Israel (State of Israel)

Israel State of Israel
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	39th 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
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Israel's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Israel's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Israel's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Palestine and Israel
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. [...] 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	27.2
2	Norway	29.2
3	Sweden	30.2
	...
36	Costa Rica	55.9
37	San Marino	56.8
38	Estonia	56.9
39	Israel	61.9
40	Latvia	62.1
41	Chile	62.9
42	Croatia	63.6
43	USA	64.1
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	89.2
q=200.

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 Datasets:

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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
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 Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
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.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
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)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
45	Monaco	61.1
46	Chile	61.4
47	Montenegro	64.3
48	Israel	64.8
49	Cape Verde	65.1
50	Bolivia	65.3
	Asia Avg	110.11
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

Israel does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Israel does better than average for opposing gender inequality₂₀, combatting modern slavery₂₁, LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₂ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. Israel does not succeed in everything, however. 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

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
4	Brunei	54.8
5	Sri Lanka	56.4
6	Malaysia	59.6
7	Hong Kong	61.0
8	Cyprus	64.6
9	Israel	65.2
10	China	65.8
11	N. Korea	69.7
12	Kuwait	69.9
13	Thailand	70.4
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
29	UK	64.1
30	Cyprus	64.6
31	Cuba	64.7
32	Israel	65.2
33	China	65.8
34	New Zealand	66.8
35	Czechia	67.0
36	Greece	67.2
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #children's_health #demographics #health #israel #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Israel does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Israel comes in the best 20 for delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₁ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. It does better than average in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₂, its adolescent birth rate₃₃, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₄, its suicide rate₃₅, its alcohol consumption rate₃₆ and in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₇. Israel does not succeed in everything, however. Israel does worse than average in its smoking rate₃₈ and in its fertility rate₁₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for the prevalence of overweight adults₃₉ (one of the highest in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better36
Pos.		2016 Per Capita36
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 best15
Pos.		202215
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better38
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %38
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
85	S. Korea	20.0%
86	Slovenia	20.2%
87	Seychelles	20.3%
88	Israel	20.4%
89	Philippines	20.5%
90	Uruguay	20.5%
91	Tunisia	20.6%
92	S. Africa	20.7%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better35
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k35
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
56	Bhutan	5.18
57	Nicaragua	5.24
58	Chad	5.30
59	Israel	5.35
60	Guatemala	5.36
61	Ethiopia	5.38
62	Ghana	5.40
63=	Mexico	5.44
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
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 better39
Pos.		1976 %39
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
173	Latvia	44.1
174	Bahrain	44.9
175	UAE	45.5
176	Israel	46.8
177	Andorra	47.0
178	Czechia	47.1
179	Qatar	49.0
180	Malta	49.6
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 %40
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
91	Malaysia	22.4%
92	Iceland	22.6%
93	Venezuela	22.8%
94	Israel	23.4%
95	Cuba	23.5%
96	Finland	23.7%
97	Colombia	23.9%
98	Mongolia	24.0%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better33
Pos.		2022 Per 100033
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better31
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %31
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
8=	Hungary	99.0
12	N. Korea	98.7
13	Iran	98.6
14=	Israel	98.5
14=	Malta	98.5
14=	Nauru	98.5
14=	Guyana	98.5
14=	New Caledonia	98.5
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better37
Pos.		2015 Avg %37
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.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better32
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 100032
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
19	Ireland	3.76
20	Austria	3.81
21	Germany	3.94
22	Israel	4.01
23	Denmark	4.03
24	Australia	4.08
25=	Netherlands	4.14
25=	Greece	4.14
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

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)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
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	99.9
35	Kuwait	100.5
36	Azerbaijan	101.2
	Asia Avg	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
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.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₂. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? 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).

Israel is 140th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This is formulated from 21 data sets. Israel comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₄₃ (the best in Asia). It does better than average in terms of energy to GDP efficiency₄₄. However Israel performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average when it comes to its score on the Green Future Index₄₅ (still high for Asia), the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₆, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₇. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₈ (amongst the highest in Asia).

Environmental Performance Higher is better43
Pos.		201843
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 better44
Pos.		2022 Avg44
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment 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. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better46
Pos.		2011 %46
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 better48
Pos.		2021 kg48
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. Also scored for 2010s.

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.₄₈

Green Future Index Higher is better45
Pos.		2023 Score45
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
45=	Mexico	4.5
47	Ukraine	4.4
	Asia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

7. Israel's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)49
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank49
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
4	Hong Kong	27.8
5	Israel	31.2
6	Singapore	33.7
7	Russia	42.7
8	Cyprus	45.4
9	Turkey	50.4
10	Malaysia	53.8
11	Kazakhstan	53.9
12	Georgia	60.6
13	Azerbaijan	65.5
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)49
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank49
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
28	Monaco	30.0
29	Slovakia	30.0
30	Latvia	30.1
31	Israel	31.2
32	Liechtenstein	31.7
33	Kosovo	31.9
34	Lithuania	33.2
35	Singapore	33.7
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

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, Iceland and Denmark₅₀. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₀. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₁.

“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)₅₂

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, 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 Europe₅₀, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₀.

For more, see:

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

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2953
2	Israel	4.1153
3	Japan	3.5853
4	Finland	3.1753
5	Sweden	3.1653
6	Denmark	3.0553
7	Taiwan	3.0153
8	Austria	3.0054
9	Switzerland	2.9655
10	Germany	2.8453
11	USA	2.7456
12	Belgium	2.4653
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
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.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better57
Pos.		2025 %57
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
97=	Tunisia	95
97=	Thailand	95
97=	Kazakhstan	95
97=	Israel	95
101=	Iraq	90
101=	Madagascar	90
101=	Dominica	90
101=	Malawi	90
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Israel officially adopted metric in 1946₅₈ as a result of British rule. Progression:

• 1960 (70%): Metric adopted officially; some legacy units remain.
• 1970 (85%): Commerce/education standardized metric.
• 1980 (95%): Metric dominant across sectors.
• 2000 (95%).
• 2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better59
Pos.		2018 %59
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 better60
Pos.		200660
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
37=	Slovenia	96
37=	Slovakia	96
39=	Portugal	95
39=	Israel	95
41=	Kazakhstan	94
41=	Vietnam	94
41=	Armenia	94
41=	Romania	94
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #english #maths #science

Secondary Education Higher is better61
Pos.		201861
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 better62
Pos.		2021 Years62
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better63
Pos.		2015 Score63
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
36	Croatia	1426
37	Lithuania	1425
38	Hungary	1424
39	Israel	1416
40	Argentina	140664
41	Malta	1391
42	Slovakia	1389
43	Greece	1376
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
38	Cyprus	91%
39	Russia	90%
40	Hungary	90%
41	Israel	89%
42	Malta	89%
43	Belarus	89%
44	Slovenia	89%
45	Slovakia	89%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IT Security Lower is better65
Pos.		201365
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 better66
Pos.		2017 Ratio66
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 better67
Pos.		202467
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

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)68
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank68
1	Singapore	16.8
2	Hong Kong	28.6
3	Japan	33.2
4	Cyprus	40.0
5	S. Korea	42.3
6	Taiwan	45.2
7	Malaysia	47.3
8	UAE	49.1
9	Israel	56.6
10	Oman	62.0
11	Brunei	64.6
12	Qatar	65.3
13	Thailand	66.6
	Asia Avg	84.07
q=50.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)68
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank68
1	Denmark	10.4
2	Netherlands	11.8
3	Finland	12.2
	...
43	Lithuania	52.9
44	Greece	54.8
45	Chile	54.9
46	Israel	56.6
47	Trinidad & Tobago	60.0
48	Bulgaria	60.4
49	Oman	62.0
50	Bahamas	62.1
	World Avg	80.47
q=183.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 39 datasets, including multiple decades of data on resisting corruption, Creativity and Culture, overall happiness, Open Trading, Aid and Development, passport utility (so far), personal financial stability, World Giving Index, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #freedom #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

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

Corruption Higher is better69
Pos.		2022 Points69
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
33=	Portugal	62.0
35=	Cape Verde	60.0
35=	Spain	60.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
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.

Happiness Higher is better70
Pos.		2024 Score70
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
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.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better71
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q71
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
46	San Marino	169.5
47	Andorra	169.0
48	Brunei	166.0
49	Israel	162.7
50	Barbados	162.3
51	Mexico	159.0
52=	St Kitts & Nevis	156.3
52=	Bahamas	156.3
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Higher is better72
Pos.		Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Score72
1	Denmark	9.06
2	Switzerland	9.00
3	Finland	8.96
	...
29	Cyprus	7.97
30	Estonia	7.94
31	Italy	7.86
32	Israel	7.85
33	Slovenia	7.83
34	UAE	7.79
35	Latvia	7.76
36	Cape Verde	7.76
	Asia Avg	6.41
	World Avg	6.46
q=165.

World Giving Index Higher is better73
Pos.		2022 %73
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
86=	El Salvador	36.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better74
Pos.		2023 Score74
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	2.74
146	Pakistan	2.75
147=	Iran	2.80
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
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 better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
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 better75
Pos.		2019 Score75
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.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better76
Pos.		Poverty (2020s) %76
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
35	Austria	0.60%
36	Tunisia	0.65%
37	Lithuania	0.67%
38	Israel	0.73%
39	Greece	0.75%
40	Sweden	0.80%
41	Spain	0.84%
42	Italy	0.84%
	Asia Avg	3.54%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better77
Pos.		201977
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
11=	Spain	3.00
12=	Netherlands	3.10
12=	Italy	3.10
14	Israel	3.30
15=	Luxembourg	3.40
15=	Ireland	3.40
17=	Portugal	3.50
17=	Greece	3.50
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better78
Pos.		2023 %78
1	Slovakia	24.1%79
2	Slovenia	24.3%79
3	Belarus	24.4%80
	...
102=	Burkina Faso	37.4%79
103	Burundi	37.5%80
104	Sri Lanka	37.7%81
105=	Israel	37.9%79
105=	Togo	37.9%79
107	Gabon	38.0%82
108	Malawi	38.5%81
109=	Samoa	38.7%83
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

From 2010 to 2020, the numbers of those calling themselves Jewish declined by 1.5% and most other groups also saw a slight decline; the numbers of Muslims and non-religious affiliates both rose by nearly 1% each. Interestingly, no other country experienced more than a slight reduction in the number of religious Jews, meaning that Judaism is becoming less popular in Israel in particular, although 77% still adhere to it in name.

Religiosity (2018)59
Pos.		Lower is better %59
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)84
Pos.		Higher is better %84
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
31=	Greece	16
31=	Iceland	16
33=	Spain	15
33=	Israel	15
35	Armenia	14
36=	Lithuania	13
36=	Singapore	13
38=	Kazakhstan	12
38=	China	12
38=	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.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₅:

	2010	2020
Jewish	78.5%	77%
Muslim	13.9%	14.7%
Unaffiliated	3.58%	4.37%
Christian	1.96%	1.88%
Other	1.85%	1.76%
Hindu	0.199%	0.166%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 93.7% 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 95.6% 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)₈₆.

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 1950₈₇. 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. Palestine and Israel ₈₈

#gaza_strip #israel #judaism #palestine #prejudice #religious_violence #USA #west_bank

The 100-year history of Palestine and Israel describes how peace and security can be prevented by religious irrationality, political stupidity, prejudice, racism and hatred. A single-state solution was required because of bias and violence against Jews across Europe, which created a need for a safe home state. But from 1920, the British₈₉ failed to harmonize immigrating Jews and the existing Arabs, leading to violent uprisings by both groups in Palestine who simply could not tolerate each others' religious differences. Instead, in 1947 the United Nations proposed a 2-state solution, causing a series of wars. Since then, Israeli religious extremism has pushed beyond moral boundaries into suppression, oppression, depopulation and genocide against Palestinians, making the conflict harder-than-ever to solve, made worse by the USA infuriating defence of Israel and refusal to accept the State of Palestine.

For more, see:

• " Palestine and Israel" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

With its chapters:

1. Why Does Palestine Struggle to Be a Recognized State?
2. The 1947 Creation of Israel in Palestine, Opposed by Arabs
3. From the 1960s: Israeli Rejection of the Right of Palestine to Exist
4. Palestinian Refugees and Violent Assymetric Resistance Against Israel