Living in Israel

Israel lies on the eastern Mediterranean and has around 8.9 million inhabitants. The country stretches from the densely populated coastal plain through the hilly Galilee and the region around Jerusalem to the dry expanses of the Negev Desert. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean: mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; there is more rainfall in the north, while the south is significantly drier. Many people live in cities and suburbs, often in apartment buildings, while rural areas are shaped by agriculture. Cars, buses and trains play an important role in everyday life. People work, among other sectors, in services, technology, trade, agriculture and education. Cafés, markets, beaches and natural areas are popular leisure destinations.