The total population in Palestine was estimated at 5.6 million people in 2024, 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.

The annual population growth in Palestine decreased by 0.03 percentage points since the previous year. In total, the population growth amounted to 2.36 percent in 2024. 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

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 2.3603 % 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 September 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.

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) 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Analysis unit

Persons and households West Bank only; age 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 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

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. Camp residents

Kind of data

Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]

Sampling procedure

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

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 455019.

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

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

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.

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.

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 September of 2025.

Abstract

The main objective of the PHC-2007 is to provide figures for the Palestinian population and their geographical distribution in accordance with a number of relatively stable basic characteristics to inform socioeconomic development purposes. Preparations for conducting censuses take usually 3-5 years for piloting, testing tools, work plans, human and physical needs and timetable. The census is one of the most important statistical activities as it provides statistical data on the distribution of population, and their demographic, social and economic characteristics in a certain reference period of time for all the individuals within the borders of the state.

Geographic coverage

West Bank and Gaza Strip

Analysis unit

individual, household

Universe

The PHC-2007 covered all individuals who were in the Palestinian Territory on the census reference night (30/11-1/12/2007) regardless of nationality and citizenship. It also covered all Palestinians who have usual residence in the Palestinian Territory (including those who were temporarily absent for less than one year for the purpose of visit, tourism, treatment, etc. while their households are still living at their permanent places of residence in the Palestinian Territory). All Palestinian students abroad while their households are still living at their permanent places of residence were also included, in addition to all prisoners and detainees in the Israeli jails regardless of the duration of detention. The census excluded all Palestinians holding identity cards who were absent for more than one year (except for the students), even if their households are still living in their places of residence in the Palestinian Territory

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

It consists of all the enumerated households in the Census 2007 and who are staying in the west bank at the time of enumeration. We select a systematic random sample from each enumeration area in the Census, and we select a 20% of the total households concluding all the individuals in the household

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The census questionnaire for the buildings is divided into four parts: Part one: includes identification data, such as: governorate, locality name, locality code, booklet no. in locality, total booklets in locality, no. of completed pages in booklet, enumeration area.
Part two: includes data for all buildings, such as: 1. Building Serial No. in the page 2. Building No. in Enumeration Area 3. Name of the Owner of the Building or Building Name and Address 4. Building Municipality No. 5. Type of Building 6. Type of Ownership 7. Material of External Walls 8. No. of Stories 9. Current Use of Building 10. Establishments Year 11. Total No. Houses in Building Part three: includes data for all Houses, such as: 1. No. of Houses in the Building 2. Current Use of Houses 3. The reason for Closed, Vacant and Deserted Houses Part four: includes data for all Houses used for habitation or work and habitation, such as: 1. Name of the Head of Household No. of Household Members

Cleaning operations

The data processing stage contain of the following operations: 1. Editing before Data Entry At this stage all booklets were edited in the office using the instructions previously prepared for checking to ensure consistent data. 2. Data Entry Program The data entry program was prepared and designed according to the census questionnaire. The program was prepared by using the Oracle database. 3. Data Entry After the completion of the design and the testing of the data entry program and training of data keyers, work began on data entry.

Response rate

100%

Sampling error estimates

Not Applicaple

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.

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.

Abstract

The 2017 Census covered all members present in Palestine on the morning of 1st December 2017 regardless of their citizenship, nationality or reasons of presence in Palestine. It also covered the Palestinians temporarily outside of State of Palestine for a period of less than a year for purposes of visit, tourism, treatment or any other reason and who have families inside Palestine. It also covered the detainees and prisoners in Israeli jails regardless of the period of their detention. It did not cover the Palestinians with ID cards and families in Palestine who have been absent for a year or more, with the exception of students studying abroad.

It mainly aims to provide a comprehensive and modern statistical database that creates a digital profile of the Palestinian society in all areas. It additionally fulfills the national needs and in accordance to international recommendations and UN recommendations on the contents of the Census. Consequently, the Census serves as the backbone of planning and developmental policies and strategies formulation.

Geographic coverage

All the administrative levels in West Bank and Gaza Strip

Analysis unit

individuals, households

Universe

All the invidual and Households living in Palestine

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

1. Sample Frame: It consists of all the enumerated households in the Census 2017 and who are staying in the Palestine at the time of enumeration.

2. Sample Design: A random random sample was selected from each enumeration area enumerated in the census, where the sampling rate reached 20% of the total number of individuals.

Mode of data collection

Personal Interviwe using Tablests

Response rate

Do not apply

Sampling error estimates

There are only Non-sampling errors that occur at any stage during the implementation of census. Many of data quality control procedures were used during the census planning and implementayion to ensure maximum accuracy