عربي
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and National Population Committee
On the Eve of the International Population Day 11/7/2015
The Estimated Population of Palestine at mid 2015 was about 4.68 Million
Based on estimates prepared by PCBS according to the results of the Population, Housing and Establishment Census of 2007, the total population of Palestine at mid 2015 was about 4.68 million; 2.38 million males and 2.30 million females. The estimated population of West Bank was 2.86 million of which 1.45 million males and 1.41 million females. While the estimated population of Gaza Strip totaled 1.82 million of which 925 thousand males and 895 thousand females. The percentage of urban population at mid 2015 was 73.9%, while the percentages of population in rural and camps areas were 16.7% and 9.4% respectively.
Palestinian Population in Gaza Strip is Younger than the West Bank Population
The percentage of individuals aged (0-14) constituted 39.4% of the total population at mid 2015 of which 37.2% in the West Bank and 43.0% in Gaza Strip. The elderly population aged (65 years and over) constituted 2.9% of the total population of which 3.2% in the West Bank and 2.4% in Gaza Strip at mid 2015.
High Population Density in Gaza Strip
Population density of Palestine is generally high at 778 persons/km2, particularly in Gaza Strip it is 4,986 persons/km2 compared to a lower population density in the West Bank of 506 persons/km2 at mid 2015.
High Fertility Rates in Palestine
According to results of Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014, the total fertility rate in Palestine had declined to 4.1births (2011-2013) compared to 6.0 births in 1997. At the regional level, the fertility rate in Gaza Strip is higher than West Bank during the period between (1997-2013), where it reached 3.7 births during the period between (2011-2013) in the West Bank compared to 5.6 births in 1997. While it reached 4.5 births in Gaza Strip during the period between (2011-2013) compared to 6.9 births in 1997.
Decline in Crude Birth and Death Rates During (2015-2020)
Population projections revealed that crude birth rate in Palestine is expected to drop from 31.9 births per one thousand of the population in 2015 to 29.0 births in 2020. On the other hand, the crude death rate is expected to decline from 3.6 deaths per 1000 of the population in 2015 to 3.4 deaths per 1000 in 2020 in Palestine.
Decline in the Average Household Size
Data revealed a decline in the average of households size in Palestine during the period between (1997-2014) from 6.4 persons in 1997 to 5.2 in 2014. This average declined in the West Bank from 6.1 persons in 1997 to 4.9 in 2014, while it declined in Gaza Strip from 6.9 persons to 5.7 for the same period.
One Household out of ten Households is Headed by a Female
Data of 2014 showed that 10.6% of households were headed by females in Palestine as of 11.7% and 8.4% in the West Bank and Gaza Strip respectively. The size of female-headed households were relatively small, with an average size of 3.0 persons compared to 5.8 persons for male-headed households.
Females Participation Rate in Labour Force is very Low Compared to Males in 1st Quarter of 2015
The results of labour force survey revealed that the labour force participation rate in the 1st quarter of 2015 is 45.6% of the total labour force (Persons aged 15 years and above) of which 45.6% in the West Bank and 45.5% in Gaza strip. The females participation rate in labour force is very low compared to males participation rate in the 1st quarter of 2015 is 18.8% of which 18.3% in the West Bank and 19.7% in Gaza Strip, against 71.7% for males; of which 72.2% in the West Bank and 70.7% in Gaza Strip.
About One Fourth of Participants in the Labour Force were Unemployed (25.6%) in the First Quarter of the year 2015
The results showed that more than one fourth of participants in the labour force were unemployed in the 1st quarter of 2015 at 25.6% as of 16.3% in the West Bank and 41.6% in Gaza Strip. Unemployment rate reached 36.2% among females compared to 22.8% among males.
9.6% of Individuals (15 years and above) didn't Complete any Stage of Education
The 2014 data revealed that the percentage of individuals (aged 15 years and above), who have completed university education (A bachelor degree and above), was 12.5% while the percentage of individuals who didn't complete any stage of education reached 9.6%.
Female Illiteracy Rate was three and half Times Higher than that of Males
Illiteracy rate among individuals aged 15 years and over in Palestine was 3.6% in 2014. Illiteracy gap is significantly noticed among males and females at 1.6% and 5.6% respectively.
About 63% of Households have a Computer
The percentage of households that have personal computers in 2014 in Palestine was 63.1% of which 66.9% in the West Bank and 55.6% in Gaza Strip.
Five out of ten Households in Palestine had Internet Access
Available data indicated that 48.3% of households in Palestine had Internet access in 2014 of which 51.4% in the West Bank and 42.2% in Gaza Strip.
Decline in the Percentage of Unsafe Deliveries
In 2014, 0.7% of deliveries in Palestine occurred at home or in other unsafe places; 0.7% in the West Bank compared to 0.6% in Gaza Strip. while the percentage was 5.2% in Palestine in 2000.
An Increase in using the Family Planning Method
57.2% of married women (15-49) years in Palestine use family planning method in 2014 of which 59.8% in the West Bank and 53.4% in Gaza Strip.
Disability Rate is Higher in the West Bank than in Gaza Strip
In 2011, about 113 thousand people with disabilities in Palestine of which 75 thousand in the West Bank, or 2.7% of the total population in the West Bank; and 38 thousand in Gaza Strip; or 2.4% of the total population in Gaza Strip are with disabilities. And the ratio was 2.9% among males and 2.5% among females in Palestine.
More than Three-Quarters of Housing Units in Palestine Owned by a Family Member
In 2013, the percentage of Palestinian households that a family member owned a housing unit was about 80.3% of which 80.8% in the West Bank and 79.4% in Gaza Strip, while the percentage of households who were living in rented houses in Palestine was 8.3% of which 8.4% in the West Bank and 8.0% in Gaza Strip.
96.4% of Palestinian Households Connected to Water Public Network as Main Source
Available data for 2013 showed that 96.4% of households in Palestine lived in houses that are supplied with drinking water from public network of which 94.5% in the West Bank and 99.9% in Gaza Strip. Moreover, almost all of households in Palestine lived in houses connected to the electricity network.
More Than Half of Palestinian Families Living in Houses Connected to Public Sewerage Network
About 44.2% of Palestinian households were living in houses connected to tight\ porous cesspits, of which 58.7% in the West Bank and 16.9% in Gaza Strip. While there were 55.3% of Palestinian households were living in houses connected to public sewage network of which 40.6% in the West Bank compared with 83.1% in Gaza Strip, while where 0.5% of households were living in houses connected by others.