Editing Occupied Palestinian territories (section)

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of the State of Palestine|Palestinians}}

The [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]] (PCBS) estimated Palestinians at mid year 2009 as 10.7 million persons as follows: 3.9 million in the Palestinian Territory (36.6%), 1.2 million (11.5%) in Israel; 5.0 million in Arab countries (46.2%), 0.6 million in foreign countries (5.7%).<ref>[http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1661.pdf Palestinians in figures 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222065327/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1661.pdf |date=22 December 2011 }} Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics May 2010; p. 11</ref>

According to ''[[The Guardian]]'' (2008), the Palestinian territories have one of the fastest growing populations in the world, with numbers surging 30% in the past decade (2008). There were 3.76 million Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, up from 2.89 million ten years earlier.<ref>{{cite news |author=Toni O'Loughlin in Jerusalem |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/11/israelandthepalestinians.population |title=Census finds Palestinian population up by 30% |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 February 2008 |access-date=26 December 2012}}</ref>

According to the [[U.S. Census]], [[population growth]] from 1990 to 2008 in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] and the [[West Bank]] was 106%, from 1.9 million (1990) to 3.9 million persons.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/population/international/ US Census Bureau International Programs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819022202/http://www.census.gov/population/international/ |date=19 August 2012 }} International Data Base IDB West Bank and Gaza</ref>

According to the UN (2010), the Palestinian population was 4.4 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14628835|title=Israel country profile|publisher=BBC News|date=27 April 2020}}</ref> According to the [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]] (PCBS) population density in 2009 was 654 capita/km<sup>2</sup>, of which 433 capita/km<sup>2</sup> in the [[West Bank]] including Jerusalem and 4,073 capita/km<sup>2</sup> in [[Gaza Strip]].<ref name=PCBSfig09>[http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1661.pdf Palestine in Figures 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222065327/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1661.pdf |date=22 December 2011 }} [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]], May 2010</ref> In mid-2009, the share of population less than 15 years was 41.9% and above 65 years 3%.<ref name="PCBSfig09"/>

[[File:IsraeliSettlementGrowthLineGraph.png|thumb|Settler population, 1972–2007: yellow=East Jerusalem; blue= rest of West Bank<ref name="FmepByYear">{{cite web|url=http://www.fmep.org/settlement_info/settlement-info-and-tables/stats-data/israeli-settler-population-1972-2006 |title=Israeli Settler Population 1972–2006 |publisher=Foundation for Middle East Peace |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118071827/http://fmep.org/settlement_info/settlement-info-and-tables/stats-data/israeli-settler-population-1972-2006 |archive-date=18 November 2008 }}</ref><ref name="BtselemByYear">{{cite web|publisher=[[B'Tselem]] |url=http://www.btselem.org/English/Settlements/Settlement_population.xls |title=Population by year in West Bank settlements |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223172806/http://www.btselem.org/English/Settlements/Settlement_population.xls |archive-date=23 February 2010 }}</ref>]]

In the 1970s, Israel's methods for seizing Palestinian land to establish settlements included requisitioning for ostensibly military purposes and spraying of land with poison.<ref>{{cite news |last= Aderet|first=Ofer|date=23 June 2023|title=Israel Poisoned Palestinian Land to Build West Bank Settlement in 1970s, Documents Reveal|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-06-23/ty-article-magazine/.premium/israel-poisoned-palestinian-land-to-build-west-bank-settlement-in-1970s-documents-reveal/00000188-e8aa-df52-a79d-fcabdd200000|work= |location=Haaretz|access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref>

The PCBS estimated that about 564,000 [[Israeli settler]]s lived in the West Bank in 2012. Some 203,000 of them were settled in East Jerusalem (Area J1 of the [[Jerusalem Governorate]]) and 346,000 in the remaining West Bank.<ref name=PCBS_settlements_2012>[http://pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1993.pdf ''Israeli Settlements in Palestine—Annual Statistical Report 2012''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115012105/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1993.pdf |date=15 November 2014 }}, Table 2, p. 48. Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, August 2013</ref>

Consistent with its policy of Jerusalem as a [[East Jerusalem#Jerusalem as capital|united and indivisible capital of Israel]], Israel does not publish exact figures of the number of settlers in East Jerusalem. Rather the figures of Israelis in [[Judea and Samaria Area|Judea and Samaria District]] are given. Independently from the political composition of its subsequent governments, the number of settlers in the West Bank has grown rapidly and in a relatively straight line since 1967 (see graphics). The [[Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics]] counted about 341,000 settlers end 2012 in the Judea and Samaria District, which does not include Jerusalem.<ref name=ICBS_st02_17>[http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton64/st02_17.pdf Table 2.17—Localities(1) and population] (see end of table). ICBS, STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF ISRAEL 2013, 5 March 2014. '''Note:''' different dates of counting is one of the reasons for differing statistics.</ref>

=== Population ===
{{Main|List of cities in Palestine|List of cities administered by the Palestinian Authority|List of cities in the Gaza Strip}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px"
! colspan="4"  style="text-align:center; background:#cfb;"| Population (mid year)<ref>[https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/ US Census Bureau International Programs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014185309/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/ |date=14 October 2013 }} International Data Base IDB West Bank and Gaza</ref><ref>[http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1661.pdf Palestinians in figures 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222065327/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1661.pdf |date=22 December 2011 }} Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics May 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/endyear2006_E.pdf Palestinians at the End of Year 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211034256/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/endyear2006_E.pdf |date=11 February 2021 }} Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics</ref>
|-
! style="background:#cfb;"| Year
! style="background:#cfb;"| [[West Bank]]
! style="background:#cfb;"| [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]
! style="background:#cfb;"| Total
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1970 || style="text-align:right;"| 0.69 || style="text-align:right;"| 0.34 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.03
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1980 || style="text-align:right;"| 0.90 || style="text-align:right;"| 0.46 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.36
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1990 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.25 || style="text-align:right;"| 0.65 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.90
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2000 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.98 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.13 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.11
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004 || style="text-align:right;"| 2.20 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.30 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.50
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008 || style="text-align:right;"| 2.41 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.5 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.91
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010 || style="text-align:right;"| 2.52 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.60 || style="text-align:right;"| 4.12
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| <small>Source: [[U.S. Census Bureau]] </small>
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006 || style="text-align:right;"| 2.5 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.5 || style="text-align:right;"| 4.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009 || style="text-align:right;"| 2.48 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.45 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.94
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| <small>Source: [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]]</small>
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Region
! Population
|-
| West Bank
| 2,568,555<ref>(July 2010 est.) @ [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/west-bank/ CIA The World Factbook]. This data plus 1.66 million in Gaza (resulting 4.23 million) agrees with the 4.1 million figure given by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics @ [https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jtoudRK9JlaH26B1bdZITg6iUfsQ?do Google Hosted News]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|-
| East Jerusalem
| 192,800<ref>Israeli settlers for ''(2008 est.) (July 2011 est.)'' {{sic}} estimation @ [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/west-bank/ CIA The World Factbook]</ref>
|-
| Gaza Strip
| 1,657,155<ref>Estimation for July 2011 @ [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gaza-strip/ CIA The World Factbook]. This data plus 2.57 million in the West Bank (resulting 4.23 million) agrees with the 4.1 million figure given by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics @ [https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jtoudRK9JlaH26B1bdZITg6iUfsQ?do Google Hosted News]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name!!Population<br />(2007)<ref>[http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/pdf/pdf2008/Population.pdf passia.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924060254/http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/pdf/pdf2008/Population.pdf |date=24 September 2012 }} Palestine facts – Population.</ref>!!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)!! Density<ref>As stated in [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density]], in 2010, the total density raised to 681, ranking the 20th biggest of this list.</ref>
|-
|[[West Bank]]|| 2,369,700  || 5,671 || 417.86
|-
|[[Gaza Strip]]|| 1,416,539 || 360 || 3934.83
|-
!Total!! 3,786,239 !! 6,031 || 627.80
|}

===Religion===
The overwhelming majority of Palestinians are Muslims. Almost the entire [[Islam in Palestine|Palestinian Muslim]] population is [[Sunni]], although few dozen converts to [[Ahmadiyya]] Islam resides in West Bank.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabwah.net/myths-facts-israel-palestine-conflict-ahmadiyya-qadiani/|title=Myths & Facts: Israel-Palestine conflict and the Ahmadiyya|access-date=17 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927051624/https://www.rabwah.net/myths-facts-israel-palestine-conflict-ahmadiyya-qadiani/|archive-date=27 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Palestinian constitution, article 4: "[[Islam]] is the official religion of [[Palestine]]. Respect for the sanctity of all other divine religions shall be maintained".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palestinianbasiclaw.org/basic-law/2003-amended-basic-law|title=2003 Amended Basic Law|date=17 February 2008}}</ref>

Christians constitute about 1–2% of population of Palestinian territories.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/declining-palestinian-christian-population-fears-its-churches-are-turning-into-museums-1.317689|title=Declining Palestinian Christian Population Fears Its Churches Are Turning into Museums|agency=Reuters|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> The Christian population of Gaza is estimated at 3,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://imeu.org/article/palestinian-christians-in-the-holy-land|title=Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land – IMEU|last=IMEU}}</ref> There are about 370 [[Samaritans]] in West Bank village of [[Kiryat Luza]] on [[Mount Gerizim]] who hold both Palestinian and Israeli citizenship.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/israeli-election-preview-samaritans-caught-between-two-votes-1028684|title=Israeli Election Preview: The Samaritans, Caught Between Two Votes|newspaper=International Business Times|date=21 January 2013}}</ref> The number of Jewish settlers in West Bank is estimated at 341,000 as of the end of 2012 and over 200,000 in East Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/a-look-at-israeli-settlers-by-the-numbers/|title=A look at Israeli settlers, by the numbers|website=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref>

===Language===
[[Arabic language|Arabic]] is the official language in the [[State of Palestine]].<ref>The [http://www.palestinianbasiclaw.org/2003-amended-basic-law Palestine Basic Law] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118034917/http://www.palestinianbasiclaw.org/2003-amended-basic-law |date=18 January 2012 }}, approved by the PLC in March 2003, states in article 4 that "Arabic shall be the official language."</ref> [[Palestinian Arabic]] is the vernacular. [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[English language|English]] are widely spoken. 16.1% of the population are Israeli settlers who mostly speak Hebrew as their native language, and Hebrew is a second or third language to a number of Palestinians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/asie/palestine.htm |title=Palestine |publisher=Tlfq.ulaval.ca |access-date=3 January 2013 |archive-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208130252/http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/asie/palestine.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Barahona|first=Ana|title=Bearing Witness – Eight weeks in Palestine|publisher=Metete|location=London| isbn= 978-1-908099-02-0|year=2013|page=80}}</ref>