01
Physical geography
The West Bank contains hills and valleys; the Gaza Strip is a low coastal area on the Mediterranean Sea.
Local timeRamallah ·
Asia / Western Asia · Card 034
Palestine
Palestine is a UN non-member observer State. Its claimed territory includes the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza; sovereignty and final borders remain unresolved.
Find Palestine
● Capital & administration · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital & administration
- East Jerusalem (claimed); Ramallah (administrative center)The map and local clock mark Ramallah. East Jerusalem is claimed as the capital.
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Israeli new shekel (ILS); Jordanian dinar and US dollar also used
- Population
- 5.4 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 6,220 km²2,402 square miles
- State proclaimed
- 1988
Palestine in context
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Ramallah; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Arabic.
03
Location
The West Bank lies west of the Jordan River; the Gaza Strip lies on the Mediterranean coast. The map and local clock mark Ramallah. East Jerusalem is claimed as the capital.
Flag
Three horizontal bands of black, white and green with a red triangle at the hoist.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · United Nations · Palestine history and status · CIA World Factbook · archived Gaza profile
History & status
Palestinian history includes Ottoman rule, the British Mandate, the 1948 war and mass displacement. Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza in 1967. The Palestine Liberation Organization proclaimed the State of Palestine in 1988; the UN granted it non-member observer State status in 2012. Sovereignty and final borders remain unresolved.
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Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza begins
-
State of Palestine proclaimed
-
UN non-member observer State status
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · United Nations · Palestine history and status · CIA World Factbook · archived Gaza profile
Economy
Main activities
Services, trade, agriculture, construction and aid have supported the economy. Occupation, movement restrictions and war have severely disrupted livelihoods and production, especially in Gaza.
Industry and production
small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · United Nations · Palestine history and status · CIA World Factbook · archived Gaza profile
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1990–2025
Millions of people5.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,978,248 | 1.978 |
| 2000 | 2,922,153 | 2.922 |
| 2010 | 3,786,161 | 3.786 |
| 2020 | 4,803,269 | 4.803 |
| 2025 | 5,413,596 | 5.414 |
Real GDP, 1994–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars12.52025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 5,057,700,000 | 5.058 |
| 1995 | 5,417,700,000 | 5.418 |
| 1996 | 5,483,500,000 | 5.484 |
| 1997 | 6,287,800,000 | 6.288 |
| 1998 | 7,189,100,000 | 7.189 |
| 1999 | 7,784,400,000 | 7.784 |
| 2000 | 7,118,400,000 | 7.118 |
| 2001 | 6,455,600,000 | 6.456 |
| 2002 | 5,649,400,000 | 5.649 |
| 2003 | 6,441,200,000 | 6.441 |
| 2004 | 7,853,400,000 | 7.853 |
| 2005 | 8,740,100,000 | 8.740 |
| 2006 | 8,653,000,000 | 8.653 |
| 2007 | 8,980,800,000 | 8.981 |
| 2008 | 9,648,000,000 | 9.648 |
| 2009 | 10,477,100,000 | 10.477 |
| 2010 | 11,082,400,000 | 11.082 |
| 2011 | 12,146,400,000 | 12.146 |
| 2012 | 12,886,900,000 | 12.887 |
| 2013 | 13,492,400,000 | 13.492 |
| 2014 | 13,471,100,000 | 13.471 |
| 2015 | 13,972,400,000 | 13.972 |
| 2016 | 15,211,000,000 | 15.211 |
| 2017 | 15,426,900,000 | 15.427 |
| 2018 | 15,616,200,000 | 15.616 |
| 2019 | 15,829,000,000 | 15.829 |
| 2020 | 14,037,400,000 | 14.037 |
| 2021 | 15,021,700,000 | 15.022 |
| 2022 | 15,635,000,000 | 15.635 |
| 2023 | 15,483,000,000 | 15.483 |
| 2024 | 11,944,000,000 | 11.944 |
| 2025 | 12,462,900,000 | 12.463 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.674Medium human developmentRank 133 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20100.691
20200.718
20230.674
65.2 yearsLife expectancy at birth
10.1 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
The Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-government in parts of the occupied West Bank. Palestinian institutions and governance have been divided, with Gaza’s administration and effective control profoundly affected by war. The State of Palestine has UN non-member observer State status.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · United Nations · Palestine history and status · CIA World Factbook · archived Gaza profile
Knowledge check
Three questions about Palestine.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Palestine: Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza begins?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · United Nations · Palestine history and status · CIA World Factbook · archived Gaza profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.