2012 Edition

Background

The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel still controls maritime, airspace, and other access to the Gaza Strip; Israel also enforces a restricted zone along the border inside Gaza. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community, leading to the imposition of economic sanctions on the Palestinian government for its refusal to renounce violence, recognize Israel, and adhere to the previous agreements. Violent clashes between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007 resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. In February 2007, ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau chief Khalid MISHAL signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS that same month dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. Late November 2007 through June 2008 witnessed a substantial increase in violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in the HAMAS-controlled Gaza Strip. An Egyptian-brokered truce in June 2008 between Israel and HAMAS brought about a five-month pause in hostilities, but spiraling end-of-year violence led to an Israeli air campaign and ground invasion into the Gaza Strip from December 2008 to January 2009 that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,100 to 1,400 Palestinians and left tens of thousands homeless. Fatah and HAMAS in May 2011, under the auspices of Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation negotiations, agreed to reunify the Palestinian territories, but the factions have struggled to implement details on governing and security structures despite the signing of subsequent agreements in February and May 2012. In November 2012, an Israeli airstrike killed a top commander in HAMAS's military wing, initiating an eight-day Israeli aerial campaign in Gaza. Israel cited increased rocket attacks from Palestinian militants into Israel as the reason for initiating the campaign. Egypt brokered a cease-fire between Israel and HAMAS on 21 November 2012. The status quo remains with HAMAS in control of the Gaza Strip and ABBAS and the Fatah-dominated PA governing the West Bank.

Area

360 sq km 360 sq km 0 sq km

total

360 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Coastline

40 km

Elevation extremes

Mediterranean Sea 0 m Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

highest point

Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

Geographic coordinates

31 25 N, 34 20 E

Geography - note

strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history

Irrigated land

180 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)

Land boundaries

62 km Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

border countries

Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

total

62 km

Land use

29% 21% 50% (2002)

arable land

29%

other

50% (2002)

permanent crops

21%

Location

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

see entry for Israel effective 3 January 2009 the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice

Natural hazards

droughts

Natural resources

arable land, natural gas

Terrain

flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Age structure

43.8% (male 384,494/ female 363,818) 53.7% (male 469,528/ female 448,182) 2.6% (male 17,939/ female 26,296) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

43.8% (male 384,494/ female 363,818)

15-64 years

53.7% (male 469,528/ female 448,182)

65 years and over

2.6% (male 17,939/ female 26,296) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

34.3 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

3.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Palestinian Arab

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

16.55 deaths/1,000 live births 17.65 deaths/1,000 live births 15.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

15.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

16.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Life expectancy at birth

74.16 years 72.48 years 75.95 years (2012 est.)

female

75.95 years (2012 est.)

total population

74.16 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 92.4% 96.7% 88% (2004 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

88% (2004 est.)

male

96.7%

total population

92.4%

Maternal mortality rate

64 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

17.9 years 17.7 years 18.1 years (2012 est.)

female

18.1 years (2012 est.)

male

17.7 years

total

17.9 years

Nationality

NA NA

adjective

NA

noun

NA

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Population

1,710,257 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

3.108% (2012 est.)

Religions

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 13 years 14 years (2006)

female

14 years (2006)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.68 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.68 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.57 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

72% of total population (2008) 3.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

72% of total population (2008)

Country name

none Gaza Strip none Qita' Ghazzah

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Gaza Strip

local long form

none

local short form

Qita' Ghazzah

Agriculture - products

olives, fruit, vegetables, flowers; beef, dairy products

Budget

see entry for West Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate

see entry for West Bank

Current account balance

-$690.7 million (2010 est.)

Debt - external

see entry for West Bank

Economy - overview

Israeli security controls imposed since the end of the second intifada have degraded economic conditions in the Gaza Strip, the smaller of the two areas comprising the Palestinian territories. Israeli-imposed border closures, which became more restrictive after HAMAS seized control of the territory in June 2007, have resulted in high unemployment, elevated poverty rates, and sharp contraction of the private sector that had relied primarily on export markets. The population is reliant on government spending - by both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and HAMAS's de facto government - and humanitarian assistance. Changes to Israeli restrictions on imports in 2010 resulted in a rebound in some economic activity, but regular exports from Gaza still are not permitted. Recent indicators of strong growth belie the economic reality that standard-of-living measures remain below levels seen in the mid-1990s.

Exchange rates

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.903 (2012 est.) 3.5781 (2011 est.) 3.739 (2010 est.) 3.9323 (2009) 3.56 (2008)

Exports

see entry for West Bank

Exports - commodities

strawberries, carnations, vegetables; small and irregular shipments, as permitted to transit the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

see entry for West Bank

GDP - per capita (PPP)

see entry for West Bank

GDP - real growth rate

see entry for West Bank

GDP (purchasing power parity)

see entry for West Bank

Imports

see entry for West Bank

Imports - commodities

food, consumer goods Israel permits basic commercial imports through the Kerem Shalom crossing, but many "dual use" goods, such as construction materials and electronics, are smuggled through tunnels beneath Gaza's border with Egypt

Industrial production growth rate

see entry for West Bank

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2012 est.) 2.9% (2011 est.) includes West Bank

Labor force

348,200 (2010)

Labor force - by occupation

5.1% 15.6% 79.3% (2010 est.)

agriculture

5.1%

industry

15.6%

services

79.3% (2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

38% (2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.674 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $6.674 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$914.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) $851.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Unemployment rate

40% (2010 est.) 40% (2009 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Electricity - consumption

202,000 kWh (2009)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

193,000 kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

51,000 kWh (2011 est.)

Broadcast media

1 TV station and about 10 radio stations (2008)

Internet country code

.ps; note - same as West Bank

Internet users

1.379 million (includes West Bank) (2009)

Telephone system

Gaza continues to repair the damage to its telecommunications infrastructure caused by fighting in 2009 Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWWAL company provides cellular services country code - 970 (2009)

domestic

Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWWAL company provides cellular services

general assessment

Gaza continues to repair the damage to its telecommunications infrastructure caused by fighting in 2009

international

country code - 970 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

337,000 (includes West Bank) (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.405 million (includes West Bank) (2010)

Airports

1 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1 (2012)

total

1

Heliports

1 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Gaza

Roadways

see entry for West Bank

note

see entry for West Bank

Manpower available for military service

385,961 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

385,961 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

335,820 319,847 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

319,847 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

335,820

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

18,805 17,903 (2010 est.)

female

17,903 (2010 est.)

male

18,805

Military branches

Palestinian Authority security forces have operated only in the West Bank, not in the Gaza Strip, since HAMAS seized power in June 2007; law and order and other security functions are performed by HAMAS security organizations (2008)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

the current status of Gaza Strip is subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement with permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from Gaza Strip in August 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons

1.167 million (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2012) 160,000 (persons displaced within the Palestinian Territories since 1967; largely from Israeli military operations in 2008-9) (2011)

IDPs

160,000 (persons displaced within the Palestinian Territories since 1967; largely from Israeli military operations in 2008-9) (2011)

refugees (country of origin)

1.167 million (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2012)