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Index / Demographics
   Palestine /
Demographics
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Key figures
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Population:
4.0 million
Population density:
645 per square kilometre.
Median age:
19 years
Population growth
2.6%
Fertility
3.9 children/woman.
MENA rank: 8 of 22.
West Bank 3.2, Gaza Strip 5.0.
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Demographics
With comparison tables for all countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
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Due to conflicting data, gigantic waves of migrations and shifting borders, the population growth through the 20th century cannot be set for the territory now called Palestine. This is further explained in the Israel article, but for Israel and Palestine combined, the population doubled 17 times from 1900 to 2000, this excluding refugees that make a claim to return to their original homelands.
The population density of Palestine is staggering, far beyond what the land and water resources can sustain. Yet, the population growth is not as dramatic as one might suspect, it is presently at 2.6% per year. The fact is that mothers in Palestine have less children than their Israeli sisters; 3.9 children per mother in Palestine (2009 estimate), 4.4 children per Israeli Arab mother. But the median age is 19 years only, meaning that a great percentage of the population is in child bearing age or about to enter it. Births to deaths ratio is therefore staggering, almost 10 births per 1 death case. There is presently no data for migrations to and from Palestine.
The population growth is higher in Gaza Strip than in West Bank. The explanation for this is political and religious extremism, groups like Hamas promotes a message to the population that large contingencies of children will make up an future Palestinian army that will take back the land that today is Israel.
Population projections are dramatic, indicating that the Palestinian population will reach 10 million by 2050, several times more than what the 6,700 km² territory can sustain.
More information of demography is found in other Palestine articles about ethnic composition, first languages spoken and religious adherence. There is also information relevant to demographics under education and health.
| Year |
Total |
Density
(per km²) |
Change |
Gaza Strip |
West Bank |
| 1910 |
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22,000 |
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| 1940 |
475,000 |
76 |
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14% |
65,000 |
86% |
410,000 |
| 1950 |
1,000,000 |
160 |
110% |
24% |
240,000 |
76% |
765,000 |
| 1960 |
1,100,000 |
177 |
10% |
27% |
302,000 |
73% |
799,000 |
| 1970 |
1,150,000 |
185 |
5% |
32% |
368,000 |
68% |
677,000 |
| 1980 |
1,460,000 |
235 |
27% |
34% |
497,000 |
66% |
964,000 |
| 1990 |
1,680,000 |
270 |
15% |
37% |
620,000 |
63% |
1,060,000 |
| 2000 |
3,150,000 |
507 |
88% |
36% |
1,140,000 |
64% |
2,010,000 |
| 2009 |
4,010,000 |
645 |
27% |
39% |
1,550,000 |
61% |
2,460,000 |
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