Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)

Press Release by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on Arab Housing Day - Housing Conditions in Palestine

 
On the occasion of Arab Housing Day, PCBS presents the main indicators of housing conditions in Palestine during 2012.  The Council of Arab Housing and Reconstruction Ministers, within the framework of the League of Arab States, took the decision to adopt the first Monday of October annually as Arab Housing Day. The logo for 2013 is "Better Housing for a Better Life without Slums".  

Apartments Most Common Type of Housing Unit in Palestine

Data indicate that 2.0% of households in Palestine live in a villa, 43.3% live in a house and 53.7% live in an apartment. The percentage of households that own their housing unit in Palestine is 77%: 73.8% in the West Bank and 83.0% in the Gaza Strip.

1.5 Persons per Room in Housing Unit   

The results show that average housing density in Palestine in 2012 was 1.5 persons per room: 1.4 in the West Bank and an average of 1.6 in the Gaza Strip. Around 7.6% of households in Palestine live in housing units with three persons or more per room: 6.5% in the West Bank and 9.6% in the Gaza Strip.

In 2012 the average number of rooms per housing unit in Palestine was 3.6. Around 14.9% of households in Palestine live in housing units with 1-2 rooms: 14.4% in the West Bank and 15.8% in the Gaza Strip.

Average Monthly Rent for Housing Unit

In 2012 the average monthly rent for a housing unit in Palestine was 157 Jordanian dinars: (172 JDs in the West Bank and 109 JDs in the Gaza Strip). Data also indicate that 38.5% of households in the West Bank living in a rented housing unit pay a monthly rent of 150 JDs or more compared to 8.9% in the Gaza Strip.

More than Half of Households in Palestine Need Housing in the Next Ten Years

Around 62.2% of households in Palestine are in need new housing units to be built during the next ten years: 61.9% in the West Bank and 62.2% in the Gaza Strip.