2019 Edition

Background

Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., the Gaza Strip has been dominated by many different peoples and empires throughout its history; it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. The Gaza Strip fell to British forces during World War I, becoming a part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip; Israel captured it in the Six-Day War in 1967. Under a series of agreements known as the Oslo accords signed between 1993 and 1999, Israel transferred to the newly-created Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank. In 2000, a violent intifada or uprising began, and in 2001 negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West bank and Gaza Strip stalled. Subsequent attempts to re-start negotiations have not resulted in progress toward determining final status of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel by late 2005 unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip, but it continues to control the Gaza Strip’s land and maritime borders and airspace. In early 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council election. Attempts to form a unity government between Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political faction in the West Bank, and HAMAS failed, leading to violent clashes between their respective supporters and HAMAS's violent seizure of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Since HAMAS’s takeover, Israel and Egypt have enforced tight restrictions on movement and access of goods and individuals into and out of the territory. Fatah and HAMAS have since reached a series of agreements aimed at restoring political unity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank but have struggled to enact them; a reconciliation agreement signed in October 2017 remains unimplemented. In July 2014, HAMAS and other Gaza-based militant groups engaged in a 51-day conflict with Israel culminating in late August with an open-ended truce. Since 2014, Palestinian militants and the Israel Defense Forces have exchanged projectiles and air strikes respectively, sometimes lasting multiple days and resulting in multiple deaths on both sides. Egypt, Qatar, and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process have negotiated multiple ceasefires to avert a broader conflict. Since March 2018, HAMAS has coordinated weekly demonstrations along the Gaza security fence, many of which have turned violent, resulting in one Israeli soldier death and several Israeli soldier injuries as well as more than 200 Palestinian deaths and thousands of injuries.

Area

Land

360 sq km

Total

360 sq km

Water

0 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Coastline

40 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

Lowest Point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Environment Current Issues

soil degradation; desertification; water pollution from chemicals and pesticides; salination of fresh water; improper sewage treatment; water-borne disease; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

Geographic Coordinates

31 25 N, 34 20 E

Geography Note

strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip; the Gaza Strip settlements were evacuated in 2005

Irrigated Land

240 sq km; note - includes the West Bank (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km

Total

72 km

Location

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Map References

Middle East

Maritime Claims

see entry for Israel note: effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice

Natural Hazards

droughts

Natural Resources

arable land, natural gas

Population Distribution

population concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north

Terrain

flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Age Structure

0 14 Years

44.1% (male 415,746 /female 394,195)

15 24 Years

21.34% (male 197,797 /female 194,112)

25 54 Years

28.5% (male 256,103 /female 267,285)

55 64 Years

3.48% (male 33,413 /female 30,592)

65 Years And Over

2.58% (male 24,863 /female 22,607) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

30.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

1.4% (2014)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

57.2% (2014)

Death Rate

3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

5.2 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

19.1 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

75.8 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

70.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

81.5% of population

Improved Total

58.4% of population

Improved Urban

50.7% of population

Unimproved Rural

18.5% of population

Unimproved Total

41.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

49.3% of population

Education Expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

Palestinian Arab

Hospital Bed Density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

14.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

16 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

76.2 years

Male

72.7 years

Total Population

74.4 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

95.2% (2016)

Male

98.6%

Total Population

96.9%

Maternal Mortality Rate

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

17.8 years

Male

17.1 years

Total

17.4 years (2018 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Physicians Density

2.2 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

1,836,713 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.25% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 98.0 - 99.0% (predominantly Sunni), Christian <1.0%, other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1.0% (2012 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

90.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

92.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

93% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

9.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

7.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

14 years (2017)

Male

12 years

Total

13 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.02 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.96 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.09 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

1.1 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.02 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.97 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

75.3% (2018 est.)

Male

40.5%

Total

46.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

3% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

76.4% of total population (2019)

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

none

Conventional Short Form

Gaza Strip

Etymology

named for the largest city in the region, Gaza, whose settlement can be traced back to at least the 15th century B.C. (as "Ghazzat")

Local Long Form

none

Local Short Form

Qita' Ghazzah

Agriculture Products

olives, fruit, vegetables, flowers; beef, dairy products

Budget

see entry for the West Bank

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

see entry for the West Bank

Current Account Balance

2016

-$1.348 billion

2017

-$1.444 billion

Debt External

see entry for the West Bank

Economy Overview

Movement and access restrictions, violent attacks, and the slow pace of post-conflict reconstruction continue to degrade economic conditions in the Gaza Strip, the smaller of the two areas comprising the Palestinian territories. Israeli controls became more restrictive after HAMAS seized control of the territory in June 2007. Under Hamas control, Gaza has suffered from rising unemployment, elevated poverty rates, and a sharp contraction of the private sector, which had relied primarily on export markets.Since April 2017, the Palestinian Authority has reduced payments for electricity supplied to Gaza and cut salaries for its employees there, exacerbating poor economic conditions. Since 2014, Egypt’s crackdown on the Gaza Strip’s extensive tunnel-based smuggling network has exacerbated fuel, construction material, and consumer goods shortages in the territory. Donor support for reconstruction following the 51-day conflict in 2014 between Israel and HAMAS and other Gaza-based militant groups has fallen short of post-conflict needs.

Exchange Rates

see entry for the West Bank

Exports

2016

$1.827 billion

2017

$1.955 billion

Exports Commodities

strawberries, carnations, vegetables, fish (small and irregular shipments, as permitted to transit the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

18.6% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

26.3% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

88.6% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-55.6% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

22.4% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

3% (2017 est.)

Industry

21.1% (2017 est.)

Services

75% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$2.938 billion (2014 est.) (2014 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

see entry for the the West Bank

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

see entry for the West Bank

GDP Real Growth Rate

2012

7%

2013

5.6%

2014

-15.2%

Imports

2017

$7.852 billion

2018

$8.59 billion

Imports Commodities

food, consumer goods, fuel

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, furniture

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-0.2%

2017

0.2%

Labor Force

1.24 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

5.2%

Industry

10%

Services

84.8% (2015 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

30% (2011 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2015

$583 million

31 December 2017

$446.3 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$2.538 billion

31 December 2017

$2.901 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$1.712 billion

31 December 2017

$2.041 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

see entry for the West Bank

Unemployment Rate

2016

27%

2017

27.9%

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

93% (2012)

Electrification Total Population

98% (2012)

Electrification Urban Areas

99% (2012)

Population Without Electricity

80,930 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

202,000 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity Imports

193,000 kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity Production

51,000 kWh (2011 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

14 (2016 est.)

Total

320,500

Broadcast Media

1 TV station and about 10 radio stations; satellite TV accessible

Internet Country Code

.psnote - same as the West Bank

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

57.4% (July 2016 est.)

Total

2.673 million (includes the West Bank)

Telephone System

Domestic

Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed-line services; the Palestinian JAWWAL company provides cellular services; a slow 2G network allows calls and limited data transmission (2018)

General Assessment

Israel has final say in allocating frequencies in the Gaza Strip and does not permit anything beyond a 2G network (2018)

International

country code - 970 (2018)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

9 (includes the West Bank); (July 2016 est.) (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

432,000 (includes the West Bank); (July 2016 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

76 (includes the West Bank) (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

3,531,000 (includes the West Bank)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

Total

1 (2019)

Under 914 M

1

Heliports

1 (2013)

Ports And Terminals

Gaza

Roadways

note: see entry for the West Bank

Military And Security Forces

HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the Hamas Political Bureau leadership; there are several other militant groups operating in Gaza, most notably the al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, that are usually but not always beholden to Hamas&rsquo; authority (2019)

Disputes International

the status of the Gaza Strip is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from Gaza Strip in September 2005

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Idps

238,000 (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 data do not go back beyond 2006) (2018)

Refugees Country Of Origin

1,421,282 (Palestinian refugees) (2019)

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

Abdallah Azzam Brigades Aab

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel to continue its attempts to disrupt Israel's economy and its efforts to establish security area(s) of operation: launches homemade rockets from the Gaza Strip into populated Israeli territory, primarily the cities of Nahariya and Ashkelon (2018)

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Aamb

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, establish a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem area(s) of operation: stages attacks from the Gaza Strip against Israeli soldiers and civilians inside Israel, including launching rockets and missiles (2018)

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force Irgc Qf

aim(s): supports the destruction of Israel through funding, training, and weapons area(s) of operation: Gaza Strip (2019)

Islamic State Of Iraq And Ash Sham Isis Sinai

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate area(s) of operation: stages attacks against Egyptian forces along the Gaza Strip-Egypt border and launches rockets into southern Israel from the border closest to Israel note: formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (2018)

Terrorist Groups Home Based

Army Of Islam Aoi

aim(s): stage attacks against Israel and Egypt from the Gaza Strip and, ultimately, establish an Islamic emirate in the region area(s) of operation: headquartered in Gaza; heaviest presence and operational activity is in the Gaza Strip note: operatives have a history of launching low-impact rockets into Israeli and Egyptian territory; the Army of Islam (Jaish al-Islam, JAI) in Syria is unrelated to AOI (2018)

Hamas

aim(s): maintain control of the Gaza Strip to facilitate Palestinian nationalist aims area(s) of operation: headquartered in Gaza (2018)

Mujahidin Shura Council In The Environs Of Jerusalem Msc

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel area(s) of operation: headquartered in Gaza, although present in Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Israel (2018)

Palestine Islamic Jihad Pij

aim(s): enhance its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip to launch attacks against Israel area(s) of operation: stages rocket attacks against civilians and military personnel primarily in southern Israel (2018)

Palestine Liberation Front Plf

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel in order to establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital area(s) of operation: based in Gaza; maintains a recruitment and paramilitary training presence in most of the refugee camps across the Gaza Strip (2018)

Pflp General Command Pflp Gc

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities to prepare fighters for deployment to Syria and to launch occasional attacks inside Israel; ultimately, seeks to establish a Palestinian state area(s) of operation: headquartered in Gaza; as a longtime supporter of the Syrian Government, the group trains and deploys fighters to Syria to fight on behalf of President Bashar al-ASAD; stages occasional small-scale attacks inside Israel (2018)

Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine Pflp

aim(s): destroy the state of Israel and, ultimately, establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state area(s) of operation: headquartered in Gaza, recruiting and training fighters; stages limited attacks against Israel (2018)