Statistics: The number of Palestinians in the world is 15.2 million people.

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics stated that the number of Palestinians worldwide by mid-2019 had reached approximately 15.2 million, nearly half of whom live outside of historic Palestine.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) stated in a statement issued Thursday on the occasion of World Population Day that the population of the State of Palestine is approximately 5.5 million, including 2.8 million males and 2.7 million females, in addition to approximately 1.9 million Palestinians residing within the 1948 territories. As for the diaspora, estimates indicate the presence of approximately 7.8 million Palestinians, including 6.5 million in Arab countries.

The demographic reality on the eve of the Israeli occupation aggression

The statistics indicated that since the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, more than 57,000 citizens have been martyred, constituting 2.4% of the total population of the Strip, including about 18,000 children, and about 12,000 women, in addition to about 11,000 missing until the end of June 2025. About 100,000 citizens have left the Strip since the beginning of the aggression. The number of martyrs who died as a result of famine reached 66 martyrs, and the lives of 14,000 infants are in danger due to malnutrition and food shortages, while the number of wounded reached about 13,000 wounded, 70% of whom are women and children, while the number of martyrs in the West Bank reached 990 martyrs, and 6,700 others were injured, as a result of attacks by the occupation forces and settlers.

Estimates revealed that 39,384 children in the Gaza Strip lost one or both parents after 534 days of Israeli aggression, including approximately 17,000 children who were deprived of both parents, leaving them facing a harsh life without support or care.

Systematic targeting of the health system and the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip

Since the beginning of the occupation's aggression, the health system in the Gaza Strip has been subjected to direct and systematic targeting by the occupying forces. By May 2025, more than 94% of hospitals had been destroyed or damaged, and 144 ambulances had been targeted and destroyed. The attacks were not limited to health infrastructure; medical personnel were also affected, rendering thousands of doctors, nurses, and technicians unable to perform their duties.

This targeting resulted in the martyrdom of 1,411 health workers, the injury of 1,312 others, and the arrest of 362 individuals, in addition to a number of missing and displaced health workers.

Amid this critical deterioration, approximately 11,000 cancer patients are at risk of death, including 5,000 cases in dire need of urgent referrals abroad for diagnosis, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, in addition to 3,000 patients suffering from other diseases that require treatment outside the Strip.

On the other hand, overcrowding and poor health conditions in displacement centers have led to the spread of infectious diseases, with infections recorded among approximately 2.13 million citizens, including 71,000 displaced persons infected with viral hepatitis.

The population of the Gaza Strip decreased by 10% compared to what was estimated for mid-2025.

The Central Bureau of Statistics noted that, as a result of the aggression and according to recent data, the Gaza Strip has witnessed an unprecedented decline in population, due to the increasing number of martyrs and missing persons, the exodus of thousands from the Strip, and a decline in birth rates.

Population estimates indicate that the population has decreased to approximately 2,129,724 people, a decrease of 6% compared to the projected estimates for mid-2024. The population has also decreased to 2,114,301 people, a decrease of 10% compared to the projected estimates for mid-2025.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said that a radical change is expected to occur in the age and gender structure of the population in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the deliberate targeting of young age groups by the occupation army, especially children and youth. This targeting threatens to distort the shape of the population pyramid, especially at its base, which represents the foundation of the natural growth of any society. The impact is not limited to the present, but extends to the medium and long term, as the loss of a large percentage of women and men of reproductive age is expected to lead to a future decline in birth rates. This is likely to create a widening demographic gap that will affect the base of the population pyramid in the future and impact the demographic structure for decades to come.

Palestinian society continues to maintain its youthful character, with 65% of the population under the age of 30.

Demographic estimates show that Palestinian society is characterized by a distinctly young demographic composition, with individuals under the age of 30 constituting 65% of the total population in Palestine. The data also demonstrates regional disparities, with this percentage reaching 63% in the West Bank and rising to 68% in the Gaza Strip.

It is estimated that the percentage of children aged 0-4 years reaches 14% of the total population in Palestine, with 13% in the West Bank and 15% in the Gaza Strip. The percentage of individuals under 15 years of age reached approximately 37%, with 35% in the West Bank and 40% in the Gaza Strip. Children under 18 years of age constitute 43% of the total population, with 41% in the West Bank and 47% in the Gaza Strip.

This young population growth underscores the importance of investing in vital sectors such as education, health, and employment to ensure this segment is empowered to contribute effectively to building Palestine's future.

31% unemployment rate in the West Bank by 2024

The number of unemployed people in the West Bank rose to 313,000 in 2024, compared to about 183,000 in 2023. Unemployment rates among individuals participating in the labor force in the West Bank also rose in 2024 to about 31%, compared to about 18% in 2023. At the gender level, the unemployment rate for males in the West Bank reached 31.7%, compared to 30.1% for females in 2024.

The number of West Bank workers in Israel will decrease by 10% between 2023 and 2024.

The number of West Bank workers in Israel decreased significantly between 2023 and 2024, estimated at approximately 85,000 workers, as a result of the strict closures imposed by the occupation following the aggression on the Gaza Strip. The total number of workers in Israel reached approximately 21,000 workers in 2024, compared to approximately 107,000 workers in 2023. The number of workers in the settlements also decreased from approximately 16,000 workers in 2023 to 15,000 workers in 2024.

The number of workers in the local market in the West Bank will decrease between 2023 and 2024.

The number of workers in the local market in the West Bank decreased from 685,000 workers in 2023 to approximately 650,000 workers in 2024, a decrease of 5%.

More than 17,000 martyrs, male and female, were students enrolled in schools and higher education institutions in Palestine.

The number of martyred students enrolled in schools in Palestine reached 16,124 martyrs until July 8, 2025, including more than 16,019 martyrs in the Gaza Strip and 105 martyrs in the West Bank. The number of wounded students enrolled in schools in Palestine reached 24,614, including 23,913 wounded in the Gaza Strip and 701 wounded in the West Bank. Regarding detained students enrolled in schools, 367 students were arrested, all of them from the West Bank. The number of martyrs since the beginning of the Israeli occupation aggression among students enrolled in higher education institutions in Palestine reached 1,191 students, including 1,156 students in the Gaza Strip and 35 students in the West Bank. The number of wounded reached 2,577, including 2,351 in the Gaza Strip and 226 in the West Bank. More than 401 students enrolled at West Bank universities were also arrested.

928 martyrs, male and female, working in schools and higher education institutions.

The number of martyred teachers and school administrators in Palestine reached 707 martyrs from October 7, 2023 until July 8, 2025, 703 of whom were martyred during the raids on the Gaza Strip, and 4 martyrs in the West Bank. Meanwhile, 221 workers working in higher education institutions in the Gaza Strip were killed as a result of the ongoing airstrikes. The number of wounded teachers and administrators in schools and higher education institutions in Palestine reached 4,452, 4,431 of whom were in the Gaza Strip and 21 wounded in the West Bank. Meanwhile, more than 199 teachers and administrators in schools and higher education institutions were arrested in the West Bank.

25 schools in the Gaza Strip were removed from the educational register.

The ongoing Israeli bombardment and heavy airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have destroyed the infrastructure of a large number of schools and universities. 178 schools and university buildings have been completely destroyed, including 25 schools that were completely destroyed, and 436 schools and university buildings that were partially destroyed. All schools and universities in the Gaza Strip have been closed since the beginning of the occupation's aggression, depriving more than 620,000 students of their right to education. More than 88,000 students have been prevented from going to their universities, while approximately 39,000 students have been denied the right to take the General Secondary Certificate Examination in the Gaza Strip for two consecutive years.