2017 Edition

Background

From the early 16th century through 1917, the area now known as the West Bank fell under Ottoman rule. Following World War I, the Allied powers (France, UK, Russia) allocated the area to the British Mandate of Palestine. After World War II, the UN passed a resolution to establish two states within the Mandate, and designated a territory including what is now known as the West Bank as part of the proposed Arab state. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the area was captured by Transjordan (later renamed Jordan). Jordan annexed the West Bank in 1950. In June 1967, Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. With the exception of East Jerusalem, roughly 60% of the West Bank remains under Israeli military control. Israel transferred security and civilian responsibility for a number of Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority (PA) under a series of agreements signed between 1993 and 1999, the so-called “Oslo Accords.” 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 Yassir ARAFAT's death in late 2004 and the subsequent election of Mahmud ABBAS (head of the Fatah political faction) as PA president, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to move the peace process forward. Israel in late 2005 unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers, dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip, and redeployed its military from several West Bank settlements, but it 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 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. Fatah and HAMAS have made several attempts at reconciliation, but the factions have been unable to implement details on governance and security. 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

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

land

5,640 sq km

note

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

NA lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Nabi Yunis 1,020 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m

highest point

Nabi Yunis 1,020 m

mean elevation

NA

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 380 Israeli civilian sites, including about 213 settlements and 132 small outpost communities in the West Bank and 35 sites in East Jerusalem (2017)

Irrigated land

240 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2012)

Land boundaries

478 km Israel 330 km, Jordan 148 km

border countries (2)

Israel 330 km, Jordan 148 km

total

478 km

Land use

43.3% arable land 7.4%; permanent crops 11%; permanent pasture 24.9% 1.5% 55.2% includes Gaza Strip (2011 est.)

agricultural land

43.3%

forest

1.5%

note

includes Gaza Strip (2011 est.)

other

55.2%

Location

Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

droughts

Natural resources

arable land

Population - distribution

Palestinian settlements are primarily located in the central to western half of the territory; Jewish settlements are found in pockets throughout, particularly in the northeast, north-central, and around Jerusalem

Terrain

mostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east

Age structure

36.5% (male 514,691/female 488,233) 21.37% (male 299,859/female 287,367) 34.1% (male 475,860/female 461,252) 4.54% (male 64,275/female 60,507) 3.49% (male 43,060/female 52,839) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

36.5% (male 514,691/female 488,233)

15-24 years

21.37% (male 299,859/female 287,367)

25-54 years

34.1% (male 475,860/female 461,252)

55-64 years

4.54% (male 64,275/female 60,507)

65 years and over

3.49% (male 43,060/female 52,839) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

26.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.4% estimate are for Gaza and the West Bank (2014)

note

estimate are for Gaza and the West Bank (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

57.2% (includes Gaza Strip and West Bank) (2014)

Death rate

3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

75.8 70.5 5.2 19.1 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

19.1

total dependency ratio

75.8

youth dependency ratio

70.5

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

Education expenditures

1.3% of GDP includes Gaza Strip (2015)

note

includes Gaza Strip (2015)

Ethnic groups

Palestinian Arab, Jewish, other

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

14.1 deaths/1,000 live births 15.8 deaths/1,000 live births 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

15.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

75.2 years 73.2 years 77.4 years (2017 est.)

female

77.4 years (2017 est.)

male

73.2 years

total population

75.2 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 96.9% 98.6% 95.2% estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank (2016 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.2%

male

98.6%

note

estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank (2016 est.)

total population

96.9%

Maternal mortality rate

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

note

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

Median age

21.1 years 20.9 years 21.3 years (2017 est.)

female

21.3 years (2017 est.)

male

20.9 years

total

21.1 years

Nationality

NA NA

adjective

NA

noun

NA

Net migration rate

-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Physicians density

1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

2,747,943 (July 2017 est.) approximately 391,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2016); approximately 201,200 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2014)

note

approximately 391,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2016); approximately 201,200 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2014)

Population distribution

Palestinian settlements are primarily located in the central to western half of the territory; Jewish settlements are found in pockets throughout, particularly in the northeast, north-central, and around Jerusalem

Population growth rate

1.84% (2017 est.)

Religions

Muslim 80-85% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12-14%, Christian 1-2.5% (mainly Greek Orthodox), other, unaffiliated, unspecified

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 the West Bank (2015)

female

14 years

male

12 years

note

data represent Gaza and the West Bank (2015)

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

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

Total fertility rate

3.27 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

40.7% 36.4% 60.8% includes Gaza Strip (2015 est.)

female

60.8%

male

36.4%

note

includes Gaza Strip (2015 est.)

total

40.7%

Urbanization

75.7% of total population (2017) 2.75% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

note

data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

rate of urbanization

2.75% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

75.7% of total population (2017)

Country name

none West Bank name refers to the location of the region - occupied and administered by Jordan after 1948 - that fell on the far side (west bank) of the Jordan River in relation to Jordan proper; the designation was retained following the 1967 Six-Day War and the subsequent changes in government

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

West Bank

etymology

name refers to the location of the region - occupied and administered by Jordan after 1948 - that fell on the far side (west bank) of the Jordan River in relation to Jordan proper; the designation was retained following the 1967 Six-Day War and the subsequent changes in government

Agriculture - products

olives, citrus fruit, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Budget

$1.227 billion $1.124 billion includes Palestinian Authority expenditures in the Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

expenditures

$1.124 billion

note

includes Palestinian Authority expenditures in the Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

revenues

$1.227 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.5% (31 December 2016 est.) 6.8% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-1.348 billion (2016 est.) $-2.066 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$1.662 billion (31 March 2016 est.) $1.467 billion (31 March 2015 est.) data include the Gaza Strip

note

data include the Gaza Strip

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.5 (2009 est.) 38.7 (2007 est.) includes Gaza Strip

note

includes Gaza Strip

Economy - overview

Israeli-Palestinian violence in 2015 exacerbated challenges to economic growth in the West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Territories. Increased security restrictions and political instability slowed economic activity, and Israel’s four-month withholding of taxes and other fees it collects on the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) behalf caused the PA to delay salary payments to its employees, which in turn had broader effects on business activity and consumer demand. Longstanding Israeli closure policies continue to disrupt labor and trade flows and the territory’s industrial capacity, limit imports and exports, and constrain private sector development. The PA for the foreseeable future will continue to rely heavily on donor aid for its budgetary needs and economic activity.

Exchange rates

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.8406 (2016 est.) 3.841 (2015 est.) 3.8869 (2014 est.) 3.5779 (2013 est.) 3.86 (2012 est.)

Exports

$1.827 billion (2016 est.) $1.757 billion (2015 est.) excludes Gaza Strip

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Exports - commodities

stone, olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

92.2% 26.4% 22.5% -2.5% 18.2% -56.7% excludes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

18.2%

government consumption

26.4%

household consumption

92.2%

imports of goods and services

-56.7%

investment in fixed capital

22.5%

investment in inventories

-2.5%

note

excludes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

2.9% 20.9% 62.7% excludes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

agriculture

2.9%

industry

20.9%

note

excludes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

services

62.7%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,300 (2014 est.) $4,400 (2013 est.) $4,600 (2012 est.) includes Gaza Strip

note

includes Gaza Strip

GDP - real growth rate

5.3% (2014 est.) 1% (2013 est.) 6% (2012 est.) excludes Gaza Strip

note

excludes Gaza Strip

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.828 billion (2014 est.) excludes Gaza Strip

note

excludes Gaza Strip

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$21.22 billion (2014 est.) $20.15 billion (2013 est.) $19.95 billion (2012 est.) data are in 2014 US dollars; includes Gaza Strip

note

data are in 2014 US dollars; includes Gaza Strip

Gross national saving

7.8% of GDP (2014 est.) 9.5% of GDP (2013 est.) 5% of GDP (2012 est.) includes Gaza Strip

note

includes Gaza Strip

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.2% 28.2% includes Gaza Strip (2009 est.)

highest 10%

28.2%

lowest 10%

3.2%

note

includes Gaza Strip (2009 est.)

Imports

$6.11 billion (2016 est.) $6.057 billion (2015 est.) data include the Gaza Strip

note

data include the Gaza Strip

Imports - commodities

food, consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate

6.6% includes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2016 est.) 1.4% (2015 est.) excludes Gaza Strip

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Labor force

1.202 million excludes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

11.5% 34.4% 54.1% excludes Gaza Strip (2013 est.)

agriculture

11.5%

industry

34.4%

note

excludes Gaza Strip (2013 est.)

services

54.1%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.339 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $3.187 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $3.247 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

18% (2011 est.)

Public debt

24.4% of GDP (2014 est.) 23.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$312.8 million (31 December 2016 est.) $583 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.538 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $2.273 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.712 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.418 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$317 million (31 December 2016 est.) $265.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

26.9% (2016 est.) 25.9% (2015 est.) excludes Gaza Strip

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017)

Electricity - consumption

5.845 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

92.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

9.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

5.403 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

152,000 kW includes Gaza Strip (2015 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

475 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

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

electrification - rural areas

93%

electrification - total population

98%

electrification - urban areas

99%

note

data for West Bank and Gaza Strip combined (2012)

population without electricity

80,930

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

18,690 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

the Palestinian Authority operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; about 20 private TV and 40 radio stations; both Jordanian TV and satellite TV are accessible (2013)

Internet country code

.ps; note - same as Gaza Strip

Internet users

2.673 million (includes Gaza Strip) 57.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

57.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (July 2016 est.)

total

2.673 million (includes Gaza Strip)

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 (2010)

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 (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

406,500 (includes Gaza Strip) 9 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

406,500 (includes Gaza Strip)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.531 million (includes Gaza Strip) 76 (includes Gaza Strip) (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

76 (includes Gaza Strip) (July 2016 est.)

total

3.531 million (includes Gaza Strip)

Airports

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Roadways

4,686 km 4,686 km includes Gaza Strip (2010)

note

includes Gaza Strip (2010)

paved

4,686 km

total

4,686 km

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 Gaza and 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

809,738 (Palestinian refugees) (2017) 193,000 (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) (2016)

IDPs

193,000 (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) (2016)

refugees (country of origin)

809,738 (Palestinian refugees) (2017)