Country Profile: West Bank

The West Bank is a landlocked territory in the Middle East, bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel to the west. Home to approximately 3.3 million Palestinians, it has a complex history marked by transitions in governance, most recently under the Palestinian Authority (PA) established by the Oslo Accords. The economy is characterized by significant agricultural output and reliance on external trade, while the population grapples with high unemployment rates and a youth bulge. The region is divided into areas with varying levels of Palestinian and Israeli control, complicating its governance and security situation.

Geography

The West Bank covers an area of 5,860 sq km and is predominantly characterized by rugged uplands and flat plains that slope down to the Jordan River Valley. It has no coastline and is entirely surrounded by land. The climate is temperate, with significant variation in temperature and precipitation based on altitude. Natural resources mainly include arable land, with 64.9% of the land used for agricultural purposes.

Elevation range: Highest point at 1,020 m (Khallat al Batrakh) and lowest point at -431 m (Dead Sea).
Area distribution: 7% arable land, 1.8% forested land, and 46.1% permanent pasture (2023).
Natural hazards: Prone to droughts.

People and Society

As of 2025, the population of the West Bank is estimated at 3,310,554, with a fairly balanced gender ratio and a youthful demographic profile, as 36.7% are aged 0-14 years. The society is primarily Palestinian Arab, with smaller Jewish and Christian communities. The prevalent languages are Arabic and Hebrew, and there’s a literacy rate of 98% across the population.

Urbanization rate: 77.6% of the population resides in urban areas (2023).
Median age: 22 years (2025).
Birth rate: 27.24 births per 1,000 population (2025).
Life expectancy: 76.5 years (2024).
Dependency ratio: Total of 68.2 (2025).

Economy

The economy of the West Bank faces challenges including high unemployment and low GDP growth rates. As of 2024, the GDP (PPP) is projected to be $20.339 billion, with a per capita GDP of $3,800. Key sectors include services, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing, with household consumption accounting for nearly 95.5% of GDP.

Unemployment rate: 24.5% (2022).
Inflation rate: 53.7% (2024).
Exports: Totaled $2.885 billion in 2024, with major partners including Jordan and Turkey.
Imports: Estimated at $8.264 billion in 2024.
Poverty rate: Approximately 29.2% of the population lives below the poverty line (2016).

Government

The West Bank is governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), which was created by the Oslo Accords for limited self-governance. Despite its administrative role, the PA does not have a conventional military but maintains police and security forces responsible for maintaining order in designated areas.

National Heritage: The West Bank is home to 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Political division: Governance is shared among areas fully under PA control (Area A), joint control (Area B), and Israeli control (Area C).

Military and Security

The Palestinian Authority does not maintain a conventional military, having approximately 28,000 active security personnel for internal security operations. The division of security responsibilities has led to a complex interaction with Israeli forces, especially in areas where control is disputed.

Security operations: PA security largely operates in Area A, while Israeli forces control the remaining areas.
Internal security forces: Include the Palestinian National Security Forces and multiple intelligence agencies.

Energy

Energy access is universal in the West Bank, with 100% of the population connected to electricity as of 2022. The energy portfolio relies significantly on fossil fuels while also integrating some renewable sources like solar.

Electricity generation capacity: 352,000 kW installed (2023).
Electricity consumption: Total of 6.956 billion kWh (2023).
Energy per capita: 14.991 million Btu/person (2023).

Environment

The environmental landscape of the West Bank is characterized by issues related to freshwater supply and sewage treatment, compounded by high reliance on agriculture. Urbanization poses additional pressures on natural resources.

Water resources: Total renewable resources estimate at 837 million cubic meters (2022).
Waste generation: 1.387 million tons of municipal solid waste produced annually (2024).

Transportation

The West Bank has limited transportation infrastructure, with a few airports and heliports facilitating its connectivity.

Airports: 1 (2025).
Heliports: 2 (2025).

Communications

Communications are relatively developed, with high mobile phone penetration and a growing internet user base.

Internet users: Approximately 87% of the population (2023).
Mobile subscriptions: Over 4 million (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	3,310,554 (2025 est.)
Area	5,860 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$20.339 billion	(2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita	$3,800	(2024 est.)
Unemployment rate	24.5%	(2022 est.)
Birth rate	27.24 births/1,000	(2025 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	76.5 years	(2024 est.)
Urban population	77.6%	(2023)
Energy consumption per capita	14.991 million Btu/person	(2023 est.)
Total water withdrawal	251 million cubic meters (municipal, 2022)