2011 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 the 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. 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 so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. 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. 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 finalize details on governing and security structures. The status quo remains with HAMAS in control of the Gaza Strip and ABBAS and the Fatah-dominated PA governing the West Bank. FAYYAD and his PA government continue to implement a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS, who on behalf of the Palestinians in September submitted a UN membership application, has said he will not resume negotiations with current Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU until Israel halts all settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Area

5,860 sq km 5,640 sq km 220 sq km includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967

total

5,860 sq km

water

220 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate

temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

Dead Sea -408 m Tall Asur 1,022 m

highest point

Tall Asur 1,022 m

lowest point

Dead Sea -408 m

Environment - current issues

adequacy of freshwater supply; sewage treatment

Geographic coordinates

32 00 N, 35 15 E

Geography - note

landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are about 355 Israeli civilian sites including about 145 small outpost communities in the West Bank and 32 sites in East Jerusalem (2010 est.)

Irrigated land

180 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)

Land boundaries

404 km Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km

border countries

Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km

total

404 km

Land use

16.9% 18.97% 64.13% (2001)

arable land

16.9%

other

64.13% (2001)

permanent crops

18.97%

Location

Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

droughts

Natural resources

arable land

Terrain

mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east

Age structure

35.8% (male 471,908/female 447,816) 60.5% (male 796,421/female 757,227) 3.7% (male 39,546/female 55,637) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

35.8% (male 471,908/female 447,816)

15-64 years

60.5% (male 796,421/female 757,227)

65 years and over

3.7% (male 39,546/female 55,637) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

24.56 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

3.58 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

14.92 deaths/1,000 live births 16.73 deaths/1,000 live births 13.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

13.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

14.92 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

75.01 years 72.97 years 77.17 years (2011 est.)

female

77.17 years (2011 est.)

total population

75.01 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%

Median age

21.3 years 21.1 years 21.5 years (2011 est.)

female

21.5 years (2011 est.)

male

21.1 years

total

21.3 years

Nationality

NA NA

adjective

NA

noun

NA

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Population

2,568,555 (July 2010 est.) approximately 296,700 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2009 est.); approximately 192,800 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2008 est.) (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.097% (2011 est.)

Religions

Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%

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 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

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

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.05 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

46.9% 38.8% 47.3% (2008)

female

47.3% (2008)

total

46.9%

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 West Bank

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

West Bank

Agriculture - products

olives, citrus fruit, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Budget

$1.87 billion $3.1 billion Palestinian Authority, includes Gaza Strip (2010)

expenditures

$3.1 billion

revenues

$1.87 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-18.5% of GDP (2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.3% (31 December 2010 est.) 7.3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.04 billion (2010 est.) $1.3 billion (2007 est.)

Economy - overview

The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian territories - experienced a high single-digit economic growth rate in 2010 as a result of inflows of donor aid, the Palestinian Authority's (PA) implementation of economic and security reforms, and the easing of some movement and access restrictions by the Israeli Government. Nevertheless, overall standard-of-living measures remain near levels seen prior to the start of the second intifada in 2000. The almost decade-long downturn largely has been a result of Israeli closure policies - a steady increase in movement and access restrictions across the West Bank in response to Israeli security concerns which have disrupted labor and trade flows, industrial capacity, and basic commerce, both external and internal. Since 2008, the PA under President Mahmoud ABBAS and Prime Minister Salam FAYYAD has implemented a largely successful campaign of institutional reforms that has contributed to increased security and economic performance, supported by more than $3 billion in direct foreign donor assistance to the PA's budget since 2007. An easing of some Israeli restrictions on West Bank movement and access since 2008 also has contributed to an uptick in retail activity in larger cities. The biggest impediments to economic improvements in the West Bank remain Palestinians' lack of access to land and resources in Israeli-controlled areas, import and export restrictions, and a high-cost capital structure. Absent robust private sector growth, the PA will continue to rely heavily on donor aid for its budgetary needs.

Electricity - consumption

3.572 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009)

Electricity - imports

3.2 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

400 million kWh most imported electricity is from Israel; Jerusalem District Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in east Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.739 (2010) 3.932 (2009) 3.56 (2008) 4.14 (2007) 4.4565 (2006)

Exports

$529 million (2008) $339 million (2006) includes Gaza Strip

Exports - commodities

stone, olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

GDP - composition by sector

3.7% 13.6% 82.6% (includes Gaza Strip) (2010 est.)

agriculture

3.7%

industry

13.6%

services

82.6% (includes Gaza Strip) (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,900 (2008 est.) data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2009 est.) 2.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.641 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.79 billion (2009 est.) $11.95 billion (2008) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$3.772 billion (2008) $2.84 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities

food, consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2010 est.) 2.5% (2009 est.) includes Gaza Strip

Investment (gross fixed)

18.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

694,000 (2009)

Labor force - by occupation

12% 23% 65% (June 2008)

agriculture

12%

industry

23%

services

65% (June 2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.45 billion (31 December 2010) $2.375 billion (31 December 2009) $2.123 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

22,110 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

46% (2007 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.674 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.238 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.353 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.475 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$232.6 million (31 December 2010) $190 million (31 December 2007)

Taxes and other revenues

28.2% of GDP (2010)

Unemployment rate

16.5% (2010 est.) 19% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

the Palestinian Authority operates 1 television and 1 radio station; about 30 independent TV and 25 radio stations operating; Jordanian TV is available; satellite TV is accessible (2008)

Internet country code

.ps; note - same as Gaza Strip

Internet users

1.379 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2009)

Telephone system

continuing political and economic instability has impeded significant liberalization of the telecommunications industry Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; PALTEL plans to establish a fiber-optic connection to Jordan to route domestic mobile calls; the Palestinian JAWWAL company and WATANIYA PALESTINE provide cellular services country code - 970; 1 international switch in Ramallah (2009) (2009)

domestic

Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; PALTEL plans to establish a fiber-optic connection to Jordan to route domestic mobile calls; the Palestinian JAWWAL company and WATANIYA PALESTINE provide cellular services

general assessment

continuing political and economic instability has impeded significant liberalization of the telecommunications industry

international

country code - 970; 1 international switch in Ramallah (2009) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

337,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.405 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2010)

Airports

2 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Roadways

5,147 km 5,147 km includes Gaza Strip (2006)

total

5,147 km

Manpower fit for military service

579,248 547,782 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

547,782 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

579,248

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

30,925 29,440 (2010 est.)

female

29,440 (2010 est.)

male

30,925

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

The current status of the West Bank is subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Refugees and internally displaced persons

722,000 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

722,000 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)