West Bank
West Bank as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The landlocked West Bank -- the larger of the two Palestinian territories -- is home to some three million Palestinians. Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., the area currently known as the West Bank has been dominated by a suc cession of different powers . In the early 16th century , it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. The West Bank fell to British forces during World War I, becoming part of the British Mandate of Palestine.
After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Transjordan (later renamed Jordan) captured the West Bank and annexed it in 1950; Israel then captured it in the Six-Day War in 1967. Under the Oslo Accords -- a series of agreements that were signed between 1993 and 1999 -- Israel transferred to the newly created Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for the many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank, as well as the Gaza Strip.
In addition to establishing the PA as an interim government, the Oslo Accords divided the West Bank into three areas, with one fully managed by the PA (Area A) , another fully managed by Israel (Area C) , and a third with shared control (Area B) until a permanent agreement could be reached between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. In 2000, a violent intifada , or uprising, began across the Palestinian territories, and in 2001, negotiations for a permanent agreement between the PLO and Israel on final status issues stalled. Subsequent attempts to re-start direct negotiations have not resulted in progress toward determining final status of the area.
The PA last held national elections in 2006, when the Islamic Resistance Movement ( H AMAS ) won a majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political faction in the West Bank, and H AMAS failed to maintain a unity government, leading to violent clashes between their respective supporters and to H AMAS' s violent seizure of all PA military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in 2007.
In 2018, the Palestinian Constitutional Court dissolved the PLC. In recent years, Fatah and H AMAS have made several attempts at reconciliation, but the factions have been unable to implement agreements.
Geography
Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel
18 fieldsLand useshare of 5,860 sq km
Note
Climate
temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain
mostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and Israel) - 1,020 sq km; note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Population distribution
- the most populous Palestinian communities in the West Bank are located in the central ridge and western half of its territory;
- Jewish settlements are located throughout the West Bank, the most populous in the Seam Zone -- between the 1949 Armistice Line and the separation barrier -- and around Jerusalem
People and Society
30 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Languages
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood); major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 80-85% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12-14%, Christian 1-2.5% (mainly Greek Orthodox), other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1% (2012 est.)
Population distribution
- the most populous Palestinian communities in the West Bank are located in the central ridge and western half of its territory;
- Jewish settlements are located throughout the West Bank, the most populous in the Seam Zone -- between the 1949 Armistice Line and the separation barrier -- and around Jerusalem
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.9 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.1% (2020 est.) note: estimate is for Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 0.7% (2020)
- women married by age 18:
- 13.4% (2020)
note: includes both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Environment
9 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Climate
temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 77.6% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Carbon dioxide emissions
3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.); from petroleum and other liquids: 3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) note: includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.387 million tons (2024 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 251 million cubic meters (2022)
- industrial:
- 37 million cubic meters (2022)
- agricultural:
- 158 million cubic meters (2022)
note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Total renewable water resources
837 million cubic meters (2022 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Government
2 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- West Bank
- etymology:
- name refers to the location of the British Mandate of Palestine that was occupied and administered by Jordan in 1948, on the west bank of the Jordan River;
- the designation was retained after the 1967 Six-Day War and subsequent changes in administration
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 4 (all cultural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan;
- Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem;
- Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town;
- Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir
Economy
29 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Budget(2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 5.7% (2022 est.)
- industry:
- 17.4% (2022 est.)
- services:
- 58.3% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, poultry, milk, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, gourds
Industries
small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs
Labor force
1.391 million (2022 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Unemployment rate
24.5% (2022 est.) · 26.4% (2021 est.) · 25.9% (2020 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 36.1% (2022 est.)
- male:
- 31.6% (2022 est.)
- female:
- 56.6% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Population below poverty line
29.2% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
36.4 (2023 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Remittances
5.4% of GDP (2024 est.) · 18.2% of GDP (2023 est.) · 24% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Taxes and other revenues
21.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Current account balance
-$2.899 billion (2024 est.) · -$2.895 billion (2023 est.) · -$2.037 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Exports
$2.885 billion (2024 est.) · $3.413 billion (2023 est.) · $3.533 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Exports - commodities
scrap iron, tropical fruits, olive oil, building stone, prepared meat (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Imports
$8.264 billion (2024 est.) · $11.637 billion (2023 est.) · $12.257 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Imports - commodities
cement, raw sugar, cars, baked goods, perfumes (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.328 billion (2024 est.) · $1.323 billion (2023 est.) · $896.9 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip
Exchange rates
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.7 (2024 est.) · 3.67 (2023 est.) · 3.36 (2022 est.) · 3.23 (2021 est.) · 3.442 (2020 est.)
Energy
6 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 352,000 kW(2023 est.)
Electricity
- installed generating capacity:
- 352,000 kW (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 6.956 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 6.925 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- transmission/distribution losses:
- 988 million kWh (2023 est.)
note: includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 29,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) note: includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Energy consumption per capita
14.991 million Btu/person (2023 est.) note: includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions:
- 383,653 (2023 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- 7 (2023 est.)
note: entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions:
- 4,148,420 (2023 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- 77 (2023 est.)
note: entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Broadcast media
- the Palestinian Authority operates 1 TV and 1 radio station;
- about 20 private TV and 40 radio stations;
- Jordanian TV and satellite TV accessible
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total:
- 431,000 (2023 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- 8 (2023 est.)
note: includes the Gaza Strip
Transportation
2 fieldsMilitary and Security
4 fieldsMilitary and security forces
- per the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is not permitted a conventional military but maintains security and police forces;
- PA security personnel have operated exclusively in the West Bank since HAMAS seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007;
- PA forces include the Palestinian National Security Forces, Presidential Guard, Civil Police, Civil Defense, Preventive Security Organization, the General Intelligence Organization, and the Military Intelligence Organization (2024)
note: the National Security Forces conduct gendarmerie-style security operations in circumstances that exceed the capabilities of the Civil Police;
it is the largest branch of the PA security services and acts as the internal Palestinian security force; the Presidential Guard protects facilities and provides dignitary protection; the Preventive Security Organization is responsible for internal intelligence gathering and investigations related to internal security cases, including political dissent
Military and security service personnel strengths
the PA police and security forces have approximately 28,000 active personnel, including about 11,500 National Security Forces (2024)
Military - note
- Palestinian Authority security forces maintain security control of 17.5% (called Area A) of the West Bank, as agreed by the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in the Oslo Accords, although Israeli security forces frequently conducted security operations there;
- Israeli security forces maintain responsibility for the remaining 82.5% of the West Bank, including Area B (22.5%), where the Palestinian Authority has administrative control, and Area C (60%), where Israel maintains administrative control (2024)
Terrorism
1 fieldTerrorist group(s)
- Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade;
- HAMAS;
- Palestine Islamic Jihad;
- Palestine Liberation Front;
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “West Bank.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/west-bank.