2016 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 known as the Oslo accords signed between 1994 and 1999, Israel transferred to the newly-created 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 in 2001, after which the area witnessed a violent intifada or uprising. 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. Following PA President Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004 and the subsequent election of Mahmud ABBAS (head of the Fatah political faction) as the PA president in 2005, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to move the peace process forward. Israel by late 2005 unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip, but continues to control the Gaza Strip’s land and maritime borders and airspace. In early 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council election. Attempts to form a unity government between Fatah and HAMAS failed and violent clashes between their respective supporters ensued, culminating in HAMAS's violent seizure of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Since HAMAS’s takeover, Israel and Egypt have enforced tight restrictions on movement and access of goods and individuals into and out of the territory. Fatah and HAMAS have since reached a series of agreements aimed at restoring political unity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank but have struggled to implement them. In April 2014, the two factions signed an agreement and two months later President ABBAS formed an interim government of independent technocrats, none of whom were affiliated with HAMAS. The factions, however, continue to disagree over how to implement the deal and HAMAS remains in de facto control of the Gaza Strip. In July 2014, HAMAS and other Gaza-based militant groups engaged in a 51-day conflict with Israel — the third conflict since HAMAS’s takeover in 2007 — culminating in late August with an open-ended truce that continues to hold despite the absence of a negotiated cease-fire and occasional violations by both sides. Reconstruction efforts since the end of the conflict have been hampered by Israeli restrictions on goods entering the Gaza Strip and inadequate donor aid. The UN in 2015 published a study assessing that the Gaza Strip could become uninhabitable by 2020 absent a substantial easing on border restrictions. In an attempt to reenergize peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, France in June 2016 hosted a ministerial meeting that included participants from 29 countries, although not Israel or the Palestinians, to lay the groundwork for an envisioned "multilateral peace conference" later in the year.

Area

360 sq km 360 sq km 0 sq km

land

360 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

NA lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point

Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

mean elevation

NA

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; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip; the Gaza Strip settlements were evacuated in 2005 (2014)

Irrigated land

240 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2012)

Land boundaries

72 km Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km

border countries (2)

Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km

total

72 km

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

note

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

Population - distribution

population concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north

Terrain

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

Age structure

45.4% (male 408,601/female 387,463) 21.21% (male 187,229/female 184,619) 27.56% (male 237,162/female 246,021) 3.32% (male 30,575/female 27,717) 2.51% (male 22,613/female 21,327) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

45.4% (male 408,601/female 387,463)

15-24 years

21.21% (male 187,229/female 184,619)

25-54 years

27.56% (male 237,162/female 246,021)

55-64 years

3.32% (male 30,575/female 27,717)

65 years and over

2.51% (male 22,613/female 21,327) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

32.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

52.5% (includes Gaza Strip and West Bank) (2010)

Death rate

3.2 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

76% 70.8% 5.2% 19.2% data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

5.2%

note

data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

19.2%

total dependency ratio

76%

youth dependency ratio

70.8%

Drinking water source

urban: 50.7% of population rural: 81.5% of population total: 58.4% of population urban: 49.3% of population rural: 18.5% of population total: 41.6% of population includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank (2015 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank (2015 est.)

rural

18.5% of population

total

41.6% of population

urban

49.3% of population

Ethnic groups

Palestinian Arab

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births 18.2 deaths/1,000 live births 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

18.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

73.9 years 72.3 years 75.7 years (2016 est.)

female

75.7 years (2016 est.)

male

72.3 years

total population

73.9 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 96.5% 98.4% 94.5% estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.5%

male

98.4%

note

estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank (2015 est.)

total population

96.5%

Maternal mortality rate

45 deaths/100,000 live births data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank (2015 est.)

note

data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank (2015 est.)

Median age

16.9 years 16.6 years 17.2 years (2016 est.)

female

17.2 years (2016 est.)

male

16.6 years

total

16.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

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

note

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

Nationality

NA NA

adjective

NA

noun

NA

Net migration rate

-5.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Physicians density

2.1 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

1,753,327 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

population concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north

Population growth rate

2.39% (2016 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.)

note

dismantlement of Israeli settlements was completed in September 2005; Gaza has had no Jewish population since then (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 93% of population rural: 90.2% of population total: 92.3% of population urban: 7% of population rural: 9.8% of population total: 7.7% of population includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank (2015 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank (2015 est.)

rural

9.8% of population

total

7.7% of population

urban

7% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 12 years 14 years data represent Gaza and West Bank (2014)

female

14 years

male

12 years

note

data represent Gaza and West Bank (2014)

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.96 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.3 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

41% 37% 64.7% includes the West Bank (2013 est.)

female

64.7%

male

37%

note

includes the West Bank (2013 est.)

total

41%

Urbanization

75.3% of total population (2015) 2.81% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank

note

data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank

rate of urbanization

2.81% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

75.3% of total population (2015)

Country name

none Gaza Strip none Qita' Ghazzah named for the largest city in the region, Gaza, whose settlement can be traced back to at least the 15th century B.C. (as "Ghazzat")

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Gaza Strip

etymology

named for the largest city in the region, Gaza, whose settlement can be traced back to at least the 15th century B.C. (as "Ghazzat")

local long form

none

local short form

Qita' Ghazzah

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

see entry for the West Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate

see entry for the West Bank

Current account balance

-$2.894 billion (2014 est.) -$1.412 billion (2013 est.) excludes the West Bank

note

excludes the West Bank

Debt - external

see entry for the West Bank

Economy - overview

Israeli security measures and Israeli-Palestinian violence continue to degrade economic conditions in the Gaza Strip, the smaller of the two areas comprising the Palestinian territories. Israeli-imposed border controls became more restrictive after HAMAS seized control of the territory in June 2007. They have produced high unemployment, elevated poverty rates, and a sharp contraction of the private sector, which had relied primarily on export markets. Egypt’s ongoing crackdown on the Gaza Strip’s extensive tunnel-based smuggling network has exacerbated fuel, construction material, and consumer goods shortages in the territory. The 51-day conflict in July 2014 that HAMAS and other Gaza-based militant groups fought with Israel further depressed the Gaza Strip’s already aid-dependent economy. Donor support for reconstruction and relaxed Israeli import restrictions in 2014 and 2015 have fallen short of postconflict needs, with almost 100,000 people remaining internally displaced because their homes have yet to be rebuilt or repaired.

Exchange rates

see entry for the West Bank

Exports

$1.343 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

93% 26.6% 23.8% -2.6% 18.3% -59.2% data exclude the West Bank (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

18.3%

government consumption

26.6%

household consumption

93%

imports of goods and services

-59.2%

investment in fixed capital

23.8%

investment in inventories

-2.6%

note

data exclude the West Bank (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

4.7% 13.7% 81.6% data exclude the West Bank (2014 est.)

note

data exclude the West Bank (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

see entry for the the West Bank

GDP - real growth rate

-15.2% (2014 est.) 5.6% (2013 est.) 7% (2012) excludes the West Bank

note

excludes the West Bank

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.938 billion (2014 est.) excludes the West Bank

note

excludes the West Bank

GDP (purchasing power parity)

see entry for the West Bank

Imports

see entry for the West Bank

Imports - commodities

food, consumer goods, fuel

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% see entry for the West Bank

Industries

textiles, food processing, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2015 est.) 1.7% (2014 est.) 2.9% excludes the West Bank

note

2.9% excludes the West Bank

Labor force

1.106 million excludes the West Bank (2015 est.)

note

excludes the West Bank (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

5.2% 10% 84.8% data exclude the West Bank (2015 est.)

agriculture

5.2%

industry

10%

note

data exclude the West Bank (2015 est.)

services

84.8%

Population below poverty line

30% data exclude the West Bank (2011 est.)

note

data exclude the West Bank (2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.356 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $2.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.418 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.147 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

see entry for the West Bank

Unemployment rate

25.9% (2014 est.) 26.2% (2013 est.) data exclude the West Bank

note

data exclude the West Bank

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 es)

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.)

Electricity access

80,930 98% 99% 93% data for Gaza Strip and West Bank combined (2012)

electrification - rural areas

93%

electrification - total population

98%

electrification - urban areas

99%

note

data for Gaza Strip and West Bank combined (2012)

population without electricity

80,930

Broadcast media

1 TV station and about 10 radio stations; satellite TV accessible (2008)

Internet country code

.ps; note - same as the West Bank

Internet users

2.673 million (includes the West Bank) 57.4% (includes the West Bank) (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

57.4% (includes the West Bank) (July 2015 est.)

total

2.673 million (includes the West Bank)

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 - fixed lines

406,500 (includes the West Bank) (July 2015 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,531,000 (includes the West Bank) 76 (includes the West Bank) (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

76 (includes the West Bank) (July 2015 est.)

total

3,531,000 (includes the West Bank)

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 the West Bank

note

see entry for the West Bank

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 Hamas Political Bureau leadership, which remains scattered throughout the region since relocating from its Damascus headquarters in early 2012 (2015)

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 September 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons

1,276,929 (Palestinian refugees) (2015) 221,000 (includes persons displaced within the Gaza strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since June 2014 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative data do not go back beyond 2006) (2015)

IDPs

221,000 (includes persons displaced within the Gaza strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since June 2014 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative data do not go back beyond 2006) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

1,276,929 (Palestinian refugees) (2015)