This report provides an overview of population growth in the West Bank and Gaza Strip up to the onset of the war in October 2023, alongside projections of the Palestinian population worldwide. The West Bank and...
This report provides an overview of population growth in the West Bank and Gaza Strip up to the onset of the war in October 2023, alongside projections of the Palestinian population worldwide. The West Bank and Gaza Strip encompass diverse urban centers shaped by demographic trends, spatial limitations, and political challenges. East Jerusalem, with a 2023 population of 384,650, has faced severe isolation due to checkpoint policies and the separation wall, severing its economic and functional ties with the West Bank. Hebron, the largest Palestinian city under the Palestinian Authority, accounts for half of the West Bank’s industrial activity, while Nablus and Ramallah function as financial and administrative hubs, supported by expanding metropolitan areas. Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Qalqilia contend with high population density and restricted municipal boundaries, often limited by Area C policies. Jericho experiences negative migration but remains a weekend retreat for nearby residents. In the Gaza Strip, Gaza City, home to 724,577 people, integrates significant refugee populations, with 65% of the population registered as refugees, reflecting the broader socio-political complexities of the region.