morals #palestine #politics #prejudice #tolerance #west_bank #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
55	S. Africa	64.3
56	Panama	64.4
57	Montenegro	65.3
58	Israel	65.7
59	Trinidad & Tobago	66.2
60	Mexico	66.2
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Israel does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Israel does better than average in terms of opposing gender inequality₁₉, LGBT equality₂₀ (the best in Asia), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₁, its average Freedom in the World rating and in eliminating modern slavery₂₂. Israel doesn't do so well in other areas. Israel does worse than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₃, supporting press freedom₂₄ (still high for Asia), its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₅ and in freethought₂₆. Critics of Israel (including journalists) faced increasing restrictions in 2017₂₇ and its blasphemy law is too vague and wide-ranging₂₈. The Israeli government continues to enforce severe and discriminatory restrictions on Palestinians´ human rights and restricts movement in/out of the Gaza Strip₂₇. Israel does not investigate violent abuses committed by its security forces in Palestinian areas. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza both conducted their own crackdowns on their own citizens, including making arbitrary arrests and persecuting dissenters.₂₇

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Israel

5. Israel's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #israel #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1=	Japan	44.1
2	Hong Kong	48.2
3	Singapore	49.5
	...
10=	Kuwait	66.8
10=	China	66.8
12	Bahrain	69.3
13	Israel	70.2
14	Qatar	70.7
15	Thailand	74.5
16=	Armenia	75.5
17	Georgia	75.9
18=	UAE	76.7
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
56	Tunisia	69.2
57	Mauritius	69.2
58	Bahrain	69.3
59	Israel	70.2
60	Macedonia	70.4
61	Qatar	70.7
62	Poland	70.8
63=	French Polynesia	70.9
	World Avg	96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₃₀.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₀, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Israel does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Israel comes in the best 20 when it comes to its average life expectancy₁₁. It does better than average for its suicide rate₃₁, its adolescent birth rate₃₂, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₃, its alcohol consumption rate₃₄ and in its immunizations take-up₃₅. But, things could still be better. Israel does worse than average for its smoking rate₃₆ and in its fertility rate₁₄. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Israel in 1990 was the tenth highest in the world, at 77.2yrs. It improved this by another +5.6yrs in the 30 years from 1990, although less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Israel has had a long-term consistent fertility rate, and is one of only 22 countries to vary by less than 1.0 each decade since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 3.87 in 1960.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
16	Luxembourg	82.6
17	France	82.5
18	New Zealand	82.5
19	Israel	82.3
20	Finland	82.0
21	Ireland	82.0
22	Belgium	81.9
23	Netherlands	81.7
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better34
Pos.		2016 Per Capita34
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
63	Malawi	3.7
64=	El Salvador	3.8
64=	Gambia	3.8
64=	Israel	3.8
64=	UAE	3.8
68	N. Korea	3.9
69	Honduras	4.0
70	Jamaica	4.2
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
142	Spain	1.16
143	Malta	1.15
144	Egypt	2.88
145	Israel	2.89
146	Singapore	1.04
147	Lesotho	2.98
148	British Virgin Islands	1.02
149	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	3.05
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better36
Pos.		201436
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
138	Philippines	1 291
139	Indonesia	1 322
140	Libya	1 33337
141	Israel	1 346
142	Argentina	1 359
143	Denmark	1 378
144	Georgia	1 378
145	Cuba	1 392
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Suicide Rate31
Pos.		2013 Per 100k31
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
23	Bahrain	7.5
24	Albania	8
25=	Mexico	8.5
25=	Israel	8.5
27	Georgia	8.8
28	Seychelles	8.9
29	Cyprus	9.1
30	Uzbekistan	9.3
	Asia Avg	19.50
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
48	China	48
49	Singapore	49
50	Ecuador	50
51	Israel	51
52	Slovakia	52
53	Bulgaria	53
54	Panama	54
55	Ukraine	55
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better38
Pos.		2016 %38
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
162=	UK	63.7
163	Fiji	63.8
164	Canada	64.1
165	Israel	64.3
166	Bahamas	64.4
167	Australia	64.5
168	Iraq	64.6
169	Mexico	64.9
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better32
Pos.		2022 Per 100032
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
31	Libya	7.0
32	Portugal	7.1
33	Germany	7.2
34	Israel	7.4
35	Australia	7.7
36	Estonia	8.1
37	Croatia	8.2
38	Greece	8.3
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better35
Pos.		2015 Avg %35
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
63	Gambia	95.4
64	Cyprus	95.3
65	Switzerland	95.3
66	Israel	95.2
67=	Grenada	95.2
67=	Slovenia	95.2
67=	Macedonia	95.2
70	Belize	95.1
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Israel's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #israel #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
28	Palestine	92.7
29	Qatar	94.1
30	Saudi Arabia	94.9
31	Israel	95.8
32=	Laos	97.0
33	Russia	99.2
34	Myanmar (Burma)	99.9
35	Kuwait	100.5
36	Azerbaijan	101.2
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
137	Trinidad & Tobago	94.5
138	Ukraine	94.8
139	Saudi Arabia	94.9
140	Israel	95.8
141	Tonga	96.1
142=	St Kitts & Nevis	96.9
142=	Iceland	96.9
144	Laos	97.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Israel ranks 140th in the world. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. Israel comes in the best 20 when it comes to its environmental performance₄₀ (the highest in Asia). It does better than average for energy to GDP efficiency₄₁. But that's it. Israel has problems. It does worse than average when it comes to its score on the Green Future Index₄₂ (still good for Asia), the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₃, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₄. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₅ (amongst the worst in Asia).

Environmental Performance Higher is better40
Pos.		201840
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
16	Italy	77.0
17	New Zealand	76.0
18	Netherlands	75.5
19	Israel	75.0
20	Japan	74.7
21	Australia	74.1
22	Greece	73.6
23	Taiwan	72.8
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better41
Pos.		2022 Avg41
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
61	Palestine	0.91
62	Cyprus	0.92
63	Tunisia	0.93
64	Israel	0.94
65	Djibouti	0.94
66	France	0.95
67	Portugal	0.95
68	Uruguay	0.96
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
110	S. Korea	56%
111	Sudan	56%
112	Cuba	55%
113	Israel	55%
114	Vietnam	55%
115	Malta	55%
116	Rwanda	55%
117	Mongolia	55%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better43
Pos.		2011 %43
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
97	Senegal	29.6%
98	Comoros	28.3%
99	Ireland	27.9%
100	Israel	27.6%
101	Palestine	27.5%
102	Saudi Arabia	27.2%
103	Belgium	26.9%
104	Syria	26.6%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better45
Pos.		2021 kg45
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
174	Brazil	98.8
175	Spain	100.3
176	Samoa	106.2
177	Israel	107.7
178	St Vincent & Grenadines	109.5
179	Australia	110.2
180	Bahamas	111.9
181	Argentina	115.5
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, Israel's meat consumption per person was the 6th-highest in the world, putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.₄₅

Green Future Index Higher is better42
Pos.		2023 Score42
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
40=	Kenya	4.7
41	New Zealand	4.6
42=	Philippines	4.6
42=	Israel	4.6
42=	Australia	4.6
45	Taiwan	4.5
46=	Mexico	4.5
47	Ukraine	4.4
	Asia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

7. Israel's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #education #english #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #it_security #life_expectancy #maths #modernity #morals #peace #politics #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #research #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
4	Hong Kong	31.2
5	Singapore	34.1
6	Russia	44.3
7	Cyprus	55.6
8	Turkey	55.9
9	Malaysia	59.4
10	Kazakhstan	59.8
11=	Saudi Arabia	62.0
12	UAE	64.3
13	Georgia	65.6
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
21	USA	26.4
22	France	26.8
23	Hungary	29.0
24	Israel	29.5
25	Spain	30.0
26	Latvia	30.3
27	Hong Kong	31.2
28	Lithuania	31.4
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₇. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₇. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₈.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₉

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₇, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₇.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2950
2	Israel	4.1150
3	Japan	3.5850
4	Finland	3.1750
5	Sweden	3.1650
6	Denmark	3.0550
7	Taiwan	3.0150
8	Austria	3.0051
9	Switzerland	2.9652
10	Germany	2.8450
11	USA	2.7453
12	Belgium	2.4650
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better54
Pos.		201854
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
41	Botswana	90.0%
42	Serbia	89.5%
43	Denmark	89.3%
44	Israel	89.1%
45	Sweden	88.9%
46	Mongolia	88.8%
47	Bahamas	88.4%
48	Ireland	88.3%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better55
Pos.		2021 Years55
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
33	Czechia	16.2
34	Latvia	16.2
35	Saudi Arabia	16.1
36	Israel	16.1
37	Tonga	16.0
38	Poland	16.0
39	Austria	16.0
40	Estonia	15.9
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
31	Cyprus	31
32	Ireland	32
33	Croatia	33
34	Israel	34
35	Barbados	35
36	Estonia	36
37	Luxembourg	37
38	USA	38
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better56
Pos.		2015 Score56
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
36	Croatia	1426
37	Lithuania	1425
38	Hungary	1424
39	Israel	1416
40	Argentina	140657
41	Malta	1391
42	Slovakia	1389
43	Greece	1376
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better58
Pos.		2018 %58
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
34=	Uruguay	29
35	Poland	30
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
37=	Portugal	36
39	Azerbaijan	38
40	Chile	41
41=	Croatia	42
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better59
Pos.		200659
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
37=	Slovenia	96
37=	Slovakia	96
39	Portugal	95
40=	Israel	95
41	Kazakhstan	94
42=	Vietnam	94
42=	Armenia	94
42=	Romania	94
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better60
Pos.		201660
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
46=	Hong Kong	74%
46=	Cayman Islands	74%
48	Macau	73%
49=	Israel	73%
49=	Guam	73%
51	Poland	72%
52	Brunei	72%
53	Slovenia	72%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better61
Pos.		201361
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
4	Hong Kong	0.12
5	Mexico	0.16
6	Israel	0.20
7	Colombia	0.22
8=	S. Africa	0.22
8=	Japan	0.22
10	Philippines	0.24
11	Czechia	0.24
12	Argentina	0.27
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better62
Pos.		2017 Ratio62
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
40	Bosnia & Herzegovina	3.1
41	Sri Lanka	2.9
42	Latvia	2.2
43	Israel	1.8
44	Italy	1.7
45	Argentina	1.4
46	Faroe Islands	1.4
47	Russia	1.3
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better63
Pos.		202463
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
20=	Poland	66.0%
20=	S. Korea	66.0%
22	Ireland	65.9%
23	Israel	65.4%
24	Norway	64.5%
25	Canada	63.4%
26	Italy	63.3%
27	Czechia	63.2%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Israel's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Asia (2020)64
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank64
1	Singapore	20.2
2	Taiwan	37.2
3	Hong Kong	40.5
	...
14	Indonesia	65.9
15	Kuwait	66.3
16	Thailand	67.3
17	Israel	68.6
18	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	71.5
19	Maldives	75.1
20	Kazakhstan	75.8
21	Vietnam	76.6
22	Philippines	76.8
	Asia Avg	79.59
q=49.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)64
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank64
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
58	Kuwait	66.3
59	Thailand	67.3
60	Sao Tome & Principe	67.7
61	Israel	68.6
62	Bosnia & Herzegovina	68.9
63	Jamaica	69.5
64	Greece	70.9
65	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	71.5
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

Israel has a good long-term record on keeping corruption low.

World Giving Index Higher is better65
Pos.		2022 %65
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
80=	Iraq	37.0
80=	Croatia	37.0
80=	Moldova	37.0
80=	Israel	37.0
80=	Mauritius	37.0
80=	Lithuania	37.0
86	Panama	36.0
87=	El Salvador	36.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better66
Pos.		2022 Points66
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
29	Barbados	65.0
30	Bahamas	64.0
31=	S. Korea	63.0
31=	Israel	63.0
33	Lithuania	62.0
34=	Portugal	62.0
35	Cape Verde	60.0
36=	Spain	60.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better67
Pos.		2024 Score67
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
4	Sweden	7.3
5	Netherlands	7.3
6	Costa Rica	7.3
7	Norway	7.3
8	Israel	7.2
9	Luxembourg	7.1
10	Mexico	7.0
11	Australia	7.0
12	New Zealand	7.0
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
60	Samoa	60
61	Montenegro	61
62	Ukraine	62
63	Israel	63
64	Mexico	64
65	S. Africa	65
66	Lebanon	66
67	USA	67
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
96	Peru	96
97	Libya	97
98	Czechia	98
99	Israel	99
100	Argentina	100
101	Seychelles	101
102	Australia	102
103	Madagascar	103
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better68
Pos.		2023 Score68
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
140=	Colombia	2.69
140=	Venezuela	2.69
142	Chad	2.70
143	Israel	2.71
144	Nigeria	2.71
145	Myanmar (Burma)	2.74
146	Pakistan	2.75
147=	Iran	2.80
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
120	Ivory Coast	120
121	Kyrgyzstan	121
122	Guinea	122
123	Israel	123
124	Malta	124
125	Burundi	125
126	Barbados	126
127	Chad	127
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
81	Kuwait	81
82	Paraguay	82
83	Sierra Leone	83
84	Israel	84
85	Tanzania	85
86	Jamaica	86
87	Nicaragua	87
88	Niger	88
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better69
Pos.		2019 Score69
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
108	Lebanon	4.40
109	China	4.47
110	S. Africa	4.51
111	Israel	4.53
112	Iran	4.72
113	Chad	4.76
114	Russia	4.90
115	France	5.01
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better70
Pos.		201970
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
11	Spain	3.00
12	Netherlands	3.10
13=	Italy	3.10
14	Israel	3.30
15=	Luxembourg	3.40
15=	Ireland	3.40
17	Portugal	3.50
18=	Greece	3.50
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better71
Pos.		2023 %71
1	Slovakia	24.1%72
2	Slovenia	24.3%72
3	Belarus	24.4%73
	...
102=	Burkina Faso	37.4%72
103	Burundi	37.5%73
104	Sri Lanka	37.7%74
105=	Israel	37.9%72
105=	Togo	37.9%72
107	Gabon	38.0%75
108	Malawi	38.5%74
109=	Samoa	38.7%76
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #druze #god #hinduism #islam #israel #judaism #religion #religion_in_israel #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)58
Pos.		Lower is better %58
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
34=	Uruguay	29
35	Poland	30
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
37=	Portugal	36
39	Azerbaijan	38
40	Chile	41
41=	Croatia	42
41=	Moldova	42
43	Argentina	43
44	Mexico	45
45	Kyrgyzstan	47
46	Kosovo	48
47=	Tajikistan	50
47=	Romania	50
49	Georgia	51
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)77
Pos.		Higher is better %77
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
31=	Greece	16
31=	Iceland	16
33	Spain	15
34=	Israel	15
35	Armenia	14
36=	Lithuania	13
36=	Singapore	13
38	Kazakhstan	12
39=	China	12
39=	Uruguay	12
41	USA	10
42	Trinidad & Tobago	9
43	Albania	8
44=	Dominican Rep.	7
44=	Croatia	7
44=	Kyrgyzstan	7
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₇₈:

Christian	2%
Muslim	18.6%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.3%
Folk Religion	0.2%
Jewish	75.6%
Unaffiliated	3.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 96.2% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (15%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 96.8% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 36% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Jewish 75.6%, Muslim 16.9%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.7%, other 3.8% (2008)₇₉.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Israel upholds the human rights of freedom of belief and freedom of religion, however, "governmental and legal discrimination" exists against those who do not belong to orthodox Judaism, "for example practicing Jews who are not Orthodox must leave the country to marry"₂₈. Israel's blasphemy law (Article 173) is too vague and wide-ranging₂₈.

The Druze gained new experience when much of their wider community became part of the new state of Israel in 1948. The 15,000-strong Druze community there was granted the ability to send official representatives to regularly represent themselves before the Israeli government from 1950₈₀. Many - probably most - Druze hide their identity, stating either Muslim, or Jewish, or whatever is required to remain below the radar and away from persecution.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?
• Human Rights and Freedom in Israel: 4.2. Freedom of Thought

10. Divisions: Arabs Versus Jews₈₁

#gaza_strip #israel #judaism #palestine #USA

Conflicts between Arabs and Jews in Israel and Palestine are one of the world's worst causes of violence and sectarianism, stemming from the creation of Israel after World War 2. There have been many attempts to normalize relations, but so far all have failed.

“The fact that the Arabs rejected the UN's partition plan of 60 years ago has long given ideological comfort to Israel and its supporters. Abba Eban, an Israeli foreign minister, quipped that the Palestinians 'never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity'. Israel's story is that the Arabs have missed at least four chances to have a Palestinian state. They could have said yes to partition in 1947. They could have made peace after the war of 1947-48.They had another chance after Israel routed its neighbours in 1967 ('We are just waiting for a telephone call,' said Moshoe Dayan [...]). They had yet another in 2000 when Ehud Barak, now Israel's defence minister and then its prime minister, offered the Palestinians a state at Bill Clinton's fateful summit at Camp David. [...]

This is the Israel side of the argument - that the Palestinians have rejected all chances at peace, which Israel keeps offering. The other side is that when Israel's population was 600,000 Jews of Palestine, and the Arabs of Palestine almost twice that, an offer of partition didn't seem fair. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Israel wanted all of the West Bank, and 'Israeli prime ministers such as Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir asserted a God-given right to a 'greater Israel' that included the West Bank and Gaza Strip [...].

If rejection of the other side's national claims is one of the things that make this conflict so hard to end, the other is religion. The two are tied together. Hamas is a religious movement, and its formal creed is to reject the possibility of Jewish statehood not only because of Israel's alleged sins but also because there is no place for a Jewish state in a Muslim land.”

The Economist (2009)

“Discussion of the Jerusalem issue continued in the Iraeli-Palestinian talks held in the United States under American auspices in late 2000. In his last meeting with the negotiators from both sides, on 26 December, President Clinton proposed the 'general principal' that .”

"Israel & Palestine" by Bernard Wasserstein (2003)₈₂

Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians their own state in 2000 at Camp David in a prolonged meeting with leaders of both sides (which they rejected, again), orchestrated by American president Bill Clinton₈₃. He himself also proposed that in Jerusalem 'Arab areas are Palestinian and Jewish ones are Israeli', ₈₂. It may seem wise on the surface, but, the ramifications and symbolism is dark. The president of the USA, the "leader of the free world" is recommending a solution that divides up a city into respective parts based on the religion of most of the inhabitants of each part. The best improvements in the human condition across the world have occurred when we stop dividing people up according to their beliefs. When faiths intermingle, it is hard to maintain hatred.