Population2,184,652
Area360 km²
GDP per capita$3,800
LanguagesArabic, Hebrew , English
Life Expectancy75.5 yr
Introduction
Background
Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has been governed by the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS), enduring prolonged periods of conflict, poverty, and humanitarian crises. This region has been inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C. and has been influenced by various peoples and empires throughout its history; it became a part of the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. During World War I, British forces captured the Gaza Strip, leading to its incorporation into the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the conclusion of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egypt took control of the newly established Gaza Strip, which was subsequently seized by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. As a result of a series of agreements known as the Oslo Accords, signed between 1993 and 1999, Israel delegated security and civilian responsibilities for numerous Palestinian-populated regions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to the newly formed Palestinian Authority (PA).
In the year 2000, an uprising known as the intifada erupted in reaction to perceived provocations from Israel. By 2001, discussions regarding the permanent status of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip came to a halt. Efforts to revive negotiations have failed to yield any advancements in determining the final status and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2005, Israel unilaterally evacuated all its military personnel and settlers, dismantling its military installations in the Gaza Strip, yet it continues to exercise control over the territory's land borders, maritime zones, cyberspace, telecommunications, and airspace. The 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council election resulted in a victory for HAMAS. Following this, a unity government between Fatah, the leading Palestinian political faction in the West Bank, and HAMAS could not be maintained, resulting in violent confrontations between their supporters and HAMAS's forceful takeover of all PA military and governmental establishments in the Gaza Strip in 2007. Since HAMAS's ascendancy, Israel and Egypt have imposed strict limitations on the movement of people and goods into and out of the territory. Fatah and HAMAS have engaged in negotiations for several agreements to restore political unity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, though they have encountered difficulties in implementing these accords.
Palestinian militants in Gaza and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sporadically exchange projectiles and airstrikes, raising the risk of a larger conflict. In 2021, HAMAS initiated rocket fire into Israel, leading to an 11-day confrontation that also involved other militant factions from Gaza. Ceasefires were brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, preventing further escalation. Since 2018, HAMAS has orchestrated demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel security barrier. Furthermore, HAMAS has allowed other militant groups, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, to engage in brief skirmishes with Israel, the latest occurring in August 2022 and May 2023.On 7 October 2023, militants from HAMAS launched a coordinated attack involving unguided rockets and ground forces directed at Israel. The assault commenced with over 3,000 rockets fired from Gaza, accompanied by thousands of terrorists infiltrating Israel by land, sea, and air using paragliders. Militants targeted military installations, clashed with security personnel primarily in southern Israel, and simultaneously invaded civilian areas. During this onslaught, terrorists committed massacres and killed civilians, employing torture, abuse, and rape, including a massacre at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, along with the abduction of approximately 240 individuals, comprising men, women, children, and soldiers. These attacks were quickly followed by airstrikes from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) within Gaza. The following day, Israeli Prime Minister NETANYAHU officially declared war on Gaza. On 28 October, the IDF initiated a significant ground offensive within Gaza that remains ongoing as of April 2024.
Geography
Area
land
360 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
360 sq km
Climate
mild, temperate winters with dry and hot summers
Terrain
coastal plain characterized by flat to gently rolling terrain, featuring sand and dunes
Land use
other
32.1% (2023 est.)
forest
1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
64.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Location
located in the Middle East, adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, positioned between Egypt and Israel
Coastline
40 km
Elevation
lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point
Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m
Irrigated land
(2013) 151 sq km; note - includes the West Bank
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
72 km
border countries
Egypt 13 km; Israel 59 km
Maritime claims
see entry for Israel
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography - note
historically a vital corridor along trade routes connecting the Middle East and North Africa
Natural resources
fertile agricultural areas, reserves of natural gas
Area - comparative
a little over twice the area of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
31 25 N, 34 20 E
Population distribution
population is predominantly located in major urban centers, especially in Gaza City situated in the northern region
People & Society
Literacy
male
99% (2022 est.)
female
97% (2022 est.)
total population
98% (2022 est.)
Languages
Languages
Arabic, Hebrew (used by a significant number of Palestinians), English (commonly 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 98.0 - 99.0% (mainly Sunni), Christian <1.0%, other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1.0% (2012 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
total population
1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
1.05 male(s)/female
Birth rate
26.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
2.77 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
19.3 years
total
19.9 years (2025 est.)
female
19.8 years
Population
male
1,108,222
total
2,184,652 (2025 est.)
female
1,076,430
Urbanization
urban population
77.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
38.8% (male 427,450/female 404,288)
15-64 years
58.3% (male 627,235/female 620,903)
65 years and over
2.9% (2024 est.) (male 31,655/female 30,112)
Ethnic groups
Palestinian Arab
Child marriage
women married by age 15
0.7% (2020)
women married by age 18
13.4% (2020)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
69.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
64.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
19.7 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
5.1 (2025 est.)
Physician density
2.17 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Health expenditure
13.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.14 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved: total
total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
5.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
16.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total
14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
13.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.96% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.52 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
population is primarily located in major urban areas, especially Gaza City in the northern region
Life expectancy at birth
male
73.7 years
female
77.4 years
total population
75.5 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 99% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.8% of population
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Major urban areas - population
778,000 Gaza (2023)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.4% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.1% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
12 years (2023 est.)
total
13 years (2023 est.)
female
14 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
temperate climate, characterized by mild winters and dry, warm to hot summers
Land use
other
32.1% (2023 est.)
forest
1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
64.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
77.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.387 million tons (2024 est.)
Environmental issues
soil erosion; desertification; chemical and pesticide-induced water pollution; salinization of freshwater; inadequate sewage management; depletion and contamination of aquifers
Total water withdrawal
municipal
251 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial
37 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural
158 million cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
837 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
Country name
etymology
designated after the most populous city within the enclave, Gaza, which has historical roots dating back to a minimum of the 15th century B.C. (identified as "Ghazzat"); the term "Strip" pertains to its narrow configuration adjacent to the Mediterranean.
local long form
none
local short form
Qita' Ghazzah
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Gaza, Gaza Strip
Economy
Budget
see entry for the West Bank
Exports
Exports 2022
$3.533 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$3.413 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$2.885 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$12.257 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$11.637 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$8.264 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
textiles, food processing, furniture
Labor force
1.391 million (2022 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
24% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
5.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
refer to the entry for the West Bank
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2020
25.9% (2020 est.)
Unemployment rate 2021
26.4% (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
24.5% (2022 est.)
Exports - partners
Jordan 51%, Turkey 12%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UK 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
Egypt 25%, Jordan 17%, China 8%, Germany 7%, UAE 7% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$5,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$3,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
-4.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
-26.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
tomatoes, milk, cucumbers/gherkins, olives, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, pumpkins/squash, grapes, goat milk (2023)
Exports - commodities
scrap iron, tropical fruits, olive oil, building stone, prepared meat (2023)
Imports - commodities
cement, raw sugar, cars, baked goods, perfumes (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$2.037 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$2.895 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$2.899 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
21.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$13.711 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
95.5% (2024 est.)
government consumption
20.7% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
1.7% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
21.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
21% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-60.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
29.2% (2016 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
3.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
53.7% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-32.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$29.016 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$27.694 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$20.339 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
31.6% (2022 est.)
total
36.1% (2022 est.)
female
56.6% (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$896.9 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.323 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.328 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
17.4% (2022 est.)
services
58.3% (2022 est.)
agriculture
5.7% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.5% (2023 est.)
highest 10%
27.1% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
36.4 (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
29,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
imports
6.925 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
6.956 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
352,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
988 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
14.991 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
33.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
66.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
87% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
1 television station and approximately 10 radio stations; satellite television available
Internet country code
.ps
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
383,653 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
4,148,420 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
77 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
431,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
8 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Military & Security
Military expenditures
not available
Military and security forces
In addition to its military faction, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, HAMAS operates security forces within Gaza; while the military division is said to report to the HAMAS Political Bureau, it functions with a significant degree of independence; various other militant organizations are active in the Gaza Strip, most prominently the Al-Quds Brigades associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which typically, though not invariably, are under HAMAS's influence (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
Before the onset of the 2023-2025 conflict with Israel, it was estimated that the military wing of HAMAS comprised between 20,000 and 30,000 fighters (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Army of Islam; Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; HAMAS; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ); Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
2,032,011 (2024 est.)
