Marking International Population Day, which coincides tomorrow, and based on estimates prepared by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) there are about 13 million Palestinians in the world, of whom about 5 million in the State of Palestine by the mid-2019; said the PCBS in a bulletin. Of these, 2.53 million were males and 2.45 million females.

The estimated population of the West Bank was 2.99 million of which 1.53 million males and 1.46 million females, while the estimated population of Gaza Strip was 1.99 million of which 1.01 million males and 980 thousand females.

The percentage of individuals aged 0 to 14 years constituted 38% of the total population by mid-2019; of which 36% in the West Bank and 42% in Gaza Strip. The elderly population aged 65 years and above, constituted 3% of the total population; of which 4% in the West Bank and 3% in Gaza Strip by mid-2019.

The population density of Palestine is generally high at 826 persons per square kilometer, particularly in Gaza Strip, where it is 5,453 persons/km2 compared to a lower population density in the West Bank of 528 persons/km2 in mid-2019.

Population projections revealed that crude birth rate in Palestine was 30.2 births per 1000 of the population in 2019. The results for the West Bank were 27.7 births compared to 33.9 births per 1000 of the population in Gaza Strip. The estimated crude death rate in Palestine was 3.7 deaths per 1000 of the population, where the West Bank result was 3.9 deaths per 1000 of the population compared to 3.5 deaths per 1000 of the population in Gaza Strip.

The mean number of children ever born for women ever married in Palestine in 2017 is 4.4 births; of which 4.3 births for the women living in the West Bank and 4.5 births for those living in Gaza Strip.

The results of the Labor Force Survey for the end of 2018 indicated a decline in the average household size in Palestine compared to 2007. The average size of the household declined to 5.0 individuals in 2018 compared to 5.8 individuals in 2007. On the other hand, the average household size in the West Bank declined to 4.6 individuals in 2018 compared with 5.5 individuals in 2007. In Gaza Strip, the average household size declined to 5.7 in 2018 compared with 6.5 in 2007.

In addition, results showed 11% of the households were headed by females in Palestine (12% in the West Bank and 9% in Gaza Strip). Illiteracy rate among individuals (15 years and above) in Palestine was 3%. Illiteracy gap is significantly noticed among males and females at 1% and 4% respectively.

Percentage of individuals (aged 15 years and above), who have completed university education (bachelor degree and above), was 15% while the percentage of individuals who didn't complete any stage of education reached 8%.

The results showed that more than one-third of the participants in the labor force were unemployed in 2018, where the percentage reached 31%; of which 18% in the West Bank and 52% in Gaza Strip. Unemployment rate reached 51% among females compared to 25% among males.

Average per capita monthly expenditure in the West Bank increased in 2017 compared to 2011, rising from 188 Jordanian Dinar (JD) in 2011 to 220 JD in 2017, reflecting an increase of 17.0%. While in Gaza Strip it fell from 110 JD in 2011 to 91 JD in 2017, reflecting a decline of 17.3%. As for the level of the locality type, the average per capita monthly expenditure was 170 JD in urban localities compared to 196 JD in rural localities and 122 JD in camps in 2017.

The relative poverty line and the deep poverty line according to consumption patterns (for reference household consisted of 2 adults and 3 children) in Palestine in 2017 were 2,470 Israeli Shekels ($671), and 1,974 shekels ($536) respectively. The poverty percentage among Palestinian individuals according to consumption patterns was 29% (14% in the West Bank, and 53% in Gaza Strip). Data revealed that 17% of the individuals in Palestine suffered from deep poverty in 2017, according to consumption patterns (6% in the West Bank, and 34% in Gaza Strip).

The data of the Social and Economic Conditions Survey 2018 showed that 96% of the households in Palestine have one or more mobile phones (96% in the West Bank and 97% in Gaza Strip). The results also showed that the percentage of households that own one Smartphone or more was 82% in Palestine (88% in the West Bank and 73% in Gaza Strip).

Also, the results of the survey showed that the percentage of individuals (18 years and above) who own a mobile phone or a smart phone is 89% in Palestine (92% in the West Bank and 82% in Gaza Strip); 83% for females and 94% for males.

The results of the Social and Economic Conditions Survey 2018 showed that 65% of the households in Palestine have internet access in 2018 (72% in the West Bank and 51% in Gaza Strip). While the percentage of individuals (18 years and above) who used the internet from anywhere reached 64% in Palestine (69% in the West Bank and 57% in Gaza Strip).

In 2017, the percentage of Palestinian households where a household member owned a housing unit was about 85%; of which 85% in the West Bank and 83% in Gaza Strip, while the percentage of households that were living in rented houses in Palestine was 8%; of which 9% in the West Bank and 7% in Gaza Strip.