2019 Edition

Background

Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., the West Bank has been dominated by many different peoples throughout its history; it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. The West Bank fell to British forces during World War I, becoming part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the West Bank was captured by Transjordan (later renamed Jordan), which annexed the West Bank in 1950; 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 West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip. In 2000, a violent intifada or uprising began, and in 2001 negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled. Subsequent attempts to re-start direct negotiations have not resulted in progress toward determining final status of the area. Roughly 60% of the West Bank, remains under exclusive Israeli military control. In early 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council election and since 2007, the PA has administered areas of the West Bank under its control while HAMAS maintains de facto control of Gaza. Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political party in the West Bank, and HAMAS have made several attempts at reconciliation, but the factions have been unable to implement any agreements reached; a reconciliation agreement signed in October 2017 remains unimplemented. In December 2018, the Palestinian Constitutional Court dissolved the Palestinian Legislative Council and called for new Legislative Council elections to be held.

Area

Land

5,640 sq km

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

Highest Point

Khallat al Batrakh 1,020 m

Lowest Point

Dead Sea -431 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 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

Israel 330 km, Jordan 148 km

Total

478 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

43.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

7.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

11% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

24.9% (2011 est.)

Forest

1.5% (2011 est.)

Other

55.2% (2011 est.)

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

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)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

57.2% (2014)

Death Rate

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

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

5.2 (2015 est.)

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 Rural

81.5% of population

Improved Total

58.4% of population

Improved Urban

50.7% of population

Unimproved Rural

18.5% of population

Unimproved Total

41.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

49.3% of population

Education Expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

Palestinian Arab, Jewish, other

Hospital Bed Density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

11.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

15.3 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Male

73.4 years

Total Population

75.4 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

95.2% (2016)

Male

98.6%

Total Population

96.9%

Maternal Mortality Rate

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

21.6 years

Male

21.2 years

Total

21.4 years (2018 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Physicians Density

1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

2,798,494 (July 2018 est.)

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 Rural

90.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

92.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

93% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

9.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

7.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

14 years (2017)

Male

12 years

Total

13 years

Sex Ratio

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

0.83 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.04 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.2 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

75.3% (2018 est.)

Male

40.5%

Total

46.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

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

Urban Population

76.4% of total population (2019)

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.)

Revenues

1.314 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

0.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

6.15%

31 December 2017

5.8%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$1.348 billion

2017

-$1.444 billion

Debt External

31 March 2015

$1.467 billion

31 March 2016

$1.662 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2007

38.7

2009

34.5

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

2013

3.5779

2014

3.8869

2015

3.841

2016

3.841

2017

3.606

Currency

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$1.827 billion

2017

$2.126 billion

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.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

2.9% (2017 est.)

Industry

19.5% (2017 est.)

Services

77.6% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

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

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2012

$4,600

2013

$4,400

2014

$4,300

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2012

$19.95 billion

2013

$20.15 billion

2014

$21.22 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2012

6%

2013

1%

2014

5.3%

Gross National Saving

2012

5% of GDP

2013

9.5% of GDP

2014

7.8% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

28.2% (2009 est.)

Lowest 10

3.2%

Imports

2016

$6.207 billion

2017

$6.565 billion

Imports Commodities

food, consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-0.2%

2017

0.2%

Labor Force

1.24 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

11.5%

Industry

34.4%

Services

54.1% (2013 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2013

$3.247 billion

31 December 2014

$3.187 billion

31 December 2015

$3.339 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

18% (2011 est.)

Public Debt

2013

23.8% of GDP

2014

24.4% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2015

$583 million

31 December 2017

$0

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$317.8 million

31 December 2017

$416.5 million

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$1.712 billion

31 December 2017

$2.211 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$317.8 million

31 December 2017

$416.5 million

Taxes And Other Revenues

13.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

27%

2017

27.9%

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 (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

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.)

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

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

14 (2017 est.)

Total

371,299

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

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)

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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

17 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

472,293 (includes Gaza Strip)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

150 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

4,135,363 (includes Gaza Strip)

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

Paved

4,686 km (2010)

Total

4,686 km (2010)

Military And Security Forces

in accordance with the Oslo Accords, the PA is not permitted a conventional military but maintains security and police forces; PA security personnel have operated almost exclusively in the West Bank since HAMAS seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007; PA forces include National Security Forces, Presidential Guard, Civil Police, Preventative Security Service, and the General Intelligence Service (2019)

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

Idps

238,000 (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) (2018)

Refugees Country Of Origin

846,465 (Palestinian refugees) (2019)

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

Hamas

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

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force Irgc Qf

aim(s): launch attacks against Israel, reduce Israel&rsquo;s presence and influence in the West Bank, and destroy the state of Israel; works through proxies and allies such as Hamas, Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) area(s) of operations: West Bank (2019)

Palestine Islamic Jihad Pij

aim(s): enhance its staging capabilities in the West Bank to launch attacks against Israel area(s) of operation: mostly political activity; strives to maintain an operational presence (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 capital area(s) of operation: maintains a recruitment and training presence in some of the West Bank's refugee camps (2018)

Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine Pflp

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

Terrorist Groups Home Based

aim(s): restore the biblical state of Israel; expel Arabs from Israel's biblical lands area(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 (2018)