Gaza Strip

Gaza Strip as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

Position31 25 N, 34 20 E

Area360 sq km

LocationMiddle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

923,940 people July 1996 est. · 615,575 in 1990

Population growth% a year

6.79% 1996 est. · 3.56% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 15.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.98 years 1996 est. · 67.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

7.79 children per woman 1996 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

27.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 55 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,200 1995 est. · $590 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1995 est. · -30% in 1993

Geography

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between | Egypt and Israel

15 fields

Land useshare of 360 sq km

arable land 13%permanent crops 32%forest and woodland 0%other 55%meadows and pastures 0% in all · irrigated 115 sq km (1992 est.)

Area

360sq km

land area: 360 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

40km

Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

Land boundaries

62km

border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Location

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

International disputes

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

Climate

temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain

flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

lowest point:: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point:: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Environment

current issues:: desertification
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: NA

Geographic note

there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1995 est.)

People

15 fields

Population

923,940

(July 1996 est.)note: in addition, there are 5,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip (August 1995 est.)growth rate: 6.79% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

50.67Death

4.4Net migration

21.65

Religions

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%Christian 0.7%Jewish 0.6%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 52% (male 244,026; female 231,976)
15-64 years:: 46% (male 210,706; female 210,764)
65 years and over:: 2% (male 11,553; female 14,915) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.78 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 71.98 years
male:: 70.69 years
female:: 73.34 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%

Languages

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English (widely understood)

Government

3 fields

Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement.

The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.

Name of country

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Gaza Strip
local long form:: none
local short form:: Qita Ghazzah

Data code

Economy

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,200

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

-4% (1995 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

14%

(1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

30%

-45% (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture 33%industry 7%services 60% (1995 est., includes West Bank)

Economic overview

In 1991 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and agricultural enterprises, with worker remittances supplementing GDP by roughly 50%. Gaza has depended upon Israel for nearly 90% of its external trade. Aggravating the impact of Israeli military administration, unrest in the territory from 1988 to 1993 (intifadah) raised unemployment and lowered the standard of living of Gazans.

The Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks also dealt blows to Gaza since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf states have dropped, unemployment has increased, and exports have fallen. The withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip in May 1994 has brought a new set of adjustment problems. The stringent border restrictions have held back economic growth in 1995 and 1996.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

NA; by occupation: construction 33.4%, agriculture 20.0%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 14.9%, industry 10.0%, other services 21.7% (1991) note: excluding Israeli settlers

Budget

$NA

Industries

generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center