عربي
Press Release by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on the Occasion of World Habitat Day and Arab Housing Day Titled: "Developing Societal Thought for the Components of Contemporary Housing"
The first Monday of October of each year coincides with the World Habitat Day, according to the recommendations of the United Nations, and the Arab Housing Day, based on the decision of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction. The Council decided the theme of the Arab Housing Day for the year 2022 to be "Developing Societal Thought for the Components of Contemporary Housing".
On those two occasions, PCBS presents the main indicators for housing and housing conditions in Palestine, as related to Sustainable Development Indicators.
Population of Palestine, in Mid 2022, is Estimated to be about 5.35 Million People
Population of Palestine is estimated to be about 5.35 million people in mid-2022. Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017 showed that 77.2% of the population are living in urban areas while 14.5% are living in rural areas and 8.3% in refugee camps. Also, the population density was estimated at 889 person/km2 in mid 2022 in Palestine (563 person/km2 in the West Bank and 5,936 person/km2 in Gaza Strip).
78.0% of Households in Palestine Live in Owned Housing Units
78.0% of the households in Palestine live in owned housing units, in which 82.6% in the West Bank and 71.2% in Gaza Strip in 2020.
In addition, 6.8% of households in Palestine live in rented housing units (8.0% in the West Bank and 5.0% in Gaza Strip). Results also showed that 15.2% of households in Palestine live without payment and as in exchange of labour (9.4% in the West Bank and 23.8% in Gaza Strip).
More than Half of the Palestinian Households Live in Apartment Housing Units
53.0% of the Palestinian households live in apartment housing units (36.3 % in the West Bank and 77.8% in Gaza Strip), 45.3% of the households live in houses (61.5 % in the West Bank and 21.0% in Gaza Strip), 0.5% of the households live in villas (0.7% in the West Bank and 0.2% in Gaza Strip), and 1.2% of the households live in other types of housing units (independent room, tent, marginal or other), where 1.5 % in the West Bank and 1.0% in Gaza Strip in 2020.
Percentage Distribution of Households in Palestine by Region
and Type of Housing Unit, 2020
|
Total |
Type of Housing Unit
|
Region |
|||
|
Other*
|
Apartment |
House |
Villa *
|
||
|
100
|
1.2 |
53.0 |
45.3 |
0.5 |
Palestine
|
|
100
|
1.5 |
36.3 |
61.5 |
0.7 |
West Bank
|
|
100
|
1.0 |
77.8 |
21.0 |
0.2 |
Gaza Strip
|
.Other includes (Independent Room, Tent, Marginal and Other)*
1.5 Persons per Room in the Housing Unit in Palestine
The results showed that the average housing density (number of persons per room) in Palestine in 2021 was 1.5 persons per room: 1.6 persons per room in urban areas, 1.4 persons per room in rural areas and 1.8 persons per room in refugee camps.
The average housing density (number of persons per room) by region was: 1.4 persons per room in the West Bank and 1.7 persons per room in Gaza Strip.
5.2% of Household in the West Bank Live in Overcrowded Housing Units while 8.9% in Gaza Strip
6.6% of households in Palestine live in housing units with three persons or more per room (5.2% in the West Bank, and 8.9% in Gaza Strip), and by type of locality: 6.4% of households in urban areas, 5.6% in rural areas, and 10.6% in refugee camps in 2021.
Data indicated that the average number of rooms in a housing unit in Palestine was 3.6 rooms/housing unit in 2021, where 3.6 rooms/housing unit in urban areas and 3.7 rooms/housing unit in rural areas, compared to 3.3 rooms/housing unit in refugee camps. The average number of rooms in a housing unit in each of the West Bank and Gaza Strip was 3.6 rooms/housing unit.
Only 4.0% of Household Members in Gaza Strip Have Access to Safely Managed Water that is Free of Pollution
As for safely managed water resources (defined as improved sources, used in the dwelling, available when needed and free from pollution (free of E-Coli bacteria)) (SDG 6.1.1), data indicates that 39.5% of household members in Palestine have access to safely managed water, and this percentage fluctuates among the West Bank, where it reached 66.2% of household members, compared to 4.3% of household members in Gaza Strip. As for the type of localities, these percentages were distributed to 35.5% in urban, 67.1% in rural, and 25.2% of household members in camps.
58.5% of Palestinian Households Live in Housing Units Connected to Wastewater Networks
58.5% of the Palestinian households in 2020 used wastewater networks to dispose their wastewater, 28.0% of households used septic tank, 11.8% of households used pit latrine and 1.7% of households used other methods to dispose their wastewater; 95.5% of households in refugee camps, 63.9% in urban areas and 10.1% in rural areas, respectively.
The Sanitation in Palestine is Improved Sanitation
98.8% of the Palestinian households in 2020 used improved sanitation, which includes piped sewer system, septic tank and pit latrine. By type of locality, 99.1% of households in urban areas, 99.4% in refugee camps and 96.9% rural areas use improved sanitation.
An Increase in the Number of Licensed Housing Units for the Year 2021 Compared to Previous Years
The number of new and existing licensed housing units for the year 2021 reached 21,279 licensed housing units in Palestine, with an average area of 163.8 m2, distributed over 19,684 licensed housing units in the West Bank with an average area of 163.4 m2 and 1,595 licensed housing units in Gaza Strip with an average area of 169.2 m2.