This text was last updated in Mai 2018

In early 2018, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics published the results of the first census in ten years. Conducted in 2017, the census provides solid information and sheds light on the economic and social situation in the Palestinian Territories. For the first time, this census provides reliable data for East Jerusalem.

Over the past twenty years the population in the Palestinian Territories rose by almost two million. Today, the total population in the Palestinian Territories amounts to almost 5 million. Out of those, 2.9 million live in the West Bank, including the 435,483 residents of East Jerusalem. 393,163 Palestinians live in the so called Area C that remains under full Israeli control both in civil and security matters. Area C comprises more than 60% percent of the West Bank and is also the place of residence for around 400.000 Israeli settlers.

The Gaza Strip is home to 1.9 million Palestinians. The population density reached 5.203 per km² and is thus more than ten times higher than in the West Bank.

The Palestinian society is very young. Around 50% of the population is younger than 18 years. 24.3% of the population is between 18-29 years old, leading to a share of 70% below the age of 30. Only 5.2% are 60 years or older. As comparison: according to the Federal Statistical Office, 27% of the German population is 60 years or older, whereas only 16% are younger than 18.

The dominant religion in the Palestinian Territories is Islam. Only around 47,000 persons or 1% of the population are Christians and only around 0.03% stated that they belong to another religious community.

95,609 Palestinians are illiterate. Women account for more than 70% of this group and are significantly overrepresented.

Overall unemployment in the Palestinian Territories amounts to 27.2%. In Gaza, almost one in two people are unemployed due to the precarious economic situation. In the West Bank, this number stands at 13.2%. Especially worrying is the result that even higher education does often not lead to a successful career: Half of all university graduates are unemployed.*

Considerable differences between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are also evident in the access to improved drinking water: while 9 out of 10 persons in the West Bank have access to clean water, this number drops to 1 out of 10 in the Gaza Strip. *

Numbers do not include East Jerusalem