Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)

 International Women's Day 2014

About half of the population are women

The estimated population of Palestine at the end of 2013 was 4.49 million of whom 2.28 million were males and 2.21 million were females. Males comprise 50.8 percent of the total population compared to 49.2 percent for females. In other words, a sex ratio of 103.2.

Time Use 2012/2013

Data of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, indicated that females spend approximately two hours and 14 minutes in the care of children against 48 minutes  for males. Also females spend 3 hours and 51 minutes in domestic households against one hour for males and about two hours watching television against one hour and 50 minutes for males during  2012/2013,

More than half of women’s aged 15 years and above are married

56.9 percent of females aged 15 years were married, 33.2 percent had never been married.  In addition, 5.8 percent were widowed, 1.6 percent divorced, 2.2 percent engaged for the first time, and 0.3 percent were separated.

A continued rise in literacy among women’s

Despite the progress in literacy among females over the last decade by 10 percent, the gap is still in favor of males by 4 percent.

Literacy rates for men and women aged 15 years and above during 2001-2013

A gap in  average daily wages among men and women

The female participation rate in labor force reached 17.3 percent of females in labor force in 2013 compared to 10.3 percent in 2001.

The male labor force participation rate was still around four times higher than that of females.

There was a gap in the average daily wages of males and females: the average daily wage for females represented NIS 81.2 compared to NIS 100.1  for males in 2013. 

Men and women labor force participation aged 15 years and above during 2001-2013

Half of unemployed women with 13 years of schooling and above

Unemployment rate was 35.0 percent in 2013 against to 13.8 percent among females in 2001 in comparison to 20.6 percent  among males in 2013.

Needless to say that females unemployment rate was the highest among females with 13 years of schooling and above and reached 47.0 percent in 2013.

Unemployment rate among men and women 15 years and above 2001-2013.

women and poverty

The proportion of poor households headed by  a female is higher in Gaza Strip at 29.7 percent compared to 22.5 percent in  West Bank in 2011.

Percentage of  poverty by sex of household heads in 2011

Violence against women

An increase in murder crimes against females was noticed according to Women's centre for legal aid counseling, as 27 females were killed in Palestine in 2013 for different reasons (15 females in West Bank and 12 females in Gaza strip) which is a double of that in 2012  as  13 female were killed.

Health sector

13.6% of Palestinian Medical Association members were females compared with 86.4% were males. This proportion of female physicians in West Bank  is higher than in Gaza Strip at 16.6% and 10.8% respectively in 2012.

27.3% of Palestinian Dental Association members are females compared with 72.7% males. This proportion of female dentists in West Bank is higher than in Gaza Strip at 32.5% and 20.5% respectively in 2012.

Women in public life

21.0% of the members of the local councils are females in West Bank compared with 79.0% males in 2012 and 26.8% of the members of the student councils at Palestinian universities were females against 73.2% males in 2011. And 26.2% of journalists in Palestine were females against 73.8% males in 2012. While the proportion of female ambassadors in Palestine also did not exceed 4.3% compared with 95.7% for male ambassadors, there are 40.6% of employees in  public sector were females female against  59.4% males  in 2012.

Percentage distribution of employed persons 15 years and over by sex and economic activity in 2013

Services  and agriculture sectors comprise a main operator ( job absorber) for females  by 59.3% and 20.9% respectively in 2013.