The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said that 384,000 housing units were damaged as a result of the ongoing Israeli occupation aggression on the Gaza Strip, since October 7, 2023.

The statistics explained, in a statement published today, Monday, on the occasion of World Housing Day and Arab Housing Day, that the number of housing units partially damaged as a result of the occupation’s aggression on the Gaza Strip amounted to about 297,000 housing units, while the number of completely destroyed housing units amounted to 87,000 housing units.

81% of families in the West Bank live in homes owned by one of their members:

The statistics statement indicated that 81% of families in the West Bank live in a house owned by a family member, while the percentage of families living in rented houses reached 8%, while the percentage of families living without compensation or in exchange for work reached 11%, during the year 2023.

The total number of families living in a house was 54%, in an apartment 45%, less than 1% in a villa, and less than 1% of families live in other dwellings such as a separate room, tent or shack.

Average housing density 1.4 in the West Bank:

The average housing density (number of people per room) in the West Bank was 1.4 people per room in 2023 (1.4 people per room in urban areas, 1.5 people per room in rural areas, and 1.6 people per room in camps).

The statistics showed that 5% of families in the West Bank live in high-density housing units (3 or more individuals per room), and at the level of the type of settlement, it reached 4% in urban areas and 7% in rural areas, and rose to 9% in camps in 2023.

The average number of rooms in a home was 3.5 rooms in 2023 in the West Bank, and the average was 3.5 rooms in urban areas and 3.6 rooms in rural areas, compared to 3.2 rooms in camps.

42% of households live in dwellings connected to a public sewage network:

42% of households in the West Bank live in dwellings connected to septic tanks, 15% of households rely on sealed septic tanks to dispose of wastewater, and less than 1% of households use other methods of sanitation, while 42% of households live in dwellings connected to a public sewage network.

The statistics showed that 99% of families in the West Bank have improved sanitation, including (a toilet connected to a public sewer network, a toilet connected to a septic tank, or a toilet connected to a sealed pit).

135 m2 average dwelling area:

13% of West Bank families in 2023 live in homes with an area of 80 m2 or less, while the percentage of families living in homes with an area of 200 m2 or more has reached 10%, and the largest percentage of families, 41%, is concentrated in homes with an area of (120-159) m2.

According to the level of the type of population center, the average area of a dwelling in urban areas was 137 m2, in rural areas 136 m2, and in camps it was 110 m2.

The data indicated that 59% of West Bank families live in homes that are 20 years old or older. At the level of the type of population center, this percentage reached 57% in urban areas, 62% in rural areas, and 72% in camps.

Decrease in the number of licensed housing units in 2023:

The number of licensed housing units in Palestine (new and existing) reached 18,997 licensed housing units, with an average area of 166.4 m2, of which 14,866 are new housing units with an average area of 167.3 m2, and 4,131 are existing housing units, with an average area of 163.1 m2.

The first of October of each year marks the World Habitat Day, approved by the United Nations/United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), and Arab Housing Day based on the decision of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction. The Council approved that the slogan of Arab Housing Day for the year 2024 is “Promoting the principle of participation and transparency in the urban planning process.”