2018 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 West Bank was captured by Transjordan (later renamed Jordan), which annexed the West Bank in 1950. In June 1967, Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. 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." Roughly 60% of the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem) remains under Israeli military control. Follow-on negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled after the outbreak of an intifada in mid-2000. Since HAMAS's violent seizure of military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in 2007, the PA has administered those areas of the West Bank under its control while Hamas maintains de facto control of Gaza. Fatah and HAMAS have made several attempts at reconciliation, but the factions have been unable to implement any agreements reached.

Area

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

-431 m lowest point: Dead Sea

note

1020 highest point: Khallat al Batrakh

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

border countries (2)

Israel 330 km, Jordan 148 km

total

478 km

Land Use

arable land: 7.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 11% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 24.9% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

43.3% (2011 est.)

forest

1.5% (2011 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

other

55.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel

Map References

Middle East

Maritime Claims

note

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

0-14 years

36.09% (male 518,376 /female 491,676)

15-24 years

21.17% (male 302,474 /female 289,852)

25-54 years

34.48% (male 489,559 /female 475,402)

55-64 years

4.74% (male 68,317 /female 64,233)

65 years and over

3.52% (male 44,662 /female 53,943) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

26 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

1.4% (2014)

note

estimate is for Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

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

Death Rate

3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.2 (2015 est.)

note

data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

potential support ratio

19.1 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

75.8 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

70.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 50.7% of population

rural: 81.5% of population

total: 58.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 49.3% of population

rural: 18.5% of population

total: 41.6% of population (2015 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Education Expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2015)

note

includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank

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

1.26 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

15.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

77.6 years (2018 est.)

male

73.4 years (2018 est.)

total population

75.4 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2016 est.)

female

95.2% (2016 est.)

male

98.6% (2016 est.)

note

estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank

total population

96.9% (2016 est.)

Maternal Mortality Rate

45 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

note

data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Median Age

female

21.6 years (2018 est.)

male

21.2 years

total

21.4 years

Nationality

adjective

NA

noun

NA

Net Migration Rate

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

Physicians Density

1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

2,798,494 (July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)

note

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

Population Growth Rate

1.81% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 80-85% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12-14%, Christian 1-2.5% (mainly Greek Orthodox), other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1% (2012 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 93% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 90.2% of population (2015 est.)

total: 92.3% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 7% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)

total: 7.7% of population (2015 est.)

note

note includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

14 years (2015)

male

12 years (2015)

note

data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

total

13 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.2 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

60.8% (2015 est.)

male

36.4% (2015 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

total

40.7% (2015 est.)

Urbanization

note

data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

rate of urbanization

3% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

76.2% of total population (2018)

Country Name

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

expenditures

1.278 billion (2017 est.)

note

includes Palestinian Authority expenditures in the Gaza Strip

revenues

1.314 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

0.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

5.8% (31 December 2017 est.)

6.15% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$1.444 billion (2017 est.)

-$1.348 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$1.662 billion (31 March 2016 est.)

$1.467 billion (31 March 2015 est.)

note

data include the Gaza Strip

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

34.5 (2009 est.)

38.7 (2007 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

Economy Overview

In 2017, the economic outlook in the West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Territories – remained fragile, as security concerns and political friction slowed economic growth. Unemployment in the West Bank remained high at 19.0% in the third quarter of 2017, only slightly better than 19.6% at the same point the previous year, while the labor force participation rate remained flat, year-on-year.Longstanding Israeli restrictions on imports, exports, and movement of goods and people continue to disrupt labor and trade flows and the territory’s industrial capacity, and constrain private sector development. The PA’s budget benefited from an effort to improve tax collection, coupled with lower spending in 2017, but the PA for the foreseeable future will continue to rely heavily on donor aid for its budgetary needs and infrastructure development.

Exchange Rates

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -

3.606 (2017 est.)

3.841 (2016 est.)

3.841 (2015 est.)

3.8869 (2014 est.)

3.5779 (2013 est.)

Exports

$2.126 billion (2017 est.)

$1.827 billion (2016 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Exports Commodities

stone, olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

20% (2017 est.)

government consumption

26.7% (2017 est.)

household consumption

91.3% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-61% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

2.9% (2017 est.)

industry

19.5% (2017 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

services

77.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$9.828 billion (2014 est.) (2014 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$4,300 (2014 est.)

$4,400 (2013 est.)

$4,600 (2012 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$21.22 billion (2014 est.)

$20.15 billion (2013 est.)

$19.95 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars; includes Gaza Strip

Gdp Real Growth Rate

5.3% (2014 est.)

1% (2013 est.)

6% (2012 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Gross National Saving

7.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

9.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

5% of GDP (2012 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

28.2% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

28.2% (2009 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

Imports

$6.565 billion (2017 est.)

$6.207 billion (2016 est.)

note

data include the Gaza Strip

Imports Commodities

food, consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.2% (2017 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

0.2% (2017 est.)

-0.2% (2016 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Labor Force

1.24 million (2017 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

11.5%

industry

34.4%

note

excludes Gaza Strip

services

54.1% (2013 est.)

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

$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

$583 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$416.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$317.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$2.211 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.712 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$416.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$317.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

13.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

27.9% (2017 est.)

27% (2016 est.)

note

excludes Gaza Strip

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

3.113 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

93% (2012)

electrification - total population

98% (2012)

electrification - urban areas

99% (2012)

note

data for West Bank and Gaza Strip combined

population without electricity

80,930 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

6.489 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

78% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

5.473 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

170,000 kW (2016 est.)

note

includes Gaza Strip

Electricity Production

1.093 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

19 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

22,740 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

note

includes Gaza Strip

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2017 est.)

total

371,299 (2017 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

.psnote - same as Gaza Strip

Internet Users

percent of population

57.4% (July 2016 est.)

total

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

Telephone System

domestic

Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed-line services; two Palestinian cellular providers, JAWWAL and WATANIYA MOBILE, launched 3G mobile networks in the West Bank in January 2018 after Israel lifted its ban (2018)

general assessment

continuing political and economic instability has impeded liberalization of the telecommunications industry (2018)

international

country code - 970; 1 international switch in Ramallah (2018)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

472,293 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

150 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

4,135,363 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.)

Airports

2 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

2 (2013)

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Roadways

note

includes Gaza Strip

paved

4,686 km (2010)

total

4,686 km (2010)

Military Branches

in accordance with the Interim Agreement, the PA is not permitted a conventional military but can maintain security forces; PA security forces have operated almost exclusively in the West Bank since Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007

Disputes International

the current status of the West Bank is subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiationIsrael continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West BankIsrael withdrew from Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005since 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

IDPs

131,000 (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) (2017)

refugees (country of origin)

809,738 (Palestinian refugees) (2017)

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

HAMAS

aim(s): grow its political and operational presence in the West Bankarea(s) of operation: mostly political activity; small cells scattered throughout the West Bank for militant and illicit finance purposes (April 2018)

Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

aim(s): enhance its staging capabilities in the West Bank to launch attacks against Israelarea(s) of operation: mostly political activity; strives to maintain an operational presence (April 2018)

Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)

aim(s): enhance its networks in the West Bank and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel; establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capitalarea(s) of operation: maintains a recruitment and training presence in some of the West Bank's refugee camps (April 2018)

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

aim(s): bolster its recruitment networks in the West Bankarea(s) of operation: mostly political activity, maintains a recruitment presence targeting youths (April 2018)

Terrorist Groups Home Based

Kahane Chai (Kach)

aim(s): restore the biblical state of Israel; expel Arabs from Israel's biblical landsarea(s) of operation: present in West Bank Jewish settlements, especially the Qiryat Arba' settlement in Hebron, where operatives have conducted bombings and shootings against Muslim and Christian Palestinians; operationally inactive in recent years (April 2018)