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 *** children per woman as of 2022.

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

According to estimates for 2023, the number of Palestinians in Gaza aged 0 to 4 was *******. That year, more than half of Gaza's estimated **** million inhabitants were below 20 years old.

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.

Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) in Palestine was reported at 38.05 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population ages 0-14 (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Population growth (annual %) in Palestine was reported at 2.3603 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

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.

As of 2021, the overall population density of the Gaza Strip was ***** capita per square kilometer. The population density of North Gaza was ***** capita per square kilometer. The area of the Gaza Strip was around *** square kilometers.

Abstract

To improve the situation the PCBS has decided to undertake a fairly large demographic survey The main purpose of this survey is to provide basic demographic estimates at both the national and district level filling important gaps in existing statistics and reducing uncertainties surrounding the utility of available data Specifically, the survey provides detailed data on the following topics Population structure Female fertility Fertility preference Infant and child mortality Maternal and adult mortality Internal and international migration Marriage Family and household composition Educational attainmentHousing conditions

Geographic coverage

The target population consists of all Palestinian households that usually reside in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Analysis unit

individual/ Household

Universe

The target population in this sample survey comprises all households living in West Bank and Gaza Strip excluding institutional population and nomads

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

A sampling strategy comprises two main elements: a sample design describing the scheme by which the sample of survey units is selected, and the estimators by which survey results can be computed from sample data. The two elements are usually closely interrelated, and determine the quality or reliability of survey estimates. In this section both elements will be described briefly. A more detailed description is provided in a separate working paper (Abu Hassan and Tamsfoss 1995).

The sample design adopted is a stratified three stage design for selection of households to be surveyed. At the first stage a sample of localities was selected. The sample localities have been subdivided into cells of approximately equal size, and a number of cells were selected randomly from each of the sample localities at the second stage. At the third and final stage, a sample of households was selected from the sample cells. For all the demographic variables included in the survey, records were taken for all members of the sample household.

Although a two-stage design would have been preferable, the present, more complex one is partly an outcome of limited availability of data on which sample designing usually is based, specifically data on the population size of various small area units, e.g. cells. The sample designing was undertaken in parallel with the updating of maps for the localities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the winter and spring 1995 - another ongoing PCBS project. Due to the limited time available, the design had to be completed before a complete set of updated locality maps was ready, implying the small area information needed was available for only a limited number of localities. However, the map updating was coordinated with the sample designing in such a way that once the first stage sample of localities was selected, mapping of these localities was given highest priority, thus offering an opportunity to subdivide sample localities into cells with a known measure of (population) size.

The present design is based on listings of localities provided by Barghouti and Daibas (1993) for the West Bank, and Abdeen and Abu-Libdeh (1993) for the Gaza Strip. Even though the population figures are rough estimates as per 1992-93, produced mainly by questioning local administration informants (e.g. Mukhtars) about the number of families in the locality, or projected estimates, they appear to be fairly well attuned with other sources (e.g. Benvenisti and Khayat 1988). Furthermore, the listings applied as a frame comprise more localities than previous ones, and should thus be more complete. However, the coverage may still be less than - although close to - 100% in terms of areas.

The first stage comprises the assigning of localities (as listed by Barghouti and Daibas 1993; Abdeen and Abu Libdeh 1993) to be the Primary Sampling Units (PSUs), the stratification of the PSUs, and the selection of sample PSUs from each stratum. The stratification is a subdivision of the PSUs according to district, administrative status of the locality, and estimated population (households) size. The PSUs were selected independently for each stratum, and with probability proportionate to estimated population size. In the Gaza Strip all localities were selected. The same applies to the district capitals, municipal localities and refugee camps in the West Bank, except in two strata in A Ramallah district. Whenever all PSUs in a stratum are selected, the design is a two stage one, and each single PSU is to be regarded as a separate substratum. The two stage design also applies for several of the small villages (single cell localities). As a matter of fact, the major parts of the sample is selected in two stages only, contributing favorably to smaller sampling error as compared to a strict three stage design.

The second stage subdivision of sample PSUs into cells (or Secondary Sampling Units - SSUs) was done on maps indicating location of buildings and a rough estimate of the number of dwelling in each building. Thus, for each sample PSU or locality as a whole, there are two size measures available; the estimated number of households, and the roughly estimated number of dwelling units. Although these sets of measures proved to be positively correlated, they departed significantly in most cases. However, for the cells, the number of dwelling units were the only measure of size available. Therefore, when selecting the sample cells from each sample PSU with probability proportionate to size, the size in terms of dwelling units had to be applied, i.e. a conceptually different size measure than the one applied at the first stage of selection (households).

For each sample cell the population has been listed by enumeration of buildings (map reference), and dwelling units. It should be noted that the number of dwelling units in each building was assessed by listers from outside no thorough inquiries were made as to whether they were inhabited or not. It was thus expected that errors would occur rather frequently - a problem which is to be evaluated separately on the basis of data collected during the survey. The listing of dwelling units constitutes the Sampling Frame from which the household sample was selected at a third stage by systematic sampling.

The planned sample size was 15,000 households. However, due to the sampling frame imperfections which were envisaged (several non-eligible units included), oversampling was carried out at a rate of approximately 30%, i.e. the gross sample selected at the outset comprised around 20,000 dwelling units.

The sampling design and sample allocation yield a household sample with varying inclusion probabilities. In order to have unbiased results, it is thus recommended that all estimates are based on weighed observations, the weights being the inverse of the respective inclusion probabilities.

All households in a cell have the same probability of being selected, however varying from cell to cell. It should be noted that non-eligible dwelling units (i.e. units which are not inhabited by households) have been removed from the sample. This does not affect the inclusion probabilities or the weights . The actual values of the weights are in the range 0.3 to 3.0. However, 80 % of the weights are in the range 0.7 to 1.4. Only a very few (small) cells are near the extremes.

Since the sampling design is a complex multi-stage one, variance must be calculated with other methods than those applicable to simple random sampling. In order to carry out the calculations, the software CENVAR (US Bureau of the Census 1993) has been used.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

e Demographic Survey questionnaire consists of seven main parts Control Sheet which includes items related to quality control sample identification interview schedule and interview results Household Roster which includes questions related to the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of persons Household Mortality Schedule which includes questions related to deaths in the household during the past 24 months. Housing Schedule which includes questions on housing and housing conditions Relatives Abroad Schedule which includes questions on the number and the demographic characteristics of close relatives residing abroad Women's Schedule which includes questions mainly related to ever married women age 14-54 years Birth History which includes questions related to the characteristics of all births occurring to ever married women eligible for interview Answers to the first five parts of the questionnaires were obtained by interviewing the household head or any adult member of the household in cases where the head was not present during enumeration The last two sections of the questionnaire were completed by interviewing all eligible women The questionnaire was worded in colloquial Arabic Questions were written in full on the questionnaire and strict instructions were given to interviewers to read all questions verbatim during the interviews

Cleaning operations

A data entry template was designed to reflect an exact image of the questionnaire, and included various electronic checks logical check range checks consisting checks and cross-validation Weekly thorough checks on the overall consistency of the data files and sample allocation were also performed after data entry Questionnaire containing field-related errors were sent back to the field for corrections EPI-INFO Version 6.02 supported with NAFITHA-Version 4.00 (Arabization program) was used

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Palestine was reported at 817 sq. Km in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Analysis unit

Persons and households Age is grouped into categories

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: no - Vacant Units: - Households: yes - Individuals: yes - Group quarters: no

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: A building or part of a building constructed for one household only, with one or more independent entrances leading to the public road without passing through another housing unit. The unit might not be constructed for living purposes but was found occupied with a household during the enumeration. Likewise, the unit might be used for habitation or for work or both. It might be closed, vacant, or occupied by one or more households during the census. - Households: One person or a group of persons with or without a family relationship who live in the same housing unit or part of the same housing unit, share meals, and make joint provisions of food and other essentials of living. - Group quarters: A place constructed for the residence of a group of individuals, who live therein and benefit from the services it provides. It may be comprised one or more buildings or one or more housing units. Examples include hotels, hostels, elderly and orphan homes, psycho-therapy clinics and hospitals, collective households for university students, collective living quarters (camps) at the passages, and housing units of priests and nuns in the monasteries and churches (who do not have other households).

Universe

(1) All persons present in the Palestinian territory on the reference date, irrespective of nationality, purpose of stay and place of residence in the Palestinian territory. (2) All Palestinians temporarily living abroad (for less than one year prior to the night of the reference date) and who have a usual place of residence in the Palestinian territory (these persons are enumerated as part of their households). (3) All Palestinians studying abroad irrespective of the study period and the period of stay abroad, and all Palestinian detainees in the Israeli jails regardless of the detention period. Camp residents

Kind of data

Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 259191.

SAMPLE DESIGN: A systematic random sample of 20 percent of households. IPUMS drew a systematic sample of every second household. Camp residents

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The Population and Housing Conditions booklet, which includes form number 3 PHC and form number 12 PHC.

Historical dataset showing total population for West Bank and Gaza by year from 1990 to 2023.

Abstract

IPUMS-International is an effort to inventory, preserve, harmonize, and disseminate census microdata from around the world. The project has collected the world's largest archive of publicly available census samples. The data are coded and documented consistently across countries and over time to facillitate comparative research. IPUMS-International makes these data available to qualified researchers free of charge through a web dissemination system.

The IPUMS project is a collaboration of the Minnesota Population Center, National Statistical Offices, and international data archives. Major funding is provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Additional support is provided by the University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research, the Minnesota Population Center, and Sun Microsystems.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Dwelling

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: Yes - Vacant units: No - Households: Yes - Individuals: Yes - Group quarters: No

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: A building or part of a building constructed for one household only, with one or more independent entrance leading to the public road without passing through another housing unit. - Households: One person or a group of persons with or without a family relationship who live in the same housing unit or part of the same housing unit, share meals, and make joint provisions of food and other essentials of living. - Group quarters: Elderly homes, orphan homes, psycho-therapy clinics and hospitals, and other collective households - Special populations: Camp residents

Universe

(1) All persons living in the Palestinian Territory on the census date, regardless of nationality, citizenship, reason of presence, and place of residence in the Palestinian Territory. (2) All Palestinians who live abroad temporarily and for less than a year whose usual place of residence is in the Palestinian Teritory (these persons are counted with their households). (3) All Palestinians who are studying abroad, regardless of the study period and length of residence abroad, and all Palestinian persons detained in Israeli jails regardless of the detention period. NOTE: Sample includes West Bank only; it excludes Gaza Strip.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: Palestinian National Authority, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics

SAMPLE DESIGN: A systematic random sample of 20 percent of households. IPUMS drew a systematic sample of every second household.

SAMPLE UNIT: household

SAMPLE FRACTION: 10%

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 455,019

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Population, Housing and Establishment Census - 2007 questionnaire, including form number 19/1 PHC

This report and dataset describe one area of intensive Israeli military earthworks activity subsequent to the end of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on March 18, 2025. It focuses on the surroundings of a compound of 81,000 m2 (81 dunam) in the very northwest corner of the Gaza strip (marked as object 1 in the inset box in Figure 1 below). The activity in southern Gaza—including this area in particular —are significant in light of the declared new phase of Israeli army efforts following after the renewal of full-scale conflict on March 18. As described here, this phase new phase of the war, as sweepingly outlined by Israeli government officials, including intensive ground, air, and sea attacks, the relocations of populations to the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and more permanent occupation by Israeli forces, as described below. The rapid progress and the high level of clearance and leveling, the new access road, and the strategic positioning of this compound all suggest it is intended to take on a significant role in the intended next phase, possibly related to aid distribution and population sorting and separation. Given the considerable chaos and churn in overarching development and Israel’s announcements, it is important to examine actual developments on the ground for a more solid sense of Israel’s intentions and commitments. This is the intention of the maps and data in this document and accompanying files, which will be updated and augmented as developments warrant. This continues a series of reports and deposits of geospatial data related to Israeli military activity in the Gaza Strip providing up-to-date spatial inputs requested by international humanitarian NGOs, Gazan residents, and the media.

Abstract

The surveys is designed to collect, analyze and disseminate demographic and health data pertaining to the Palestinian population living in the Palestinian Territory, with a focus on demography, fertility, family planning and maternal and child health, in addition to youth and elderly. The 2006 survey also includes new sections and elements, such as basic health and socio-economic information on different groups within the population, and children less than five years, and children aged 2-14 years, children aged 5-17 years in addition to un-married youth aged 15-29 years and elderly people aged 60 years and over. It is hoped that by gradually introducing new sections into the Palestinian Family Health Survey, it can be transformed into a survey of all of the population.

Geographic coverage

The Data are representative at region level (West Bank, Gaza Strip), locality type (urban, rural, camp) and governorates

Analysis unit

Household, individual

Universe

The survey covered all the Palestinian households who are a usual residence in the Palestinian Territory.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sample frame and sample design: The list of all Palestinian households has been constructed from the updated frame in 2003. The master sample was drawn to be used for different surveys.

The sample type was a stratified two-stage random sample: First stage: 325 EAs were selected from all Palestinian Territory. Second stage: A systematic random sample of 40 households was selected from each enumeration Area (EA) in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Due to the privacy of this survey, each EA was divided into two cells, the first one with 21 households while the other with 19 households. The first cell was prepared to collect the PAPFAM and MICS indicators, while the second was prepared to collect the MICS indicators only. It is worth to mention that there is no crosscutting between the two groups.

In this survey all un-married youth aged 15-29 years and elder persons aged 60 years and over were enumerated, in addition, one child out of all children aged 2-14 years in each household was selected for child discipline part using Kish Table.

Sample size: The number of the households in the sample was 13,238 households: 8,781 in the West Bank and 4,457 in Gaza Strip.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

In this survey four questionnaires were used:

The first questionnaire: This questionnaire was designed to collect PAPFAM and MICS indicators together, and it was collected from about 7,056 households. The questionnaire was consisted of the following parts:

• Household part: consisted household roster including demographic variables such as age, sex, date of birth, smoking, labor force status, education variables, disability, chronic diseases and others. In addition to child discipline section for children aged 2-14 years, child labor for children aged 5-17 years and education section for persons aged 5-24 years.
• Dwelling part: including questions on housing conditions such as main drinking water source, iodized salt and other socio-economic indicators.
• Women part: this part was designed to collect data from all ever-married women 15-54 years old. It consists of seven sections: Women general characteristics, Reproduction, Maternal care, Family planning and Desire for reproduction, Tetanus toxoid vaccination, Knowledge of STDs, Chronic disease and disease due to reproduction.
• Child part: this part was designed to collect data from all children aged less than 5 years, it consists of four sections: Child health and vaccinations, Early education, Birth registration, and Anthropometric measurements.

The second questionnaire: This questionnaire was designed to collect MICS indicators only; it is part of the first one. It was collected from about 6,182 households. The questionnaire was consisted of all the parts mentioned above except: Chronic diseases in household part, and Knowledge of STDs in women part. This methodology was used in order to disseminate the data on these indicators at the governorate level.

The third questionnaire: This questionnaire was designed to collect data from all un- married youth aged 15-29 years.

The fourth questionnaire: This questionnaire was designed to collect data from all elderly persons aged 60 years and over.

Cleaning operations

Data editing took place at a number of stages through the processing including:

1. office editing and coding
2. during data entry
3. structure checking and completeness
4. structural checking of SPSS data files

Response rate

The survey sample consists of about 13,238 households of which 11,661 households completed the interview; whereas 7,700 households from the West Bank and 3,961 households in Gaza Strip. Weights were modified to account for non-response rate. The response rate in the West Bank reached 85.5% while in the Gaza Strip it reached 93.1%. The response rate in the Palestinian Territory reached 88.0%.

Sampling error estimates

Detailed information on the sampling Error is available in the Survey Report.

Data appraisal

Detailed information on the data appraisal is available in the Survey Report.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip data was reported at 34.400 NA in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 34.700 NA for 2017. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip data is updated yearly, averaging 37.250 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 45.400 NA in 1997 and a record low of 34.400 NA in 2018. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Birth 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.

Urban population (% of total population) in Palestine was reported at 77.88 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Urban population (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

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.

In Palestine, the median age of the population was 19.76 years in 2023, meaning that almost half of the total population is comprised of children. The median age of a population is an index that divides the population into two equal groups: half of the population is older than the median age and the other half younger. In 2020, the median age of Palestine's population was estimated to be around 19 years.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 0-14: % of Total Population data was reported at 38.370 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 38.690 % for 2022. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 0-14: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 44.015 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.120 % in 1990 and a record low of 38.370 % in 2023. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population: Ages 0-14: % 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.