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

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.

Population growth (annual %) in Palestine was reported at 2.3933 % in 2023, 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 July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (POPTOTPSA647NWDB) from 1990 to 2024 about Palestinian Territory and population.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (SPPOPGROWPSE) from 1991 to 2023 about Palestinian Territory, population, and rate.

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 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.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (SPPOP65UPTOZSPSE) from 1960 to 2024 about Palestinian Territory, 65-years +, and population.

Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) in Palestine was reported at 37.45 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population ages 0-14, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Population data was reported at 30.500 NA in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 30.700 NA for 2017. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 32.800 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.700 NA in 1997 and a record low of 30.500 NA in 2018. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Population 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.

Population ages 45-49, male (% of male population) in Palestine was reported at 3.7054 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population ages 45-49, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July 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.

Population in largest city in Palestine was reported at 800636 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population in largest city - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Urban population (% of total population) in Palestine was reported at 77.58 % in 2023, 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 June of 2025.

Population ages 80 and above, male (% of male population) in Palestine was reported at 0.42661 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population ages 80 and above, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Population, female in Palestine was reported at 2598445 Persons in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population ages 75-79, female (% of female population) in Palestine was reported at 0.71855 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Population ages 75-79, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

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

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PCBS Projection: Population: Mid Year data was reported at 5,227,193.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,101,152.000 Person for 2020. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PCBS Projection: Population: Mid Year data is updated yearly, averaging 3,922,130.000 Person from Jun 1997 (Median) to 2021, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,227,193.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 2,783,084.000 Person in 1997. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) PCBS Projection: Population: Mid Year 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.