Israel
Asia · Western Asia
Thriving tech sector and strong culture, with a very high cost of living and complex geopolitics.
At a Glance
📈Israel's Human Development Index
0.915
Very High human development#24 of 191 countries worldwide, #5 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 88% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Israel
Israel is a small but intensely layered country where ancient history is alive in the stones of Jerusalem, the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, and the desert fortress of Masada, alongside a modern culture of remarkable creative energy centred on Tel Aviv. The food is outstanding, the nature varies from desert to Mediterranean coast in the space of an hour, and the intensity of human experience concentrated here is unlike anywhere else. It is a place that rarely leaves people indifferent.
- More startups per capita than any country except the United States.
- Mandatory military service applies to women as well as men.
- Most patents filed per capita in the world in several consecutive years.
Quick Facts
Capital
Jerusalem
Languages
Arabic, Hebrew
Currency
₪ ILS
Area
21,640 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
282Mbps
Mobile
67Mbps
GDP / Capita
$60K
PPP / Capita
$60K
Inflation
3.0%
Unemployment
3.5%
Innovation (GII)
52.3
GNI / Capita
$56K
Tax Revenue
23.2%
FDI Inflows
4.3%
Education Spend
5.9%
Cost of Living
79.7
Price Level Index
2nd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.781 → 0.915 (+0.134)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Israel's Human Development Index?
Israel's Human Development Index is 0.915 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #24 of 191 countries.
Is Israel safe?
Israel scores 3.12 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #156 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Israel?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Israel at 79.7 (New York = 100); that is #137 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Israel?
Life expectancy at birth in Israel is 83.2 yrs (World Bank), ranked #13 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Israel?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Israel at 167.7, ranked #30 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.