General
Information
|
Total Land Area: |
5,690 km2
(West Bank
including
eastern
Jerusalem), 365
km2(Gaza) |
|
Land boundaries: |
404 km (West
Bank) - 62 km
(Gaza) |
|
Coastline: |
40 km (Gaza) |
|
Capital: |
Al-Quds Al-Sharif |
|
Other Large
Cities: |
Ramallah,
Nablus,
Bethlehem ,
Jericho, Gaza
City |
|
Official
Language: |
Arabic |
|
National
Currency Unit: |
Jordanian Dinar,
US$, New Israeli
Shekel |
Location and
Geography
Palestine is located
on the Western edge
of the Asian
continent and the
Eastern extremity of
the Mediterranean.
It is bordered by
Israel and Jordan
along the West Bank,
and Egypt and Israel
along the Gaza
Strip. The terrain
is mostly rugged and
dissected upland in
the West Bank. There
is some vegetation
in the West but the
East is barren. A
Mediterranean
climate prevails,
with hot and dry
summers and rainy
cold winters. The
West Bank has a
temperate climate
with varying
temperature and
precipitation
according to the
altitude, and the
Gaza Strip has mild
winters and warm
summers.
Demography
|
Population:
|
3.47 million
(2002) |
|
Crude Birth
Rate:
|
40 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Crude Death
Rate:
|
4 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Infant Mortality
Rate:
|
26 per thousand
(1999) |
|
Life Expectancy:
|
Male: 71 years,
Female: 74 years
(2002) |
|
Urban
Population:
|
67.0 percent
(2001) |
|
Adult Literacy:
|
91.00 percent
(2002) |
Economy
The Palestinian
economy in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip
is mainly
service-oriented.
The country has
limited natural
resources (minerals
and some marine
products), but
highly educated
people and a
well-skilled labour
force. Agriculture
activities,
including fishing,
gain importance in
the country’s
economy. Major
agricultural
products include
olives, citrus,
flowers and
vegetables. The
industrial sector is
mainly based on
small size
establishments of
agriculture-related
industries, footwear
and clothing. The
Palestinian economy
enjoys considerable
remittances and
transfers from
expatriates and
overseas business
enterprises. The
country has also a
promising tourism
sector.
|
GDP at Current
Market Prices:
|
16815 million
US$ (2001) |
|
Per Capita GDP:
|
5096 US$ (2001) |
|
Share of Sectors
in GDP:
|
6.5%
Agriculture,
18.4% Industry,
75.1% Services,
(2000) |
|
Total Exports:
|
241 million US$
(2002) |
|
Total Imports:
|
3252 million US$
(2000) |
|
Major Exports
Items: |
Non-metallic
mineral
manufactures,
olive oil,
vegetables,
fruits, tobacco
and flowers |
|
Major Imports
Items: |
Petroleum
products,
construction
materials and
foodstuffs |
|
Major Trading
Partners: |
Israel, Jordan
and Egypt |
|
