Chart and table of Palestine population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

The annual population growth in Palestine decreased by 0.04 percentage points since the previous year. In total, the population growth amounted to 2.39 percent in 2023. Population growth refers to the annual change in population, and is based on the balance between birth and death rates, as well as migration.

The estimated population of the Gaza Strip for 2023 was around 2.1 million people. The Palestinian population of Gaza is relatively young when compared globally. More than half of Gazans are 19 years or younger. This is due to the comparably high fertility rate in the Gaza Strip of 3.5 children per woman as of 2022.

The total population in Palestine was forecast to continuously increase up to more than 5.4 million people by 2023. The current total population is estimated to amount to 5.48 million people in 2023, however these estimates have not yet been adjusted to account for the impact of the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate: Gaza Strip data was reported at 2.900 % in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.000 % for 2017. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate: Gaza Strip data is updated yearly, averaging 3.400 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.100 % in 1997 and a record low of 2.900 % in 2018. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate: Gaza Strip data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.G002: Vital Statistics.

United States - Population Growth for the Occupied Palestinian Territory was 2.48655 % Chg. at Annual Rate in January of 2020, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Population Growth for the Occupied Palestinian Territory reached a record high of 4.47789 in January of 1992 and a record low of 1.98869 in January of 2017. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Population Growth for the Occupied Palestinian Territory - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Palestine population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Palestine across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Palestine was 480, a 1.44% decrease year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Palestine population was 487, a decline of 1.81% compared to a population of 496 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Palestine decreased by 262. In this period, the peak population was 753 in the year 2003. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Palestine is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Palestine population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Palestine Population by Year. You can refer the same here

Key information about State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) population

• The State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) population reached 5.9 million people in Jun 2026, compared with the previously reported figure of 5.7 million people in Jun 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 5.9 million people in Jun 2026 and a record low of 0.9 million people in Jun 1951

Jews were the dominant religious group in the Israel-Palestine region at the beginning of the first millennia CE, and are the dominant religious group there today, however, there was a period of almost 2,000 years where most of the world's Jews were displaced from their spiritual homeland. Antiquity to the 20th century Jewish hegemony in the region began changing after a series of revolts against Roman rule led to mass expulsions and emigration. Roman control saw severe persecution of Jewish and Christian populations, but this changed when the Byzantine Empire adopted Christianity as its official religion in the 4th century. Christianity then dominated until the 7th century, when the Rashidun Caliphate (the first to succeed Muhammad) took control of the Levant. Control of region split between Christians and Muslims intermittently between the 11th and 13th centuries during the Crusades, although the population remained overwhelmingly Muslim. Zionism until today Through the Paris Peace Conference, the British took control of Palestine in 1920. The Jewish population began growing through the Zionist Movement after the 1880s, which sought to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Rising anti-Semitism in Europe accelerated this in the interwar period, and in the aftermath of the Holocaust, many European Jews chose to leave the continent. The United Nations tried facilitating the foundation of separate Jewish and Arab states, yet neither side was willing to concede territory, leading to a civil war and a joint invasion from seven Arab states. Yet the Jews maintained control of their territory and took large parts of the proposed Arab territory, forming the Jewish-majority state of Israel in 1948, and acheiving a ceasefire the following year. Over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced as a result of this conflict, while most Jews from the Arab eventually fled to Israel. Since this time, Israel has become one of the richest and advanced countries in the world, however, Palestine has been under Israeli military occupation since the 1960s and there are large disparities in living standards between the two regions.

The total population in Palestine was estimated at 5.4 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Palestine Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PCBS Projection: Population: Mid Year: Gaza Strip data was reported at 2,106,745.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,047,969.000 Person for 2020. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PCBS Projection: Population: Mid Year: Gaza Strip data is updated yearly, averaging 1,491,960.000 Person from Jun 1997 (Median) to 2021, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,106,745.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 995,522.000 Person in 1997. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PCBS Projection: Population: Mid Year: Gaza Strip data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.G001: Population: Projection: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data was reported at 898.540 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 881.270 Person for 2022. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data is updated yearly, averaging 613.105 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 898.540 Person in 2023 and a record low of 355.330 Person in 1990. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: Non OECD Member: Annual.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PS: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 7.400 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.900 % for 2010. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PS: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 10.900 % from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2014, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.100 % in 2002 and a record low of 7.400 % in 2014. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PS: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting is the percentage of children under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child malnutrition estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Palestine population by year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population trend of Palestine.

Content

The dataset constitues the following datasets

• Palestine, AR Population Dataset: Yearly Figures, Population Change, and Percent Change Analysis

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Multi-temporal city data on a) Annual land consumption rate (%), b) population growth rate (%), c) ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate, and d) built up area per capita.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 15-64: % of Total Population data was reported at 57.830 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 57.610 % for 2022. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 15-64: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 53.290 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57.830 % in 2023 and a record low of 48.800 % in 1990. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 15-64: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: Non OECD Member: Annual.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 65 and Above: % of Total Population data was reported at 3.800 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.700 % for 2022. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 65 and Above: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.700 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.800 % in 2023 and a record low of 2.080 % in 1993. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 65 and Above: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: Non OECD Member: Annual.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Death Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip data was reported at 3.500 NA in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.400 NA for 2017. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Death Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip data is updated yearly, averaging 3.950 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.700 NA in 1997 and a record low of 3.300 NA in 2016. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Death Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.G002: Vital Statistics.

The share of urban population in Palestine increased to around 77.58 percent, meaning the share reached its highest value in the observed period in 2023. A population may be defined as urban depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the village, town, or city. The urbanization rate then refers to the share of the total population who live in an urban setting. International comparisons may be inconsistent due to differing parameters for what constitutes an urban center.

In 2022, the death rate in Palestine increased by 0.03 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants since 2021, reaching 3.85 death per 1,000 inhabitants. The crude death rate refers to the number of deaths in a given year, expressed per 1,000 population. When studied in combination with the crude birth rate, the rate of natural population increase can be determined.