Middle East :: WEST BANK

- ## Introduction :: WEST BANK

- Background:
  From the early 16th century through 1917, the area now known as the West Bank fell under Ottoman rule. Following World War I, the Allied powers (France, UK, Russia) allocated the area to the British Mandate of Palestine. After World War II, the UN passed a resolution to establish two states within the Mandate, and designated a territory including what is now known as the West Bank as part of the proposed Arab state. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the area was captured by Transjordan (later renamed Jordan). Jordan annexed the West Bank in 1950. In June 1967, Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. With the exception of East Jerusalem and the former Israeli-Jordanian border zone, the West Bank remained under Israeli military control until Israel transferred security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority (PA) under a series of agreements signed between 1994 and 1999. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled after the outbreak of an intifada in mid-2000. In early 2003, the "Quartet" of the US, EU, UN, and Russia, presented a roadmap to a final peace settlement by 2005, calling for two states - Israel and a democratic Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004 and the subsequent election of Mahmud ABBAS (head of the Fatah political faction) as PA president, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to move the peace process forward. Israel in late 2005 unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and redeployed its military from several West Bank settlements but continues to control maritime, airspace, and other access. In early 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won the Palestinian Legislative Council election and took control of the PA government. Attempts to form a unity government failed, and violent clashes between Fatah and HAMAS supporters ensued, culminating in HAMAS's violent seizure of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. Fatah and HAMAS have made several attempts at reconciliation, most recently signing an agreement in April 2014 following the collapse of US-brokered peace talks with Israel. The factions, however, have been unable to implement details on governance and security, and the status quo remains with HAMAS in de facto control of the Gaza Strip and the PA governing the West Bank.

- ## Geography :: WEST BANK

- Location:
  Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel
  Geographic coordinates:
  32 00 N, 35 15 E
  Map references:
  Middle East
  Area:
  total: 5,860 sq km
  land: 5,640 sq km
  water: 220 sq km
  note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Delaware
  Land boundaries:
  total: 478 km
  border countries (2): Israel 330 km, Jordan 148 km
  Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
  highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
  Natural resources:
  arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 43.3%
  arable land 7.4%; permanent crops 11%; permanent pasture 24.9%
  forest: 1.5%
  other: 55.2%
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  240 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)
  Natural hazards:
  droughts
  Environment - current issues:
  adequacy of freshwater supply; sewage treatment
  Geography - note:
  landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are about 381 Israeli civilian sites, including about 212 settlements and 134 small outpost communities in the West Bank and 35 sites in East Jerusalem (2014 est.)

- ## People and Society :: WEST BANK

- Nationality:
  noun: NA
  adjective: NA
  Ethnic groups:
  Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
  Languages:
  Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
  Religions:
  Muslim 80.0 - 85.0% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12.0 - 14.0%, Christian 1.0 - 2.5% (mainly Greek Orthodox), other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1.0%
  note: the proportion of Christians continues to fall mainly as a result of the growth of the Muslim population but also because of the migration and the declining birth rate of the Christian population (2012 est.)
  Population:
  2,785,366 (represents Palestinian population only) (July 2014 est.)
  note: approximately 356,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank; approximately 200,000 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2013) (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33.09% (male 473,108/female 448,612)
  15-24 years: 21.52% (male 307,020/female 292,465)
  25-54 years: 36.96% (male 529,094/female 500,375)
  55-64 years: 4.57% (male 64,093/female 63,289)
  65 years and over: 3.85% (male 45,303/female 62,007) (2015 est.)
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 76%
  youth dependency ratio: 70.8%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.2%
  potential support ratio: 19.2%
  note: data represents the Gaza and the West Bank (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 22.4 years
  male: 22.2 years
  female: 22.5 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.95% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Birth rate:
  22.99 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Death rate:
  3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 75.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.81% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
  note: data represents Gaza Strip and West Bank
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 11.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.91 years
  male: 73.79 years
  female: 78.17 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Total fertility rate:
  2.76 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  52.5% (includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank) (2010)
  Physicians density:
  1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 50.7% of population
  rural: 81.5% of population
  total: 58.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 49.3% of population
  rural: 18.5% of population
  total: 41.6% of population
  note: includes Gaza and the West Bank (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 93% of population
  rural: 90.2% of population
  total: 92.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 7% of population
  rural: 9.8% of population
  total: 7.7% of population
  note: includes Gaza and the West Bank (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 96.5%
  male: 98.4%
  female: 94.5%
  notes: estimates are for the Palestinian Territories (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 13 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 14 years
  note: data represents Gaza and West Bank (2013)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 38.8%
  male: 34.5%
  female: 62.2%
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15

- ## Government :: WEST BANK

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: West Bank

- ## Economy :: WEST BANK

- Economy - overview:
  Economic growth in the West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian territories - has slowed since 2013, in part because of a decline in donor aid and government spending. Private sector development has been weak. Despite the Palestinian Authority's (PA) successful implementation of economic and security reforms and the easing of some movement and access restrictions by the Israeli government, Israeli closure policies continue to disrupt labor and trade flows, industrial capacity, and basic commerce, constraining the productive capacity of the West Bank economy. The biggest impediments to economic improvements in the West Bank remain Palestinians' inability to access land and resources in Israeli-controlled areas, import and export restrictions, and a high-cost capital structure. The PA for the foreseeable future will continue to rely heavily on donor aid for its budgetary needs and economic activity.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $20.12 billion (2014 est.)
  $20.02 billion (2013 est.)
  $19.92 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2011 US dollars; includes Gaza Strip
  country comparison to the world: 141
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $6.641 billion
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2008 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  0.5% (2014 est.)
  0.5% (2013 est.)
  6.1% (2012 est.)
  note: includes Gaza Strip
  country comparison to the world: 195
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $4,900 (2012 est.)
  $4,400 (2011 est.)
  $4,100 (2010 est.)
  note: includes Gaza Strip
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Gross national saving:
  -12.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  -5.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  -15.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 86.6%
  government consumption: 26.6%
  investment in fixed capital: 25.3%
  investment in inventories: 1.8%
  exports of goods and services: 20.4%
  imports of goods and services: -60.7%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2.9%
  industry: 23.6%
  services: 73.5%
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  olives, citrus fruit, vegetables; beef, dairy products
  Industries:
  small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs
  Industrial production growth rate:
  1.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Labor force:
  1.066 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 11.5%
  industry: 34.4%
  services: 54.1%
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2013 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  16% (2014 est.)
  18.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Population below poverty line:
  18% (2011 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.2%
  highest 10%: 28.2%
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2009 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  34.5 (2009 est.)
  note: includes Gaza Strip
  Budget:
  revenues: $2.742 billion
  expenditures: $4.279 billion
  note: includes Palestinian Authority expenditures in the Gaza Strip (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  41.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -23.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Public debt:
  41% of GDP (2013 est.)
  39% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.7% (2014 est.)
  1.7% (2013 est.)
  note: includes Gaza Strip
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  7.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
  7.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Stock of narrow money:
  $269.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $220.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Stock of broad money:
  $2.399 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $1.341 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.168 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $2.634 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $2.532 billion (31 December 2011)
  $2.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Current account balance:
  -$2.894 billion (2014 est.)
  -$2.034 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Exports:
  $2.107 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.102 billion (2013 est.)
  note: includes Gaza Strip
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Exports - commodities:
  stone, olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
  Imports:
  $7.674 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.645 billion (2013 est.)
  note: data include the Gaza Strip
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Imports - commodities:
  food, consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals
  Debt - external:
  $1.04 billion (2010 est.)
  $1.3 billion (2007 est.)
  note: data include the Gaza Strip
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Exchange rates:
  new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
  3.908 (2013 est.)
  3.611 (2013 est.)
  3.86 (2012 est.)
  3.5781 (2011 est.)
  3.739 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: WEST BANK

- Electricity - production:
  535 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Electricity - consumption:
  5.12 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Electricity - imports:
  4.909 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  140,000 kW
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  23,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  514.8 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  16,330 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  3.008 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142

- ## Communications :: WEST BANK

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 400,000 (includes Gaza Strip)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 3.2 million (includes Gaza Strip)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (includes Gaza Strip) (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: continuing political and economic instability has impeded significant liberalization of the telecommunications industry
  domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed-line services; PALTEL plans to establish a fiber-optic connection to Jordan to route domestic mobile calls; the Palestinian JAWWAL company and WATANIYA PALESTINE provide cellular services
  international: country code - 970; 1 international switch in Ramallah (2009)
  Broadcast media:
  the Palestinian Authority operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; about 20 private TV and 40 radio stations; both Jordanian TV and satellite TV are accessible (2013)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 0, FM 27, shortwave 0 (2010)
  Television broadcast stations:
  31 (2010)
  Internet country code:
  .ps; note - same as Gaza Strip
  Internet users:
  total: 1.4 million (includes Gaza Strip)
  percent of population: 34.4% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 112

- ## Transportation :: WEST BANK

- Airports:
  2 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 4,686 km
  paved: 4,686 km
  note: includes Gaza Strip (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 154

- ## Military :: WEST BANK

- Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 579,248
  females age 16-49: 547,782 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 30,925
  female: 29,440 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: WEST BANK

- Disputes - international:
  the current status of the West Bank is subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 762,288 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2014)
  IDPs: at least 263,500 (includes persons displaced within the Gaza strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since June 2014 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative figures do not go back beyond 2006) (2015)