The literacy rate measures the percentage of people aged 15 and above who can read and write. The source does not provide data for 2021. In 2022, the total literacy rate in Palestine was over 97.8 percent, while for men specifically it was almost 99 percent, and for women it was slightly lower at 96 percent.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in Palestine was reported at 99 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Palestine: Female literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2022 is 99 percent, unchanged from 99 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 90.04 percent, based on data from 65 countries. Historically, the average for Palestine from 1997 to 2022 is 98.89 percent. The minimum value, 97 percent, was reached in 1997 while the maximum of 99 percent was recorded in 2004.

West Bank and Gaza literacy rate for 2022 was 97.84%, a 0.33% increase from 2020.

• West Bank and Gaza literacy rate for 2020 was 97.51%, a 0.14% increase from 2019.
• West Bank and Gaza literacy rate for 2019 was 97.38%, a 0.16% increase from 2018.
• West Bank and Gaza literacy rate for 2018 was 97.22%, a 0.29% increase from 2017.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Palestine was reported at 91.49 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Abstract

The survey was commissioned by the World Bank and it is aligned with the objectives of the World Bank's (WB) Global Program on Consumer Protection and Financial literacy that was launched in 2010. The aim of the WB program is to help targeted countries achieve better consumer protection in financial services. The WB initiative has targeted both public and private sector agencies, and has sponsored comprehensive research projects with the objective of finding the best solutions for each individual country/region. The survey focuses on financial services such as banking, insurance, microfinance in terms of credit, savings and payment systems, and was designed to identify the level of financial awareness and familiarity with financial services providers in the West Bank and Gaza. The survey also tried to identify appropriate methods for expanding consumer education and strengthening consumer rights in the West Bank and Gaza.

It is expected that the survey will support the objectives outlined by the Word Bank's Financial Governance/Consumer Protection in Financial Services Program. A major objective of this survey is to provide regional data for the World Bank's multi-national database. Thus, the inherent strengths of this initiative is that it will allow regional stakeholders the opportunity to draw upon both local and international data. Local, international, small and large-scale strategies can then be formulated by comparing the diagnostic reviews of local data to that of other survey countries. By learning from the successes and failures of other survey countries, more effective mechanisms for the improvement of consumer protection and financial literacy in the West Bank and Gaza can be established.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

Household, individual

Universe

The target population is comprised of all Palestinians of the age group 18 - 65 years old residing in the territories of the West Bank and Gaza.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The survey collected data from 2022 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The sample distribution was 66.8% West Bank and 33.2% Gaza Strip.

Sampling Frame

The sampling frame included all geographical locations in which the target population resides. The sampling frame was used to select the sample of locations for the survey. It also included the type of localities (urban, rural and refugee camps) and population size in each location. This information was taken into consideration in designing the survey sample.

The following table provides the distribution of Palestinian households by governorates according to data available on the Census of 2007:

Sampling Frame according to Number of Households:

Governorate Total Number of Households West Bank: Jenin 47,437 Tubas 9,004 Tulkarem 29,938 Nablus 59,663 Qalqilia 16,483 Salfit 11,103 Ramallah Al Bireh 52,834 Jericho 7,615 Jerusalem 70,434 Bethlehem 32,667 Hebron 89,919 Subtotal 427,097

Gaza Strip: North Gaza 40,262 Gaza 76,810 Deir Al Balah 32,083 Khan Yonis 43,203 Rafah 26,863 Subtotal 219,221

Total 646,318

The following table shows the distribution of Palestinian households according to type of locality:

Sampling Frame according to Type of Locality Type of Locality Number of Households

Urban 472,736 Rural 113,386 Refugee Camps 60,196

Total 646,318

The frame was divided into strata depending on the homogeneity of the divided parts as follows: A) Governorates: 16 in the West Bank and Gaza. B) The type of locality: city, village and refugee camp.

Sample Design and Type

Three Stage Stratified Cluster Sample of 2022 persons (2022 households). The sample design was as follows: 1. Stage one: selection a sample of 60 representative localities covering all strata. 2. Stage two: selection a random sample of Palestinian households from each location selected in the first stage. 3. Stage three: random selection of one person from each household using Kish table within the age group of 18 years old and above. Half of the sample will be male and half is female respondents.

Sample Size The sample size was 2022 persons from all Palestinian territories aged 18 years and above. Main regions covered by the sample are: the West Bank (excluding Ramallah), Ramallah and Gaza Strip. The sample was distributed as follows:

Region / # of Households

Ramallah and Al Bireh 350 West Bank 1000 Gaza Strip 672 Total 2022

The margin of error in the main key variables is approximately 2.5% on the entire sample size and it should be bigger in the detailed domains.

Sample Representation:

The researchers ensured that the sample is representative of the following during the field work:

1) Geographical representation: the sample distribution covers all governorates of the West Bank (including Jerusalem) and Gaza strip, thus provides a comprehensive geographical representation. 2) Economic Activity: in general, Ramallah and Al Bireh governorate is considered the economic and commercial center and thus was given a higher weight in the sample compared to the rest of the localities. 3) Economic Sectors: the sample covered different economical sectors such as employees of industrial, services and commercial sectors (usually in the main cities), workers in the agricultural sector (rural areas) and workers in the informal sector (mostly in Gaza). 4) Poverty levels: the sample covers poor localities as provided by statistics. In general, Gaza is considered poorer than the West Bank. Also, refugee camps and some localities particularly in North West Bank are considered poorer than the rest of localities and the above sample distribution provides coverage of such localities. 5) Age Groups: the sample covered all age groups above the age of 18. The reason behind selecting the starting age to be 18 is the fact that it is within this age that an individual is expected to become involved with financial transactions and thus will be dealing with financial services. 6) Gender: the sample was gender balanced; half of the respondents were males and half were females. This corresponds with the gender distribution of the Palestinian Territories. 7) Infrastructure: the sample covered central and remote localities to guarantee representation of poor versus good infrastructure and availability of services including financial services.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

A standard questionnaire was previously developed by the World Bank and was adapted to the Palestinian context by Riyada Consulting. The questionnaire was also shared with local stakeholders such as the Palestinian Monetary Authority, USAID and other departments of the World Bank.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Palestine was reported at 77.49 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) in Palestine was reported at 29.28 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Palestine - Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (cumulative) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Abstract

Starting in 2008, Save the Children implemented a center-based community driven preschool model in rural areas of the Gaza Province in Southern Mozambique. The project financed the construction, equipment and training for 67 classrooms in 30 communities, to provide Early Childhood Development (ECD) activities for children aged between 36 and 59 months. As part of its design, the program included an experimental impact evaluation (using Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial) whereby the 30 intervention communities were selected at random from a pool of 76 eligible sites. Before the preschool activities initiated, a baseline survey was carried out in 2008 involving 76 communities in Gaza Province across the 3 different districts. Two years later, in 2010, the same 2,000 households participated in a mid-line survey to evaluate the impact of the program after one or two years of potential exposure to pre-school. The present data correspond to the follow-up survey that took place in 2014, namely 6-years after the beginning of the intervention when the targeted children were supposed to be in primary school. The impact evaluation has four main research questions: (1) to evaluate the efficiency of low-cost community-based preschool program in a disadvantaged rural African setting in terms of cognitive, socio-emotional skills as well as learning outcomes for the children, (2) to evaluate the effects of such intervention on school enrollment, attendance, and progress (i.e. grade promotion, repetition, dropout); (3) to assess whether parenting practices and knowledge can be durably influenced by community-based ECD program; (4) To identify potential spill-over effects of the program on health, education, productivity and labor market outcomes of siblings and parents of preschoolers. Field work was carried out from April to November 2014. In addition to household surveys and cognitive assessments of children (in literacy, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning), data from primary school directors, pre-school animators and community leaders were collected during this period. From the original 2,000 target children of the 2008 survey, more than 90% of them were successfully tracked and geo-referenced.

Geographic coverage

Three districts : Bilene, Manjacaze, Xai-xai, located in Gaza Province (Southern Mozambique).

Analysis unit

• Mothers/caregivers of the targeted children (aged between 3 to 5 in 2008)
• Targeted children aged between 3 to 5 in 2008 in sampled communities
• Siblings of the target children currently living in the same household

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Communities sampling-process (baseline)

The design used for this impact evaluation is that of a clustered randomized control trial (C-RCT) at community levels

Stage 1: Community Eligibility. Within the three target districts, a subset of eligible communities is identified that meets two key operational requirements for implementation of the program: 1. Population size: To qualify for the intervention, communities must have a population no less than 500 and no more than 8000 people. This range was determined as operationally feasible given the community mobilization process that accompanies the establishment of each ECD center. 2. Clusters: Management of the intervention requires that the intervention be clustered in groups of 6 treatment communities that can be served by a program staff. The definition of cluster was set set by Save the Children, based on minimum criteria of operational feasibility (distance or time traveled between sites). The complete universe had 252 villages in three intervention districts. After applying eligibility criteria of population size and clustering, the sample was reduced to 167 villages in 11 clusters.

Stage 2: Clusters selections The largest clusters in each district were selected for inclusion in the sample, resulting in total of 98 villages. To achieve coverage in all three distracts, it was further agreed with the NGO that the sample would include 2 clusters each in Manjacaze and Xai Xai and one cluster in Bilene

Stage 3: Community level randomization Within clusters of communities that meet the two requirements outlined in stage 1, communities form triplets based on population size, and from each triplet a treatment community is selected at random. The two smallest villages which did not form part of a triplet were dropped. The final sample is composed of 37 treatment (7 for replacement) and 59 control villages (11 replacement), for a total sample of 96 villages. A total of 30 new intervention communities were then selected for this round of implementation through random assignment. No replacement of communities was needed.

Child level selection : In addition to randomization at the community level, there is exogenous variation in treatment within communities, based on rules of eligibility for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). ECD centers had a maximum of 3 class rooms with 35 students per class, for a maximum of 105 students per preschool. In the case of over-subscription of children to the ECD centers, Save the Children and the communities selected the children through a lottery system.

Household sample: A total of 2,000 households with preschool age children were sampled from the 76 evaluation communities at baseline. With no household listing available at the time of the survey, a census of each community was carried out to identify households with children in the age range of 36 to 59 months. Taking the list of households with at least one child in this age range, 23 households per community were planned to be selected randomly. In addition, in 4 large treatment communities where oversubscription to the program was likely, an additional 63 households were selected, yielding a total sample of 2,000 households.

Sampling deviation

In practice, some communities did not have 23 households eligible. In this case, all eligible households were sampled while in larger communities, more households than planned were sampled. Among them 1,830 targeted children were assessed in literacy, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

• Socio-economic questionnaire administrated to the mother/caregiver from the current household of the targeted child ;
• Time-use of the targeted child
• Child assessment in Literacy, Numeracy and Non-verbal reasoning
• School director questionnaire
• Community leader questionnaire
• ECD Instructor questionnaire

Response rate

The follow-up survey successfully tracked 1,875 households from baseline, representing 93.75% of the initial sample.