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

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.

Chart and table of West Bank And Gaza population density from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

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.

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.

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.

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

Households

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: Yes - Households: Yes - Individuals: Yes - Group quarters: No - Special populations: Yes (camp)

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.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: 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: Households

SAMPLE FRACTION: 10%

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 259,191

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.

Response rate

COVERAGE: All households living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip except those living in those parts of Jerusalem

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

This horizontal bar chart displays urban population (people) by country full name using the aggregation sum and is filtered where the country is West Bank and Gaza. The data is about countries per year.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Abstract

Objectives: To provide information about the general characteristics of persons with disability or difficulty through a specialized questionnaire designed to meet the needs of the Palestinian Territory, the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Washington Group for Disability Statistics.

Reference Period: 1st quarter of 2011

Periodicity of Data Collection: Every 10 years

Geographic coverage

Areas excluded: Israeli settlements

Analysis unit

Individuals

Universe

Population groups: All age groups

Total population covered: 97.6%

Economic activities: All economic activities

Sectors covered: All sectors

Labor force status: Employed persons, unemployed persons, persons outside labour force

Status in Employment: Employees, employers, own-account workers, contributing family workers, members of producers' cooperatives

Establishments: NR

Other limitations: No

Classifications: Sex, age, level of education, other personal characteristics (e.g. marital status), status in employment, occupation, economic activity

Cross-classification: No

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Frequency of data collection

Periodicity of Data collection: Every 10 years

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) 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.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data was reported at 898.540 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 881.270 Person for 2022. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data is updated yearly, averaging 613.105 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 898.540 Person in 2023 and a record low of 355.330 Person in 1990. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km 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.

The poverty headcount as a percentage of total population at the 5.50 U.S. dollars in West Bank and Gaza increased from about 23.1 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic to about 27.8 percent after the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic caused shocks to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2020, worsening its welfare and economic situation.

This dataset is about countries in West Bank and Gaza per year, featuring 3 columns: country, date, and rural population. The preview is ordered by date (descending).

Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed and granted.

This dataset is about countries in West Bank and Gaza per year, featuring 4 columns: armed forces personnel, country, date, and population. The preview is ordered by date (descending).

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.