Surprising Facts About Israel That You Didn’t Know

Israel is a unique and interesting country, full of rich history, cultural diversity, and surprising facts.

Here are a few you might not know:

1)Home of Many Inventors: Israel is known as the "Start-up Nation". It has the highest

concentration of hi-tech companies in the world (aside from Silicon Valley). It is where the

USB flash drive, cherry tomatoes, and drip irrigation were invented.

2)Vegan Capital of the World: Tel Aviv has the highest per capita population of vegans in the

world, with an estimated 5% of the population eschewing all animal products.

Reading Nation: Israel is ranked first in the world for the number of books published per

3)capita. The country has more than 200 publishing houses, and about 4,000 books are

published each year.

4)Dead Sea: The Dead Sea is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water, making it so dense

that people can easily float on it. The mud from the Dead Sea is also known for its

therapeutic qualities.

5)Languages: While Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages, English is widely spoken

and appears on most signs. Russian, Amharic, French, and Yiddish are also spoken by

segments of the population.

6)Religious Diversity: Israel is the birthplace of three major world religions: Judaism,

Christianity, and Islam. It contains many sites that are considered holy by these religions.

7)National Trail: The Israel National Trail, stretching from the Lebanese border in the north to

the Red Sea in the south, is considered one of the world's best hikes. It spans about 1,015 km

(630 miles).

8)Cherry Tomato: The cherry tomato was engineered at the agricultural research

organization in Israel.

9)Recycling Water: Israel leads the world in recycling and reusing wastewater for agriculture.

As of 2021, about 86% of its domestic wastewater is treated and reused for agriculture.

Young Population: Israel has a young population compared to most developed countries.

About 28% of Israelis are 14 years old or younger.

Israel is a land of contrast, history, innovation, and a blend of cultures that makes it unique in many

aspects.