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PCBS | PCBS: The International Population Day, 11/7/2014

Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics  (PCBS)
On the  Eve of the International Population Day 11/07/2014

                                                                                                  

 

On the Eve of International Population Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) released the following statistical review on the status of the Palestinian Population

 

 

The Estimated Population of Palestine at mid 2014 was about 4.55 Million

Based on estimates prepared by PCBS according to the results of the Population, Housing and Establishment Census of 2007, the total population of Palestine at mid 2014 was about 4.55 million; 2.31 million males and 2.24 million females. The estimated population of West Bank was 2.79 million of which 1.42 million males and 1.37 million females. While the estimated population of Gaza Strip totaled 1.76 million of which 894 thousand males and 866 thousand females. The percentage of urban population at mid 2014 was  73.9%, while the percentages of population in rural and camps areas were 16.7% and 9.4% respectively.

 

Palestinian Population in Gaza Strip is Younger than the West Bank Population

The percentage of individuals aged (0-14) constituted 39.7% of the total population at mid 2014 of  which 37.6% in  the West Bank and 43.2% in Gaza Strip.  The elderly population aged (65 years and over) constituted 2.9% of the total population of which 3.2% in the West Bank and 2.4% in Gaza Strip at mid 2014. 

 

High Population Density in Gaza Strip

Population density of Palestine is generally high at 756 persons/km2, particularly in Gaza Strip it is 4,822 persons/km2 compared to a lower population density in the West Bank of 493 persons/km2 at mid 2014. 

 

High Fertility Rates in Palestine

According to results  of Family Health survey 2010, the total fertility rate in Palestine had declined to  4.4 births (2008-2009) compared to 6.0 births in 1997. At the regional level, the fertility rate in Gaza Strip is higher than West Bank during the period between (1997-2009), where it reached  4.0 births during the period between (2008-2009) in the West Bank compared to 5.6 births in 1997. While  it reached 5.2 births in Gaza Strip during the period between (2008-2009) compared to 6.9 births in 1997.

 

Decline in Crude Birth and Death Rates During (2014-2020)

Population projections revealed that crude birth rate in Palestine is expected to drop from 32.3 births per one thousand of the population in 2014 to 29.0 births in 2020.  On the other hand, the crude death rate is expected to decline from 3.7 deaths per 1000 of the population in 2014 to 3.4 deaths per 1000 in 2020 in Palestine.

 

Decline in the Average Household Size

Data revealed a decline in the average of households size in Palestine during the period between (1997-2013) from 6.4 persons in 1997 to 5.2 in 2013.  This average declined  in the West Bank from 6.1 persons in 1997 to 4.9 in 2013, while it declined in Gaza Strip from 6.9 persons to 5.8 for the same period.

 

One Household out of ten Households is Headed by a Female

Data of 2013 showed that 10.1% of households were headed by females in Palestine as of 11.1% and 8.1% in the West Bank and Gaza Strip respectively.  The size of female-headed households were relatively small, with an average size of 2.8 persons compared to 5.7 persons for male-headed households.

 

Females Participation Rate in Labour Force is very Low Compared to Males in 1st Quarter of 2014

Participation in labour force is a key indicator of the extent of labour market activity and effectiveness in providing job opportunities. The results of labour force survey revealed that the labour force participation rate in the 1st quarter of 2014 is 46.3% of the total labour force (Persons aged 15 years and above) of which 47.2% in the West Bank and 44.8% in Gaza strip.  The females participation rate in labour force is very low compared to males participation rate  in the 1st quarter of 2014 is 20.1% of which 19.8% in the West Bank and 20.5% in Gaza Strip, against 71.9% for males; of which 73.8% in the West Bank and 68.5% in Gaza Strip.

 

About One Fourth of Participants in the Labour Force were Unemployed (26.2%) in the First Quarter of  the year 2014

The results showed that more than one fourth of participants in the labour force were unemployed in the 1st quarter of 2014 at 26.2% as of 18.2% in the West Bank and 40.8% in Gaza Strip. Unemployment rate reached 36.5% among females compared to 23.3% among males.

 

More Than One Third of Total Expenditure was Spending on Food

The results of the Palestinian Expenditure and Consumption Survey of 2011 revealed that the average monthly household expenditure on various goods and services amounted to 4,822 NIS in Palestine as of 5,398 NIS, in the West Bank compared to 3,719 NIS in Gaza Strip for an average size of households in Palestine 6.0 persons 5.7 persons in the West Bank and 6.6 persons in Gaza Strip. The major share of cash expenditure was on food at 34.5% of the total expenditure, 32.7% in the West Bank compared to 39.4% in Gaza Strip.

 

The Poverty Rate Among Individuals in Gaza Strip is Higher than in the West Bank

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 during 2011 were 2,293 NIS, and 1,832 NIS respectively. The poverty rate among Palestinian individuals was 25.8%, 17.8% in the West Bank, and 38.8% in Gaza Strip.  Data revealed that 12.9% of the individuals in Palestine were suffering from deep poverty in 2011 according to consumption patterns, 7.8% in the West Bank, and 21.1% in Gaza Strip.

 

9.4% of Individuals (15 years and above) did not Complete any Stage of Education

The 2013 data revealed that the percentage of individuals (aged 15 years and above), who have completed university education (A bachelor degree and above), was 12.1% while the percentage of individuals who did not complete any stage of education reached 9.4%.

 

Female Illiteracy Rate was more than three Times Higher  than that of Males

Illiteracy rate among individuals aged 15 years and over in Palestine was 3.7% in 2013.  Illiteracy gap is significantly noticed among males and females at 1.6% and 5.9% respectively. 

 

Half of Households have a Computer

The percentage of households that have personal computers in 2013 in Palestine was 50.5% of which 54.1% in the West Bank and 45.4% in Gaza Strip.

 

 

Three out of ten Households in Palestine had Internet Access

Available data indicated that 35.7% of households in Palestine had Internet access in 2013 of which 39.5% in the West Bank and 28.3% in Gaza Strip.

 

Decline in the Percentage of Unsafe Deliveries

In 2010, 0.8% of deliveries in Palestine occurred at home or in other unsafe places; 1.2% in the West Bank compared to 0.3% in Gaza Strip. while the percentage was 5.2% in Palestine in 2000.

 

High Rate of Anti-Natal and Natal Care

In 2010, 94.0% of married women aged 15-49 in Palestine reported receiving health care (4 visit at least)

from qualified personnel during their last pregnancy: 92.7% in the West Bank and 95.7% in Gaza Strip.

 

 

Disability Rate is Higher in the West Bank than in Gaza Strip

About 113 thousand people with disabilities in Palestine of which 75 thousand in the West Bank, or  2.7% of the total population in the West Bank; and 38 thousand in Gaza Strip; or 2.4% of the total population in Gaza Strip are with disabilities.   And the ratio was 2.9% among males and 2.5% among females in Palestine.

 

More than Three-Quarters of Housing Units in Palestine Owned by a Family Member

In 2013, the percentage of Palestinian households that a family member owned a housing  unit was about 80.3% of which 80.8% in the West Bank and 79.4% in Gaza Strip, while the percentage of  households who were living in rented houses in Palestine was 8.3% of which 8.4% in the West Bank and 8.0% in Gaza Strip.

 

96.4% of Palestinian Households  Connected to  Water Public Network  as Main Source

Available data for 2013 showed that 96.4% of households in Palestine lived in houses that are supplied with drinking  water from  public network of which 94.5% in the West Bank and 99.9% in Gaza Strip. Moreover, almost all of households in Palestine lived in houses connected to the electricity network.

 

 More Than Half of Palestinian Families Living in Houses Connected to Public Sewerage Network

About 44.2% of Palestinian households were living in houses connected to cesspits, of which 58.7% in the West Bank and 16.9% in Gaza Strip. While there were 55.3% of Palestinian households were living in houses connected to public sewage network of which 40.6% in the West Bank compared with 83.1% in Gaza Strip, while where 0.5% of households were living in houses connected by others.

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