Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Last reviewed: 22-07-2009
Palestinian territories
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BASIC FACTS
Capital
Ramallah is the seat of the Palestinian Authority, and Jerusalem is the intended seat of government.
Language
Arabic, with Hebrew and English as common second languages
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Area size
6220 sq. km
Area comparison
About twice the size of Luxembourg
Population
| 2009 | 0.0 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009) |
| 2007 | 3.9 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 3.8 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 3.8 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 3.6 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 3.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 3.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 3.3 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 3.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
0.0 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
PEOPLE
Language
Arabic, with Hebrew and English as common second languages
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
0.0 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
As well as Palestinian Arabs, there are small numbers of Jewish settlers, who are not included in the humanitarian statistics. There are also Palestinians in Jordan, Israel, and elsewhere in the Middle East and beyond.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Muslim 97 percent (mostly Sunni), 3 percent Christian (Eastern Orthodox)
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
No data available
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
73 (2007)
Source: UNESCO
Percentage of population under 15
Arabic, with Hebrew and English as common second languages
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2009 | 0.0 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009) |
| 2007 | 3.9 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 3.8 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 3.8 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 3.6 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 3.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 3.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 3.3 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 3.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
0.0 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
As well as Palestinian Arabs, there are small numbers of Jewish settlers, who are not included in the humanitarian statistics. There are also Palestinians in Jordan, Israel, and elsewhere in the Middle East and beyond.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Muslim 97 percent (mostly Sunni), 3 percent Christian (Eastern Orthodox)
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 71.7 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 71.7 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 71.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 71.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 71.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 71.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 71.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 71.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
No data available
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
73 (2007)
Source: UNESCO
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 45.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 45.7 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 46 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 46.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 46.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
USEFUL INFORMATION
Time zone
Standard Time GMT+2, Summer Time GMT+3
Climate description
Temperate with warm to hot summers and cool to mild winters (West Bank), temperate with mild winters and dry and warm to hot summers (Gaza strip).
Currency
New Israeli shekel
Telephone dialling code
+970
Driving (left/right)
Right
Standard Time GMT+2, Summer Time GMT+3
Climate description
Temperate with warm to hot summers and cool to mild winters (West Bank), temperate with mild winters and dry and warm to hot summers (Gaza strip).
Currency
New Israeli shekel
Telephone dialling code
+970
Driving (left/right)
Right
STANDARD OF LIVING
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
| 2005 | 72.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 72.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 72.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 72.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 72.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 71.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 71.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 70.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 70.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 70.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 74.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 74.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 74.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 73.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 73.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Infant mortality
| 2007 | 24 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 20 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 21 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 22 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 22 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 23 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 21 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 live births |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2007 | 27 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 22 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 23 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 24 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 live births |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1996-2004 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | No data available per 100,000 live births | |
| 2000 | 100 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
| 2005 | 106 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 100 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 102 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 102 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 98 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available |
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2007 | 3 percent | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2000-2006 | 3 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 5 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 4 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Percentage of undernourished population
| 2003-2005 | 15 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008 |
| 2002-2004average | 16 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006 |
| 2001-2003average | 16 percent | FAO 2006 |
| 1999-2001average | No data available percent | |
| 1998-2000average | No data available percent |
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
| 2006 | 89 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 92 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | 94 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 86 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2006 | 80 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 73 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | 76 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
Literacy - average
| 2004 | 92.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 91.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 90.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 89.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Literacy - male
| 2004 | 96.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 96.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Literacy - female
| 2004 | 88.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 87.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Landlines telephones
| 2008 | 87 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 87 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 88 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 93 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 80 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 72 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 89 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 89 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 86 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2008 | 255 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 255 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 211 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 291 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 268 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 137 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 95 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 92 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 56 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Internet users
| 2008 | 95 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 95 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 72 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 66 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 45 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 42 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 31 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 18 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 11 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
| 2008 | Not ranked | |
| 2007 | Not ranked | |
| 2006 | Not ranked | |
| 2005 | 107 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2004 | 108 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2003 | 78 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2002 | Not ranked | |
| 2001 | Not ranked | |
| 2000 | Not ranked |
ECONOMY & AID
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
No data available percent
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2007 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2006 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2005 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2004 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2003 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2002 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2001 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2000 | 1580 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2007 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2006 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2005 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2004 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2003 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2002 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2001 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2000 | No data available current US$ billions |
Annual GDP growth
| 2006 | No data available percent | |
| 2005 | No data available percent | |
| 2004 | No data available percent | |
| 2003 | No data available percent | |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Annual inflation
No data available percent
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
HEALTH
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
No data available percent
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 1990-2004 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 1990-2003 | 84 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2002 | No data available per 100,000 people |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
No data available percent
TB cases
| 2007 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 2006 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 2005 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 2004 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 2003 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 2002 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 2001 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 2000 | No data available per 100,000 people |
CONFLICT & MIGRATION
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
No data available percent
| 2008 | 333990 | UNHCR |
| 2007 | 335219 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2006 | 334142 | UNHCR |
| 2005 | 349673 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 350609 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 427862 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 428782 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 349161 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 110640 | UNHCR |
Number of refugees residing here
| 2008 | 1836123 | UNRWA |
| 2007 | 1813847 | UNRWA |
| 2006 | 1660576 | UNHCR |
| 2005 | 1660576 | UNRWA |
| 2002 | No data available | |
| 2001 | No data available | |
| 2000 | 1407631 | UNRWA |
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| 2007 | 25000 - 115000 | Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008 | |
| 2006 | 24547 - 57000 | IDMC 2006 | |
| 2005 | 21142 - 50000 | IDMC 2006 | |
Landmine casualties per year
| 2007 | 94 | Landmine Monitor Report 2008 |
| 2006 | 34 | Landmine Monitor Report 2008 |
| 2004 | At least 26 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | At least 23 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
No data available percent
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