Map of West Bank | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

top of page


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 West Bank has been dominated by many different peoples throughout its history; it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. The West Bank fell to British forces during World War I, becoming part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the West Bank was captured by Transjordan (later renamed Jordan), which annexed the West Bank in 1950; it was captured by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967. Under a series of agreements known as the Oslo Accords signed between 1993 and 1999, Israel transferred to the newly created Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip.


top of page


Location: Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel

Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 5,860 km²
Land: 5,640 km²
Water: 220 km²
Note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries
Total: 478 km
Border countries: (2) Israel 330 km; Jordan 148 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

Terrain: mostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east

Elevation
Highest point: Khallat al Batrakh 1,020 m
Lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m

Natural resources: arable land

Land use
Agricultural land: 43.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 11% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 24.9% (2018 est.)
Forest: 1.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 55.2% (2018 est.)
Note: includes Gaza Strip

Irrigated land: (2013) 151 km²; note - includes Gaza Strip

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 200 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 220 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Total renewable water resources: 840 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Natural hazards: droughts

Geography
Note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are about 380 Israeli civilian sites, including about 213 settlements and 132 small outpost communities in the West Bank and 35 sites in East Jerusalem (2017)


top of page


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: 3,176,549 (2023 est.)
Note: approximately 468,300 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2022); approximately 236,600 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2021)
Growth rate: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 18% (2011 est.)

Nationality
Noun: NA
Adjective: NA

Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab, Jewish, other

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Major-language samples:

Religions: Muslim 80-85% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12-14%, Christian 1-2.5% (mainly Greek Orthodox), other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1% (2012 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 34.07% (male 533,142/female 506,268)
15-64 years: 61.94% (male 960,379/female 929,324)
65 years and over: 3.99% (2023 est.) (male 57,449/female 64,198)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 74.3
Youth dependency ratio: 68.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.1
Potential support ratio: 16.5 (2021 est.)
Note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Median age
Total: 21.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 21.5 years
Female: 21.9 years

Population growth rate: 2.1% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 28.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 77.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: adequacy of freshwater supply; sewage treatment

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 30.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.23 megatons (2016 est.)
Note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 20 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Infant mortality rate
Total: 16.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.9 years (2023 est.)
Male: 73.7 years
Female: 78.2 years

Total fertility rate: 3.54 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 57.3% (2019/20)
Note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 98.9% of population
Improved rural: 99% of population
Improved total: 98.9% of population
Unimproved urban: 1.1% of population
Unimproved rural: 1% of population
Unimproved total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
Note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: 3.25 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:
Note: note includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases
Note: on 31 August 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; the West Bank is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.1% (2019/20)
Note: estimate is for Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Education expenditures: 5.3% of GDP (2018 est.)
Note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.5%
Male: 98.8%
Female: 96.2% (2020)
Note: estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 14 years (2021)
Note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 39.6% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 33.7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 69%
Rate ages 15 24 note: includes Gaza Strip


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: West Bank
Etymology: name refers to the location of the region of the British Mandate of Palestine that was occupied and administered by Jordan in 1948, as it is located on the far side (west bank) of the Jordan River in relation to Jordan proper; the designation was retained following the 1967 Six-Day War and the subsequent changes in administration

Government type

Capital

Administrative divisions

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch

Legislative branch

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars and includes Gaza Strip

Real gdp growth rate:
Note: excludes Gaza Strip

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars and includes Gaza Strip

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 91.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 26.7% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 20% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -61% (2017 est.)
Note: excludes Gaza Strip

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.9% (2017 est.)
Industry: 19.5% (2017 est.)
Services: 77.6% (2017 est.)
Note: excludes Gaza Strip

Agriculture products: tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, poultry, milk, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, gourds

Industries: small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs

Industrial production growth rate: 6.22% (2021 est.)
Note: includes Gaza Strip

Labor force: 1.249 million (2021 est.)
Note: excludes Gaza Strip

Unemployment rate:
Note: excludes Gaza Strip

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 39.6% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 33.7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 69%
Rate ages 15 24 note: includes Gaza Strip

Population below poverty line: 18% (2011 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 33.7 (2016 est.)
Coefficient distribution of family income note: includes Gaza Strip

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: 3.2%
Highest 10%: 28.2% (2009 est.)
Note: includes Gaza Strip

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $3.803 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $5.002 billion (2020 est.)
Note: includes Palestinian Authority expenditures in the Gaza Strip
Surplus  or deficit: 0.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 18.78% (of GDP) (2018 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Note: excludes Gaza Strip

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:

Exports:
Note: excludes Gaza Strip
Commodities: building stone, scrap iron, plastic lids, furniture, seating, dates, olive oil (2021)
Commodities note: data includes both Gaza Strip and West Bank export commodities

Imports:
Note: data include the Gaza Strip
Commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:
Note: data include the Gaza Strip

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Access note: data for West Bank and Gaza Strip combined
Installed generating capacity: 215,000 kW (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Consumption: 5,702,816,000 kWh (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Imports: 5.9 billion kWh (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Transmission/distribution losses: 847 million kWh (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank

Coal

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Refined petroleum consumption: 24,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 19 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 22,740 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.341 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Data includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.341 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Data includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Data includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank

Energy consumption per capita: 13.604 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 457,706 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines note: data includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4,052,966 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 78 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular note: includes Gaza Strip

Telephone system

Broadcast media: the Palestinian Authority operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; about 20 private TV and 40 radio stations; both Jordanian TV and satellite TV are accessible

Internet
Country code: .ps; note - IANA has designated .ps for the West Bank, same as Gaza Strip
Users total: 3,938,199 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 80% (2021 est.)
Users note: includes the Gaza Strip

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 373,050 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.)
Note: includes the Gaza Strip


top of page


Military expenditures: not available

Military and security forces: per the Oslo Accords, the PA is not permitted a conventional military but maintains security and police forces; PA security personnel have operated almost exclusively in the West Bank since HAMAS seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007; PA forces include National Security Forces, Presidential Guard, Civil Police, Civil Defense, Preventive Security Organization, the General Intelligence Organization, and the Military Intelligence Organization (2023)
Note: the National Security Forces conduct gendarmerie-style security operations in circumstances that exceed the capabilities of the Civil Police; it is the largest branch of the PA security services and acts as the Palestinian army; the Presidential Guard protects facilities and provides dignitary protection; the Preventive Security Organization is responsible for internal intelligence gathering and investigations related to internal security cases, including political dissent

Military service age and obligation: not available

Space program

Terrorist groups
Terrorist groups: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; HAMAS; Kahane Chai; Palestine Islamic Jihad; Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in terrorist organizations


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 2 (2021)
With paved runways: 2
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Heliports: 1 (2021)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 4,686 km (2010)
Paved: 4,686 km (2010)
Note: includes Gaza Strip

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: West Bank-Israel: West Bank is Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier construction

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 901,000 (Palestinian refugees) (2022)
IDPs: 12,000 (includes persons displaced within the Gaza strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since June 2014 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative data do not go back beyond 2006) (2022); note - data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank

Illicit drugs