2binisrael

Living Standards

Average Household Expenditures on Goods & Services by Main Consumption Groups (2002)

	Expenditures per month (NIS)	%
Consumption Expenditures - Total	10,450	100.0
Housing	2,514	24.1
Transportation & Communication	2,078	19.9
Food	1,727	16.5
Education, Culture & Entertainment	1,375	13.1
House & Household Maintenance	984	9.4
Health	498	4.8
Other Goods & Services	480	4.6
Furnishing & Home Equipment	480	4.6
Clothing & Foot wear	314	3.0

Israel at a Glance

Foreign Trade	Industry	Economy	Social Welfare
¤ Trade is conducted with countries on six continents. ¤ 42% of imports and 32% of exports are with Europe, boosted by Israel's free trade agreement with the EU (concluded in 1975). ¤ A Trade agreement was signed with the United States (1985), whose trade with Israel accounts for 23% of Israel's imports and 32% of its exports.	¤ Israel's industry concentrates on manufacturing products with a high added value that are primarily based on technological innovation. These include medical electronics, agro-technology, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, solar energy, food processing and fine chemicals.	¤ GDP (as of 12/02): $106 Billion $17,000 Per Capita ¤ Exports, goods and services $38.7 billion ¤ Imports, goods and services $43.5 billion ¤ In 2002 the average wage was NIS 7,293 (about $1,620).	¤ The social service system is based on legislation which provides for workers' protection and a broad range of national and community services, including care of the elderly, assistance for single parents, programs for children and youth, adoption agencies, as well as prevention and treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse.

Health

Education and Science

Population & Lifestyle

¤ The National Insurance Institute provides all permanent residents (including non-citizens) with a broad range of benefits, including unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, survivors' benefits, maternity grants and allowances, child allowances, income support payments and more.

¤ School attendance is mandatory from age five and free through age 18.

¤ Israel offers over 60 institutions of higher education, including 16 universities & colleges, offering a wide range of subjects in science and humanities, and serving as research institutions of worldwide repute.

¤ The country is known for its high level of scientific research and development and the application of R&D.

¤ Years of schooling (2001)

Years	% of Population
11-12	45%
13-15	24%
16+	19%

¤ Population total 6.4 million.

¤ Population Density 288 per km.

¤ About 91% of Israel's inhabitants live in some 200 urban centers, some of which are located on ancient historical sites.

¤ About 5% are members of unique rural cooperative settlements - the kibbutz and the moshav.

* Data from the Central Bureau of Stastics