2014 Edition

Background

Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., Gaza has been dominated by many different peoples and empires throughout its history; it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. Gaza fell to British forces during World War I, becoming a part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip; it was captured by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967. Under a series of agreements signed between 1994 and 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled after the outbreak of an intifada in mid- 2000. In early 2003, the "Quartet" of the US, EU, UN, and Russia, presented a roadmap to a final peace settlement by 2005, calling for two states - Israel and a democratic Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004 and the subsequent election of Mahmud ABBAS (head of the Fatah political party) as the PA president, Israel and the PA agreed to move the peace process forward. Israel in late 2005 unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip, but continues to control maritime, airspace, and other access. In early 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won the Palestinian Legislative Council election and took control of the PA government. Attempts to form a unity government between Fatah and HAMAS failed, and violent clashes between Fatah and HAMAS supporters ensued, culminating in HAMAS's violent seizure of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Fatah and HAMAS in early 2011 agreed to reunify the Gaza Strip and West Bank, but the factions have struggled to implement details on governance and security. Brief periods of increased violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip in 2007-08 and again in 2012, both led to Egyptian-brokered truces. The status quo remains with HAMAS in control of the Gaza Strip and the 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

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

Land boundaries

72 km Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km

border countries

Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km

total

72 km

Land use

7.39% 10.96% 81.64% (2011)

arable land

7.39%

other

81.64% (2011)

permanent crops

10.96%

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

43.2% (male 402,848/female 381,155) 20.6% (male 191,710/female 182,405) 30.1% (male 280,551/female 266,756) 3.5% (male 31,711/female 31,515) 2.6% (male 19,617/female 28,111) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

43.2% (male 402,848/female 381,155)

15-24 years

20.6% (male 191,710/female 182,405)

25-54 years

30.1% (male 280,551/female 266,756)

55-64 years

3.5% (male 31,711/female 31,515)

65 years and over

2.6% (male 19,617/female 28,111) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

32.2 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate

3.09 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

74.1 % 68.8 % 5.3 % data represents the Palestinian Territories (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

5.3 %

potential support ratio

19

total dependency ratio

74.1 %

youth dependency ratio

68.8 %

Drinking water source

urban: 81.6% of population rural: 82.3% of population total: 81.8% of population urban: 18.4% of population rural: 17.7% of population total: 18.2% of population includes Gaza and the West Bank (2012 est.)

rural

17.7% of population

total

18.2% of population

urban

18.4% of population

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

15.46 deaths/1,000 live births 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

14.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

15.46 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

74.64 years 72.9 years 76.48 years (2014 est.)

female

76.48 years (2014 est.)

total population

74.64 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 95.3% 97.9% 92.6% estimates are for the Palestinian Territories (2011 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.6%

male

97.9%

total population

95.3%

Maternal mortality rate

64 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

18.2 years 18 years 18.4 years (2014 est.)

female

18.4 years (2014 est.)

male

18 years

total

18.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2004 est.)

Nationality

NA NA

adjective

NA

noun

NA

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Population

1,816,379 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

2.91% (2014 est.)

Religions

Muslim 98.0 - 99.0% (predominantly Sunni), Christian dismantlement of Israeli settlements was completed in September 2005; Gaza has had no Jewish population since then (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 94.8% of population rural: 92.8% of population total: 94.3% of population urban: 5.2% of population rural: 7.2% of population total: 5.7% of population includes Gaza and the West Bank (2012 est.)

rural

7.2% of population

total

5.7% of population

urban

5.2% of population

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.68 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.04 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 (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.24 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

38.8% 34.5% 62.2% includes West Bank (2012)

female

62.2%

total

38.8%

Urbanization

74.3% of total population (2011) 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

74.3% of total population (2011)

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

(2011 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 a sharp contraction of the private sector that had relied primarily on export markets. Gazans increasingly turned to tunnels that ran under the Egyptian border to bring in fuel, construction materials, and consumer goods. In July 2013, Egyptian authorities began a serious crackdown on the tunnels, causing shortages in Gaza. The population depends on government spending - by both the Palestinian Authority 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. Standard-of-living measures remain below levels seen in the mid-1990s.

Exchange rates

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.621 (2012 est.) 3.5781 (2012 est.) 3.739 (2010 est.) 3.9323 (2009) 3.56 (2008)

Exports

(2011 est.)

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 end use

99.5% 29.5% 18% 0% 14.9% -62% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

14.9%

government consumption

29.5%

household consumption

99.5%

imports of goods and services

-62%

investment in fixed capital

18%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

Industries

textiles, food processing, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2013 est.) 2.8% (2012 est.) includes West Bank

Labor force

348,200 (2010 est.)

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

$2.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.814 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.248 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

22.5% (2013 est.) 23% (2012 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

406,000 (includes West Bank) (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.041 million (includes West Bank) (2012)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Heliports

1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

Gaza

major seaport(s)

Gaza

Roadways

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

Hamas does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip, but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the external Hamas Political Bureau leadership, which has been in exile in Cairo and Doha since closing its Damascus headquarters in late 2011 (2013)

Disputes - international

the status of the Gaza Strip is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from Gaza Strip in August 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons

1,240,082 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2014) at least 146,000 (persons displaced within both the Gaza strip and the West Bank, some fled as long ago as 1967 but confirmed cumulative figures do not go back beyond 2006) (2013)

IDPs

at least 146,000 (persons displaced within both the Gaza strip and the West Bank, some fled as long ago as 1967 but confirmed cumulative figures do not go back beyond 2006) (2013)

refugees (country of origin)

1,240,082 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2014)