Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
8 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
431,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
the Palestinian Authority operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; about 20 private TV and 40 radio stations; Jordanian TV and satellite TV accessible
Communications: Internet country code
.ps
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
87% (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
383,653 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
77 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
4,148,420 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, poultry, milk, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, gourds
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$1.499 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.409 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.037 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$2.895 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$2.899 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
3.442 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
3.23 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
3.36 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
3.67 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
3.7 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
scrap iron, tropical fruits, olive oil, building stone, prepared meat (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$3.533 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$3.413 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$2.885 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
21% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
20.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
95.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-60.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
24.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
5.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
17.4% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
58.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$13.711 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
36.4 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
27.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
cement, raw sugar, cars, baked goods, perfumes (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$12.257 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$11.637 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$8.264 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-32.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
3.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
53.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
1.391 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
29.2% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
23.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$29.016 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$27.694 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$20.339 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.1% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
-4.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-26.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,800 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$5,400 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
24% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
5.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$896.9 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.323 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.328 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
21.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
25.9% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
26.4% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
24.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
56.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
31.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
36.1% (2022 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
66.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
33.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
6.956 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
6.925 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
352,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
988 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
14.991 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
29,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Environment: Environmental issues
adequacy of freshwater supply; sewage treatment
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
64.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
1.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
32.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
837 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
158 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
37 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
251 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
77.6% of total population (2023)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.387 million tons (2024 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Delaware
Geography: Area: land
5,640 sq km
Geography: Area: water
220 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Khallat al Batrakh 1,020 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Dead Sea -431 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
32 00 N, 35 15 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers (2017)
Geography: Irrigated land
(2013) 151 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Israel 330 km; Jordan 148 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
478 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
64.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
1.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
32.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and Israel) - 1,020 sq km note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
droughts
Geography: Population distribution
the most populous Palestinian communities in the West Bank are located in the central ridge and western half of its territory; Jewish settlements are located throughout the West Bank, the most populous in the Seam Zone -- between the 1949 Armistice Line and the separation barrier -- and around Jerusalem
Geography: Terrain
mostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east
Government: Country name: conventional short form
West Bank
Government: Country name: etymology
name refers to the location of the British Mandate of Palestine that was occupied and administered by Jordan in 1948, on the west bank of the Jordan River; the designation was retained after the 1967 Six-Day War and subsequent changes in administration
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan; Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem; Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town; Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
4 (all cultural)
Introduction: Background
The landlocked West Bank -- the larger of the two Palestinian territories -- is home to some three million Palestinians. Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., the area currently known as the West Bank has been dominated by a succession of different powers. In the early 16th century, it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. The West Bank fell to British forces during World War I, becoming part of the British Mandate of Palestine. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Transjordan (later renamed Jordan) captured the West Bank and annexed it in 1950; Israel then captured it in the Six-Day War in 1967. Under the Oslo Accords -- a series of agreements that were signed between 1993 and 1999 -- Israel transferred to the newly created Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for the many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank, as well as the Gaza Strip. In addition to establishing the PA as an interim government, the Oslo Accords divided the West Bank into three areas, with one fully managed by the PA (Area A), another fully managed by Israel (Area C), and a third with shared control (Area B) until a permanent agreement could be reached between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. In 2000, a violent intifada , or uprising, began across the Palestinian territories, and in 2001, negotiations for a permanent agreement between the PLO and Israel on final status issues stalled. Subsequent attempts to re-start direct negotiations have not resulted in progress toward determining final status of the area. The PA last held national elections in 2006, when the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) won a majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political faction in the West Bank, and HAMAS failed to maintain a unity government, leading to violent clashes between their respective supporters and to HAMAS's violent seizure of all PA military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in 2007. In 2018, the Palestinian Constitutional Court dissolved the PLC. In recent years, Fatah and HAMAS have made several attempts at reconciliation, but the factions have been unable to implement agreements.
Military and Security: Military - note
Palestinian Authority security forces maintain security control of 17.5% (called Area A) of the West Bank, as agreed by the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in the Oslo Accords, although Israeli security forces frequently conducted security operations there; Israeli security forces maintain responsibility for the remaining 82.5% of the West Bank, including Area B (22.5%), where the Palestinian Authority has administrative control, and Area C (60%), where Israel maintains administrative control (2024)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
per the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is not permitted a conventional military but maintains security and police forces; PA security personnel have operated exclusively in the West Bank since HAMAS seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007; PA forces include the Palestinian National Security Forces, Presidential Guard, Civil Police, Civil Defense, Preventive Security Organization, the General Intelligence Organization, and the Military Intelligence Organization (2024)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
the PA police and security forces have approximately 28,000 active personnel, including about 11,500 National Security Forces (2024)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
36.7% (male 609,497/female 579,227)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
59.5% (male 979,719/female 949,746)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.9% (2024 est.) (male 59,234/female 65,946)
People and Society: Birth rate
27.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0.7% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
13.4% (2020)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.1% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.4% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
3.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
14.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
68.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
61.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure
5.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Palestinian Arab, Jewish, other
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.67 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure
13.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
17.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
78.8 years
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
74.4 years
People and Society: Literacy: female
97% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
99% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
98% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
22.1 years
People and Society: Median age: male
21.6 years
People and Society: Net migration rate
-3.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Physician density
3.25 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
People and Society: Population distribution
the most populous Palestinian communities in the West Bank are located in the central ridge and western half of its territory; Jewish settlements are located throughout the West Bank, the most populous in the Seam Zone -- between the 1949 Armistice Line and the separation barrier -- and around Jerusalem
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.03% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,628,061
People and Society: Population: male
1,682,493
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.9 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.44 children born/woman (2025 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
77.6% of total population (2023)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; HAMAS; Palestine Islamic Jihad; Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
2,032,011 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Heliports
2 (2025)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.