Beyond the headlines of conflict lies a land of profound resilience, where a remarkably young and educated population of over 5.4 million people navigates life with one of the world's highest population densities, immense economic challenges, and an enduring hope for self-determination.
Key Takeaways
- The total population of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip) as of mid-2023 is 5,483,450 people, with 3,082,010 in the West Bank and 2,401,440 in Gaza Strip.
- In 2022, the population density in the Gaza Strip reached 5,864 people per square kilometer, one of the highest in the world.
- Females constitute 49.7% of the total population in Palestine in 2023, totaling about 2,725,000 females.
- GDP per capita (PPP) in Palestine was $6,620 in 2022.
- Unemployment rate in Palestine reached 46% in Gaza and 13% in West Bank in Q1 2023.
- Total GDP of Palestine: $19.07 billion USD in 2022.
- Total area of Palestine (West Bank + Gaza): 6,020 square kilometers.
- Gaza Strip land area: 360 sq km, entirely urbanized.
- West Bank land area: 5,860 sq km, including 220 sq km water.
- Life expectancy at birth: 74.6 years overall in 2022.
- Under-5 mortality rate: 19.8 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
- Immunization coverage measles: 97% in 2022.
- Number of parliament seats: 132 in Palestinian Legislative Council.
- Current president: Mahmoud Abbas since 2005.
- Political parties: Fatah holds majority in PLO, Hamas in Gaza.
Palestine faces conflict with a young, densely populated society under economic strain.
Demographics
- The total population of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip) as of mid-2023 is 5,483,450 people, with 3,082,010 in the West Bank and 2,401,440 in Gaza Strip.
- In 2022, the population density in the Gaza Strip reached 5,864 people per square kilometer, one of the highest in the world.
- Females constitute 49.7% of the total population in Palestine in 2023, totaling about 2,725,000 females.
- The youth population aged 0-14 years accounts for 41.8% of Palestine's total population in 2023.
- Life expectancy at birth in Palestine is 74.6 years for males and 78.5 years for females as of 2022.
- The crude birth rate in Palestine was 25.3 births per 1,000 population in 2022.
- Infant mortality rate in Palestine stood at 17.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022.
- The total fertility rate in Palestine is 3.6 children per woman in 2022.
- 42.5% of Palestine's population lives in urban areas as of 2023.
- The Palestinian refugee population registered with UNRWA is 5.9 million as of 2023, with 1.7 million in Gaza and 0.9 million in West Bank.
- Median age in Palestine is 19.5 years in 2023.
- 99.2% of Palestinians aged 15 and over are literate as of 2022.
- Net migration rate for Palestine is -2.5 migrants per 1,000 population annually.
- Ethnic composition: Arabs 85%, Jews 13%, others 2% in West Bank areas.
- Religious composition: Muslim 93%, Christian 6%, other 1% in Palestine.
- Urbanization rate annual change: 2.95% in Palestine (2020-2025).
- Working age population (15-64 years) is 54.2% of total in 2023.
- Elderly population (65+ years) constitutes 4.0% of total population in 2023.
- Average household size in Palestine is 4.9 persons per household in 2022.
- 26.8% of population is aged 15-29 years in Palestine (2023).
- Male population in Gaza Strip: 1,226,000; female: 1,175,000 (2023).
- Population growth rate: 2.3% annually in Palestine (2022).
- Crude death rate: 3.7 deaths per 1,000 population (2022).
- Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 males per female in Palestine.
- Dependency ratio total: 82.7% in Palestine (2023).
- Child dependency ratio: 71.9%; old-age: 10.8% (2023).
- Population below poverty line: 29.2% in Gaza, 12.6% in West Bank (2021).
- 1.2 million Palestinians live in refugee camps (2023).
- Jewish settlers in West Bank: 465,400 as of 2022.
- Palestinian population in Jerusalem: 370,000 (2023).
Demographics Interpretation
Though Palestine is one of the most densely packed, youthful, and highly literate societies on earth, the overwhelming reality for its people is a life defined by displacement, occupation, and the daily pressures of a staggering refugee crisis that shadows its own population.
Economy
- GDP per capita (PPP) in Palestine was $6,620 in 2022.
- Unemployment rate in Palestine reached 46% in Gaza and 13% in West Bank in Q1 2023.
- Total GDP of Palestine: $19.07 billion USD in 2022.
- Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% in 2022.
- Public debt as percentage of GDP: 45.2% in 2022.
- Exports of goods and services: 12.4% of GDP in 2022.
- Imports of goods and services: 56.7% of GDP in 2022.
- Agriculture value added: 4.1% of GDP in 2022.
- Industry (including construction): 17.5% of GDP; services: 66.4% in 2022.
- Labor force participation rate: 44.5% for ages 15+ in 2022.
- Youth unemployment (15-24 years): 62.3% in 2022.
- Female labor force participation: 19.8% in 2022.
- Average monthly wage in Palestine: 2,850 ILS (about $760 USD) in 2022.
- Remittances inflows: 12% of GDP in 2022.
- Foreign aid: $1.6 billion received in 2022, about 8% of GDP.
- Tourism contributes 6.8% to GDP pre-2020, dropped to 2% in 2022.
- Manufacturing sector employs 15% of workforce in West Bank.
- Current account balance: -15.2% of GDP in 2022.
- Tax revenue: 20.1% of GDP in 2022.
- Budget deficit: 7.5% of GDP in 2022.
- Private sector investment: 18% of GDP in 2022.
- Ease of doing business rank: Not ranked, but score equivalent to 150th globally.
- Top export: Furniture and medical instruments, $200 million in 2022.
- Top import: Mineral fuels, $2.5 billion in 2022.
- Construction sector growth: -5.2% in 2022 due to conflict.
- Retail trade turnover: 45 billion ILS in 2022.
- Energy imports: 95% of energy needs met by imports in 2022.
- Solar energy production: 200 MW installed capacity in 2023.
- Fishing industry in Gaza: Annual catch 1,500 tons pre-blockade, now 800 tons.
- Quarrying output: 4.5 million tons of stone in West Bank (2022).
Economy Interpretation
The Palestinian economy is a fragile ecosystem held together by remittances and aid, where nearly half the youth cannot find work, the nation imports over half of what it consumes, and the most promising export is a future that remains frustratingly quarried in political stone.
Geography
- Total area of Palestine (West Bank + Gaza): 6,020 square kilometers.
- Gaza Strip land area: 360 sq km, entirely urbanized.
- West Bank land area: 5,860 sq km, including 220 sq km water.
- Coastline length: 40 km along Mediterranean Sea in Gaza.
- Elevation extremes: Lowest point Dead Sea -408 m, highest Mt. Nabi Yunis 1,030 m.
- Natural resources: Arable land, water, natural gas, phosphates.
- Irrigated land: 162 sq km in West Bank, 120 sq km in Gaza (2020).
- Arable land percentage: 7.4% in West Bank, 29% in Gaza.
- Renewable water resources per capita: 73 cubic meters/year (2020).
- Annual precipitation: 500 mm in West Bank hills, 50 mm in Jordan Valley.
- Desert area coverage: 5% of West Bank, Negev influence.
- Forest area: 1.5% of land in West Bank (2020).
- Protected areas: 5% of territory under nature reserves in West Bank.
- Dead Sea shared: 40 km shoreline in West Bank.
- Jordan River length in West Bank: 200 km.
- Groundwater aquifers: Three major: Mountain, Coastal, Jordan Rift.
- Land use for agriculture: 27% in West Bank (2020).
- Permanent pastures: 32% of West Bank land.
- Urban land use: 30% in Gaza Strip.
- Earthquake risk: High in Jordan Valley fault line.
- Average temperature Gaza: 20°C annual, summer 28°C.
- Soil erosion rate: 20 tons per hectare per year in hilly areas.
- Biodiversity: 2,100 plant species, 70 mammals in West Bank.
- Coral reefs off Gaza: Damaged by pollution, 10 km² area.
- Salt production from Dead Sea: 30,000 tons annually potential.
- Wind energy potential: 500 MW in coastal areas.
Geography Interpretation
This land, from the arid fault lines to the battered sea, holds within its stark, contested statistics a testament to both profound natural resilience and an even more profound human struggle.
Health and Education
- Life expectancy at birth: 74.6 years overall in 2022.
- Under-5 mortality rate: 19.8 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
- Immunization coverage measles: 97% in 2022.
- Maternal mortality ratio: 27 deaths per 100,000 live births (2020).
- Physicians density: 2.5 per 1,000 population in 2022.
- Hospital beds: 1.2 per 1,000 population (2022).
- Obesity rate adult: 26.8% in 2016 (latest).
- Diabetes prevalence: 13.5% among adults (2021).
- Access to improved drinking water: 96% rural, 99% urban (2020).
- Sanitation facilities safely managed: 54% in 2020.
- Youth literacy rate (15-24): 99.4% for males, 99.0% females (2022).
- Gross enrollment ratio primary education: 103% in 2022.
- Secondary school enrollment: 88% net in 2022.
- Tertiary enrollment gross: 45.2% in 2022.
- Mean years of schooling: 10.8 years for adults (2021).
- Student-teacher ratio primary: 21.5 students per teacher (2022).
- Government expenditure on education: 5.3% of GDP (2021).
- Government health expenditure: 3.1% of GDP (2021).
- Anemia prevalence women 15-49: 27.5% (2019).
- Stunting children under 5: 11.5% (2019-2020).
- Wasting under 5: 1.2% (2019).
- HIV prevalence: <0.1% (2021).
- Mental health disorders: 32% prevalence post-conflict (2022).
- Universities in Palestine: 18 public and private institutions (2023).
- Female enrollment in higher education: 58% (2022).
- Out-of-school children primary age: 2.1% (2022).
- Cancer incidence: 100 per 100,000 (2020).
- Cardiovascular diseases: 42% of deaths (2021).
- Unemployment rate among university graduates: 28% (2022).
- Polio vaccination coverage: 99% (2022).
Health and Education Interpretation
These statistics paint a portrait of a resilient society fiercely determined to build a dignified life from the ground up, achieving near-universal literacy and high vaccination rates despite the heavy weight of a struggling economy, chronic health burdens, and the profound psychological toll of enduring conflict.
Politics and Governance
- Number of parliament seats: 132 in Palestinian Legislative Council.
- Current president: Mahmoud Abbas since 2005.
- Political parties: Fatah holds majority in PLO, Hamas in Gaza.
- UN recognition: 138 member states recognize State of Palestine (2023).
- Corruption perceptions index: Score 29/100 (2022, ranked 77th).
- Freedom House score: 22/100 "Not Free" (2023).
- Voter turnout last election: 52.9% in 2006 PLC elections.
- Women in parliament: 13.4% representation (last election).
- Press freedom index: 152nd out of 180 (2023).
- Israeli checkpoints in West Bank: 593 fixed and temporary (2023).
- Area under PA control: 18% of West Bank (Area A).
- Gaza blockade since: 2007 by Israel and Egypt.
- Oslo Accords divisions: Areas A, B, C defined in 1995.
- PA budget clearance withheld: $300 million by Israel (2022).
- Human rights violations reported: 1,200 by OCHA in 2022.
- International aid donors: 50 countries, EU largest.
- PLO observer status UN: Granted 1974, full observer 2012.
- Hamas governance Gaza: Since 2007 elections win.
- Settler violence incidents: 1,200 in 2022 (OCHA).
- Demolition orders issued: 1,100 structures in 2022.
- Palestinian security forces: 32,000 personnel (2022).
- Judicial independence score: Low, 3.5/7 (2023).
- Rule of law index: 0.44/1 (2023).
- Political prisoners held by Israel: 4,900 as of 2023.
- Gaza war casualties 2023-24: Over 40,000 reported.
- West Bank barrier length: 708 km constructed (2023).
Politics and Governance Interpretation
This collection of statistics paints the sobering portrait of a nation-state in waiting, where internal political fractures and profound external constraints conspire to stifle its sovereignty, governance, and the daily lives of its people.
Sources & References
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