عربي
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), presents a brief on the status of the Palestinian people at
The end of 2025
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), presents a brief on the status of the Palestinian People at the End of 2025: Statistical Evidence of Humanitarian and Demographic Catastrophe that reflect a profound structural breakdown across Palestinian society, with long-term implications for population stability, development, and human rights.
Unprecedented Human Losses since October 7th, 2023
According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the total number of martyrs in Palestine has exceeded 72,000 since the start of the Israeli aggression on October 7th, 2023. Approximately 98% of these martyrs were from Gaza Strip, marking the highest death toll in the history of the Israeli occupation’s aggression against Palestine.
By the end of December 2025, the number of martyrs in Gaza Strip reached 70,942, including 18,592 children and approximately 12,400 women. In addition, nearly 11,000 individuals remain missing, and the number of injured has risen to 171,195. Since the onset of the Israeli aggression, approximately 100,000 Palestinians have been forced to leave Gaza Strip. Nearly two million Palestinians were displaced out of the approximately 2.2 million who lived in Gaza Strip on the eve of the Israeli aggression.
In the West Bank, escalating Israeli military operations and settler violence have resulted in 1,102 martyrs and 9,034 injuries.
Population of Gaza Strip Declined by 10.6% in Two Years
These human losses and forced displacement have directly reshaped Palestine’s demographic landscape. Population estimates indicate that the population of the State of Palestine reached approximately 5.56 million by the end of 2025, with 3.43 million in the West Bank.
In contrast, Gaza Strip experienced a sharp and unprecedented population decline of approximately 254,000 people, representing a decrease of 10.6% compared to pre-aggression population estimates. Gaza’s population now stands at 2.13 million, reflecting what PCBS describes as a severe demographic hemorrhage caused by killing, displacement, and deteriorating living conditions.
15.5 Million Palestinians Worldwide
At the end of 2025, the estimated number of Palestinians worldwide reached 15.49 million. Of these, 5.56 million reside in the State of Palestine, while 1.86 million live in the 1948 territories.
The Palestinian diaspora now reached approximately 8.82 million, including 6.82 million living in Arab countries, with the rest spread across various regions worldwide. This continued dispersal underscores the long-term political and historical drivers of forced displacement.
A Young Population despite Demographic Drains
Despite the extensive human losses, Palestinian society remains demographically young. Children aged 0–4 years constitute about 13% of the population in the State of Palestine (12% in the West Bank and 14% in Gaza Strip).
Children under 15 years of age represent 36% of the population (35% in the West Bank and 39% in Gaza Strip), while individuals under 30 years account for 64% of the total population. Conversely, persons aged 65 and above represent less than 4%, confirming the continued youthfulness of Palestinian society and the high dependency burden.
Near-Total Collapse of the Healthcare System in Gaza Strip
The Israeli aggression has led to the near-complete destruction of Gaza Strip’s healthcare system. According to World Health Organization data, 94% of hospitals and healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed.
Only 19 out of 36 hospitals remain partially operational, functioning with severely limited capacity amid acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, healthcare workers, and fuel. Currently, Gaza Strip has approximately 2,000 hospital beds for a population exceeding two million.
An estimated 40 hospital beds are at immediate risk of being lost in evacuation zones, with an additional 850 beds potentially lost if security conditions around healthcare facilities continue to deteriorate.
Severe Health and Nutritional Crisis for Women and Children
Humanitarian conditions for women and children have reached critical levels. Approximately 60,000 pregnant women face grave health risks due to limited or absent healthcare services, while 155,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women struggle to access prenatal and postnatal care.
More than 70% of Gaza’s population relies on contaminated or unsafe drinking water. By July 2025, 95% of households were completely unable to access safe water. Data indicate that 96% of households suffer from water insecurity, and 90% report a severe decline in water quality, contributing to widespread intestinal diseases, particularly among children.
Collapse of the Right to Education
The education sector has suffered unprecedented destruction, particularly in Gaza Strip. As of early December 2025, more than 179 government schools were completely destroyed, while 218 schools were bombed or damaged, including 118 government schools and 100 UNRWA schools.
In the West Bank, schools have faced repeated raids and demolition orders, including the demolition of Khilat Amira Basic School in Yatta on December 1st, 2025.
At the higher education level, 63 university buildings in Gaza Strip were completely destroyed, while eight universities in the West Bank were subjected to repeated raids and vandalism.
The human toll on education is staggering: 18,979 school students were martyred, including 18,863 in Gaza Strip. Additionally, 1,399 university students were killed, along with 797 school teachers and administrators and 241 higher education employees, reflecting direct targeting of the education sector.
Economic Collapse and Unprecedented Unemployment
Economic indicators for 2025 reveal an unprecedented collapse of the Palestinian economy. Gaza Strip’s GDP contracted by 84% compared to 2023, reflecting a near-total economic paralysis. In the West Bank, GDP declined by 13%, despite modest growth of 4.4% compared to 2024.
Gaza’s economy continued to contract in 2025, recording an additional decline of 8.7%.
Unemployment reached catastrophic levels, with 46% of the Palestinian labor force unemployed; 28% in the West Bank and 78% in Gaza Strip, among the highest rates globally.
The number of unemployed persons rose to approximately 650,000, underscoring the depth of the economic and social crisis.