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.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate: West Bank data was reported at 2.200 % in 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.200 % for 2017. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate: West Bank data is updated yearly, averaging 2.600 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.600 % in 1997 and a record low of 2.200 % in 2018. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate: West Bank 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.

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

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate data was reported at 2.500 % in 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.500 % for 2017. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 2.900 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.800 % in 1997 and a record low of 2.500 % in 2018. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Growth Rate 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.

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.

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.

Chart and table of West Bank And Gaza 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.

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

CEIC extends history for annual Population. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics provides Mid-year Population. Population prior to 1997 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund. Population is in annual frequency, ending in June of each year

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

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.

West Bank and Gaza urban population for was 0, a 0% increase from .

• West Bank and Gaza urban population for was 0, a 0% increase from .
• West Bank and Gaza urban population for was 0, a 0% increase from .
• West Bank and Gaza urban population for was 0, a 0% increase from .

Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Monaco led the ranking for countries with the highest population density in 2021, with nearly 25,000 residents per square kilometer. The Special Administrative Region Macao came in second, followed by Singapore. The world’s smallest country by area, the Holy See, came in 13th with close to 1,200 people per square kilometer.

The world’s second smallest country

Monaco is the world’s second smallest country, with an area of about two square kilometers, and its population only numbers around 40,000. It is a constitutional monarchy located by the Mediterranean Sea, and while Monaco is not part of the European Union, it does participate in some EU policies. The country is perhaps most famous for the Monte Carlo casino and for hosting the Monaco Grand Prix, the most prestigious Formula One race in the world.

The global population

Globally, the population density per square kilometer stands at about 60 inhabitants, and Asia is the most densely populated region in the world. The global population is increasing rapidly, so population density is only expected to increase as well. In 1950, for example, the global population stood at about 2.54 billion people, and is expected to pass eight billions during 2023.

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.

Mozambique Population: Gaza data was reported at 1,467,951.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,442,094.000 Person for 2016. Mozambique Population: Gaza data is updated yearly, averaging 1,344,095.000 Person from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,467,951.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 1,236,284.000 Person in 2007. Mozambique Population: Gaza data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mozambique – Table MZ.G003: Population: by Region.

West Bank and Gaza rural population for was 0, a 0% increase from .

• West Bank and Gaza rural population for was 0, a 0% increase from .
• West Bank and Gaza rural population for was 0, a 0% increase from .
• West Bank and Gaza rural population for was 0, a 0% increase from .

Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

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.

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.

West Bank and Gaza murder/homicide rate per 100K population for 2021 was 0.88, a 8.33% decline from 2020.

• West Bank and Gaza murder/homicide rate per 100K population for 2020 was 0.96, a 34.14% increase from 2019.
• West Bank and Gaza murder/homicide rate per 100K population for 2019 was 0.71, a 42.75% increase from 2018.
• West Bank and Gaza murder/homicide rate per 100K population for 2018 was 0.50, a 30.96% decline from 2017.

Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.

According to estimates for 2023, the fertility rate in Gaza was 3.38 children per woman. Compared to the fertility rate of 2005, the fertility rate of Gazan women has decreased by almost half. The fertility rate describes the average number of children a woman gives birth to, given a constant average child-bearing age between 15 and 49 years.