عربي
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
On the Eve of International Literacy Day, 8th of September
PCBS : Illiteracy rates dropped in the Palestinian Territory from 13.9% in 1997 to 4.7% in 2011
Illiteracy rates among individuals aged (15 + years) in the Palestinian Territory fell in the period 1997-2011 from 13.9% to 4.7%. The illiteracy rate varies considerably between the sexes: 2.1% for males compared to 7.4% for females. For males, it decreased from 7.8% in 1997 to 2.1% in 2011, while for females it decreased from 20.3% to 7.4% over the same period.
In the Palestinian Territory, there were 116,703 illiterate individuals aged (15 + years) in 2011: 77,095 of them in the West Bank and 39,608 in Gaza Strip, of which 26,727 males and 89,976 females, and were distributed as follows: 80,269 in urban localities, 24,759 in rural localities, and 11,675 in refugee camps. Also illiterate individuals aged (15 + years) distributed by age group: 63,482 among individuals aged (65 + years), 53,221 among individuals aged between 15-64 years.
Illiteracy rates vary according to locality. Illiteracy rates in urban localities decreased from 12.4% in 1997 to 4.5% in 2011, from 16.9% to 5.7% in rural localities, and from 13.5% to 4.9% in refugee camps over the same period. In 2011, and the same illiteracy rate among males was in rural localities and in urban localities (2.1%), followed by males in refugee camps (2.3%). Female illiteracy rates were highest in rural localities (9.5%), followed by refugee camps (7.4%), and urban localities (6.9%).
The highest illiteracy rate of 51.7% was among individuals aged (65 + years)compared with other age groups, while it was 0.7% among individuals aged 15-24 years.
The highest illiteracy rate in 2011 among individuals aged (15 + years) was in Tubas governorate (6.9%), followed by Jericho and Al-Aghwar governorate at (6.4%). The lowest rate was in Gaza governorate (3.6%). followed by Nablus governorate (3.8%).