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PCBS | PCBS: The Palestinians at the end of the Year, 2012

Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)

Palestinians at the end of 2012

 

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics presents the following information about Palestinians at the end of 2012:

 

Increase in world population of Palestinians…

 

The projected number of Palestinians in the world is 11.6 million, of whom 4.4 million are in the Palestinian Territory, 1.4 million in Israel, 5.1 million in Arab countries and around 655 thousand in other countries.

 

More than one-third of population in Gaza Strip…

 

The projected number of Palestinians living in the Palestinian Territory at the end of 2012 is 4.4 million, of whom around 2.7 million reside in the West Bank and 1.7 million in Gaza Strip.

 

Of every 100 persons in the Palestinian Territory, about 44.2% are refugees: 41.4 % in the West Bank and 58.6 % in the Gaza Strip.

 

Decline in fertility rate in recent years…

 

The total fertility rate declined during 2008-2009 to 4.4 births compared with 6.0 births in 1997.  The rate in Gaza Strip during 2008-2009 was 5.2 births compared to 4.0 births in the West Bank.  These rates have been stable for the past few years with no significant changes.

 

Total Fertility Rate in the Palestinian Territory, Selected Years

 

There has been a decline in the detailed fertility rate, particularly in the early reproductive years (15-24 years).


 

Age-Specific Fertility Rates in the Palestinian Territory, Selected Years

 

 

Decrease in average household size…

The average household size in the Palestinian Territory is 5.6 persons in 2012 compared with 6.4 in 1997: 5.3 persons in the West Bank and 6.1 persons in Gaza Strip.

 

Average Household Size in the Palestinian Territory by Region, 1997, 2011

 

 

 

Falling crude birth and mortality rates…

The crude birth rate is 32.7 births for every 1000 of population: in the West Bank the figure is 30.1 compared to 37.3 in Gaza Strip. The rate is expected to decline to 31.9 in 2015.

 

The crude death rate is 3.9 deaths for every 1000 of population: in the West Bank the figure is 4.0 compared to 3.8 in Gaza Strip. The rate is expected to decline to 3.6 in 2015.

 

High fertility rate among Palestinians in Jordan …

The total fertility rate for Palestinians living is Jordan is 3.3 births compared to 2.5 in Syria in 2010 and 2.8 in Lebanon in 2011.

 

 

 

Selected Demographic Indicators by Country of Residence, Selected Years

 

Country of Residence

Average Household Size

Total Fertility Rate

2010

Jordan

4.8

3.3

Syria

4.1

2.5

2011

Lebanon

4.4

2.8

 

Youthful Palestinian population in Israel…

The number of Palestinians living in Israel is 1.4 million, of whom about 36.5% are aged less than 15 years compared to 4.1% aged 65 years and above.

 

Higher fertility rate among Palestinians in Israel than among Jews

The total fertility rate in 2011 among Palestinians living in Israel was 3.3 births compared to 3.0 births among Jews. The average Palestinian household size in Israel is 4.8 persons.  The crude birth rate of Palestinians in Israel exceeded 25 births for every 1000 of the population.

 

The number of Palestinians in historical Palestine will exceed the number of Jews over time…

 

The number of Palestinians in historical Palestine totaled 5.8 million at the end of 2012. while there were 5.9 million Jews end of 2011 according to estimates by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics for 2011, and by end of 2012 is expected to reach 6.0 million Jews. The number of Palestinians and Jews will total about 6.5 million of each by the end of 2016. By providing current growth rates to remain the same. However, the number of Palestinians in historical Palestine will total 7.2 million compared to 6.9 Jews by the end of 2020.

 

Number of Palestinian and Jews living in Historical Palestine

 

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