West Bank vs. Israel
Introduction
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., the West Bank has been dominated by many different peoples throughout its history; it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. The West Bank fell to British forces during World War I, becoming part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the West Bank was captured by Transjordan (later renamed Jordan), which annexed the West Bank in 1950; it was captured by Israel 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 West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip. 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 direct negotiations have not resulted in progress toward determining final status of the area. | Israel has emerged as a regional economic and military powerhouse, leveraging its booming high-tech sector, massive defense industry, and concerns about Iran to foster partnerships around the world, even with some of its former foes. The State of Israel was declared in 1948, after Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine. The UN proposed partitioning the area into Arab and Jewish states, and Arab armies that rejected the UN plan were defeated. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle East, over the following years. Israel fought wars against its Arab neighbors in 1967 and 1973, followed by peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the 1967 war, and subsequently administered those territories through military authorities. Israel and Palestinian officials signed a number of interim agreements in the 1990s that created an interim period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. While the most recent formal efforts to negotiate final status issues occurred in 2013-2014, the US continues its efforts to advance peace. Immigration to Israel continues, with more than20,000 new immigrants, mostly Jewish, in 2020. The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors. Offshore gas discoveries in the Mediterranean, most notably in the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields, place Israel at the center of a potential regional natural gas market. However, longer-term structural issues such as low labor force participation among minority populations, low workforce productivity, high costs for housing and consumer staples, and a lack of competition, remain a concern for many Israelis and an important consideration for Israeli politicians. Former Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU dominated Israel's political landscape from 2009 to June 2021, becoming Israel's longest serving prime minister before he was unseated by Naftali BENNETT, after Israel's fourth election in two years. BENNETT formed the most ideologically diverse coalition in Israel's history, including the participation of an Arab-Israeli party. Under the terms of the coalition agreement, BENNETT would remain as prime minister until August 2023, then Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair LAPID would succeed him. Israel signed normalization agreements - brokered by the US - with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco in late 2020 and with Sudan in early 2021. |
Geography
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel | Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon |
| Geographic coordinates | 32 00 N, 35 15 E | 31 30 N, 34 45 E |
| Map references | Middle East | 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 | total: 21,937 sq km land: 21,497 sq km water: 440 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Delaware | slightly larger than New Jersey |
| Land boundaries | total: 478 km border countries (2): Israel 330 km, Jordan 148 km | total: 1,068 km border countries (6): Egypt 208 km, Gaza Strip 59 km, Jordan 327 km (20 km are within the Dead Sea), Lebanon 81 km, Syria 83 km, West Bank 330 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 273 km |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation |
| Climate | temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters | temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas |
| Terrain | mostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east | Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Khallat al Batrakh 1,020 m lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m | highest point: Mitspe Shlagim 2,224 m; note - this is the highest named point, the actual highest point is an unnamed dome slightly to the west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m; both points are on the northeastern border of Israel, along the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m mean elevation: 508 m note - does not include elevation data from the Golan Heights |
| Natural resources | arable land | timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand |
| Land use | agricultural land: 43.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.9% (2018 est.) forest: 1.5% (2018 est.) other: 55.2% (2018 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | agricultural land: 23.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.3% (2018 est.) forest: 7.1% (2018 est.) other: 69.1% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 240 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2012) | 2,250 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | droughts | sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes |
| Environment - current issues | adequacy of freshwater supply; sewage treatment | limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides |
| Geography - note | landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are about 380 Israeli civilian sites, including about 213 settlements and 132 small outpost communities in the West Bank and 35 sites in East Jerusalem (2017) | note 1: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti) note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase; Mount Sodom is actually a hill some 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt (multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock) note 3: in March 2019, there were 380 Israeli settlements,to include 213 settlements and 132 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, as all were evacuated in 2005 (2019) |
| Total renewable water resources | 837 million cubic meters (2017 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. | 1.78 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | Palestinian settlements are primarily located in the central to western half of the territory; Jewish settlements are found in pockets throughout, particularly in the northeast, north-central, and around Jerusalem | population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba |
Demographics
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,949,246 (July 2021 est.) note: approximately 432,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2019); approximately 227,100 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2019) | 8,787,045 (includes populations of the Golan Heights or Golan Sub-District and also East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel after 1967) (July 2021 est.) note: approximately 227,100 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2019); following the March 2019 US recognition of the Golan Heights as being part of Israel, The World Factbook no longer includes Israeli settler population of the Golan Heights (estimated at 23,400 in 2019) in its overall Israeli settler total |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 35.31% (male 525,645/female 498,458) 15-24 years: 20.75% (male 307,420/female 294,469) 25-54 years: 35.19% (male 516,758/female 503,626) 55-64 years: 5.12% (male 76,615/female 72,006) 65 years and over: 3.62% (male 48,387/female 56,650) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 26.76% (male 1,187,819/female 1,133,365) 15-24 years: 15.67% (male 694,142/female 665,721) 25-54 years: 37.2% (male 1,648,262/female 1,579,399) 55-64 years: 8.4% (male 363,262/female 365,709) 65 years and over: 11.96% (male 467,980/female 569,816) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 21.9 years male: 21.7 years female: 22.2 years (2020 est.) | total: 30.4 years male: 29.8 years female: 31 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 1.72% (2021 est.) | 1.45% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 24.8 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 17.52 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 3.43 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 5.06 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 15.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 3.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 76.12 years male: 74.02 years female: 78.36 years (2021 est.) | total population: 83.15 years male: 81.25 years female: 85.15 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 3.02 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.57 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | NA | 0.2% (2018) |
| Nationality | noun: NA adjective: NA | noun: Israeli(s) adjective: Israeli |
| Ethnic groups | Palestinian Arab, Jewish, other | Jewish 74.1% (of which Israel-born 78.1%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 15.2%, Africa-born 4.3%, Asia-born 2.4%), Arab 21%, other 4.9% (2019 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | NA | 9,000 (2018) |
| Religions | Muslim 80-85% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12-14%, Christian 1-2.5% (mainly Greek Orthodox), other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1% (2012 est.) | Jewish 74.1%, Muslim 17.9%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.5% (2019 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | NA | <100 (2018) |
| Languages | Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood) major-language sample(s): ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language) major-language sample(s): ??? ?????? ?????, ????? ?????? ????? ????? (Hebrew) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.2% male: 98.7% female: 95.7% (2018) note: estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 98.7% female: 96.8% (2011) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2019) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank | total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2018) |
| Education expenditures | 5.3% of GDP (2017) note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank | 6.1% of GDP (2017) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 77% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank | urban population: 92.7% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 97.1% of population rural: 97.1% of population total: 96.8% of population unimproved: urban: 2.9% of population rural: 2.9% of population total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99.3% of population total: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0.7% of population total: 0.2% of population (2017 est.) note: note includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank | 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Physicians density | 1.45 physicians/1,000 population (2017) | 4.63 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
| Hospital bed density | 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2018) | 3 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 71.2 youth dependency ratio: 65.7 elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 potential support ratio: 18.2 (2020 est.) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank | total dependency ratio: 67.3 youth dependency ratio: 46.6 elderly dependency ratio: 20.8 potential support ratio: 4.8 (2020 est.) |
Government
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank etymology: name refers to the location of the region - occupied and administered by Jordan after 1948 - that fell on the far side (west bank) of the Jordan River in relation to Jordan proper; the designation was retained following the 1967 Six-Day War and the subsequent changes in government | conventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el etymology: named after the ancient Kingdom of Israel; according to Biblical tradition, the Jewish patriarch Jacob received the name "Israel" ("He who struggles with God") after he wrestled an entire night with an angel of the Lord; Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the Israelites, also known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, who formed the Kingdom of Israel |
Economy
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | In 2017, the economic outlook in the West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Territories - remained fragile, as security concerns and political friction slowed economic growth. Unemployment in the West Bank remained high at 19.0% in the third quarter of 2017, only slightly better than 19.6% at the same point the previous year, while the labor force participation rate remained flat, year-on-year. Longstanding Israeli restrictions on imports, exports, and movement of goods and people continue to disrupt labor and trade flows and the territory's industrial capacity, and constrain private sector development. The PA's budget benefited from an effort to improve tax collection, coupled with lower spending in 2017, but the PA for the foreseeable future will continue to rely heavily on donor aid for its budgetary needs and infrastructure development. | Israel has a technologically advanced free market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among its leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are offset by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows.
Since March 2020, economic growth has slowed compared to recent historical averages, but Israel's slump has been less severe than in other Middle Eastern countries because of its swift vaccine roll-out and diversified economic base. Between 2016 and 2019, growth averaged 3.6% per year, led by exports. Israel's new government is hoping to pass the country's first budget in two years, which, combined with prudent fiscal policy and strong global trade ties would probably enable Israel to recover from economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds in the last decade. In 2020, Israel began exporting gas to Egypt and Jordan.
Income inequality and high housing and commodity prices continue to be a concern for many Israelis. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries, and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of "tycoons" have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. Government officials have called for reforms to boost the housing supply and to increase competition in the banking sector to address these public grievances. Despite calls for reforms, the restricted housing supply continues to impact younger Israelis seeking to purchase homes. Tariffs and non-tariff barriers, coupled with guaranteed prices and customs tariffs for farmers kept food prices high. Private consumption is expected to drive growth through 2021, with consumers benefitting from low inflation and a strong currency.
In the long term, Israel faces structural issues including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultraorthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only about 8% of the workforce, with the rest mostly employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition. Expenditures on educational institutions remain low compared to most other OECD countries with similar GDP per capita. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $21.22 billion (2014 est.) $20.15 billion (2013 est.) $19.95 billion (2012 est.) note: data are in 2014 US dollars; includes Gaza Strip | $394.7 billion (2019 est.) $351.254 billion (2018 est.) $339.528 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 5.3% (2014 est.) 1% (2013 est.) 6% (2012 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | -2.6% (2020 est.) 3.28% (2019 est.) 3.69% (2018 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $6,220 (2019 est.) $6,318 (2018 est.) $6,402 (2017 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | $41,953 (2020 est.) $40,145 (2019 est.) $39,543 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 2.9% (2017 est.) industry: 19.5% (2017 est.) services: 77.6% (2017 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 26.5% (2017 est.) services: 69.5% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 18% (2011 est.) | 22% (2014 est.) note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 28.2% (2009 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 31.3% (2010) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 0.2% (2017 est.) -0.2% (2016 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | 1.8% (2020 est.) 0.8% (2019 est.) 0.8% (2018 est.) |
| Labor force | 1.24 million (2017 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | 3.893 million (2020 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 11.5% industry: 34.4% services: 54.1% (2013 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | agriculture: 1.1% industry: 17.3% services: 81.6% (2015 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 27.9% (2017 est.) 27% (2016 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | 4.4% (2020 est.) 3.81% (2019 est.) 4% (2018 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 33.7 (2016 est.) 38.7 (2007 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | 37 (2018 est.) 39 (2016 est.) 39.2 (2008) |
| Budget | revenues: 1.314 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.278 billion (2017 est.) note: includes Palestinian Authority expenditures in the Gaza Strip | revenues: 93.11 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 100.2 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs | high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear |
| Industrial production growth rate | 2.2% (2017 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | 3.5% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, poultry, milk, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, gourds | milk, potatoes, poultry, tomatoes, carrots, turnips, tangerines/mandarins, green chillies/peppers, eggs, vegetables |
| Exports | $2.126 billion (2017 est.) $1.827 billion (2016 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | $104.992 billion (2019 est.) $101.389 billion (2018 est.) $95.196 billion (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | stone, olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone | diamonds, packaged medicines, medical instruments, integrated circuits, refined petroleum (2019) |
| Imports | $6.565 billion (2017 est.) $6.207 billion (2016 est.) note: data include the Gaza Strip | $116.23 billion (2019 est.) $111.652 billion (2018 est.) $104.252 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | food, consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals | diamonds, cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
| Debt - external | $1.662 billion (31 March 2016 est.) $1.467 billion (31 March 2015 est.) note: data include the Gaza Strip | $132.5 billion (31 December 2020 est.) $99.886 billion (2019 est.) $94.247 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.606 (2017 est.) 3.841 (2016 est.) 3.841 (2015 est.) 3.8869 (2014 est.) 3.5779 (2013 est.) | new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.44 (2020 est.) 3.4684 (2019 est.) 3.7332 (2018 est.) 3.8869 (2014 est.) 3.5779 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 24.4% of GDP (2014 est.) 23.8% of GDP (2013 est.) | 72.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 59.6% of GDP (2019 est.) 60.4% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $0 (31 December 2017 est.) $583 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $173.292 billion (2020 est.) $113 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $95.45 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$1.444 billion (2017 est.) -$1.348 billion (2016 est.) | $20.642 billion (2020 est.) $13.411 billion (2019 est.) $7.888 billion (2018 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $9.828 billion (2014 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | $394.93 billion (2019 est.) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 13.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 26.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | 0.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 40.2% male: 34.8% female: 67.2% (2019 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | total: 6.7% male: 6.1% female: 7.2% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 91.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 26.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 20% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -61% (2017 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip | household consumption: 55.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 22.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -27.5% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 15.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 14.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 5% of GDP (2012 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | 24.7% of GDP (2019 est.) 24.4% of GDP (2018 est.) 24.4% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 1.093 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 63.09 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 6.489 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 55 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016) | 5.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 5.473 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 390 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 231,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018) | 12.73 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 176 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 9.826 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 9.995 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 509.7 million cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 170,000 kW (2016 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | 17.59 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 78% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 95% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 5% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 294,300 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 24,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 242,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 19 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 111,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 22,740 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 98,860 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) note: data for West Bank and Gaza Strip combined | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 472,293 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (includes Gaza Strip) (2016 est.) | total subscriptions: 3.14 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36.8 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 4,135,363 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (includes Gaza Strip) (2017 est.) | total subscriptions: 11.7 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137.11 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .psnote - same as Gaza Strip | .il |
| Internet users | total: 2.673 million (includes Gaza Strip) percent of population: 57.4% (July 2016 est.) | total: 6,873,037 percent of population: 81.58% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: continuing political and economic instability has impeded liberalization of the telecommunications industry (2018) domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed-line services; two Palestinian cellular providers, JAWWAL and WATANIYA MOBILE, launched 3G mobile networks in the West Bank in January 2018 after Israel lifted its ban; fixed-line 9 per 100 and mobile-cellular 76 per 100 (includes Gaza Strip) (2019) international: country code 970 or 972; 1 international switch in Ramallah note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Israel has a highly developed economy with focus on technology products; investment in cyber-security industry and hub for start-ups; near universal broadband delivery to households and mobile penetration; LTE coverage, expanded fiber network with plans for 5G; emergency law allows mobile tracking; importer of broadcast equipment, integrated circuits, and computers from China; submarine cable connectivity to Europe (2021) (2020)domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; competition among both fixed-line and mobile cellular providers results in good coverage countrywide; fixed-line 36 per 100 and 127 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 972; landing points for the MedNautilus Submarine System, Tameres North, Jonah and Lev Submarine System, submarine cables that provide links to Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 371,299 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2017 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip | total: 2.481 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29.08 (2019 est.) |
| 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 | the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (est 2015) broadcasts on 3 channels, two in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2019) |
Transportation
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 4,686 km (2010) paved: 4,686 km (2010) note: includes Gaza Strip | total: 19,555 km (2017) paved: 19,555 km (includes 449 km of expressways) (2017) |
| Airports | total: 2 (2013) | total: 42 (2020) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 2 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) under 914 m: 1 (2013) | total: 33 (2019) over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 8 |
| Heliports | 1 (2013) | 3 (2013) |
Military
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | per the Oslo Accords, the PA is not permitted a conventional military but maintains security and police forces; PA security personnel have operated almost exclusively in the West Bank since HAMAS seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007; PA forces include National Security Forces, Presidential Guard, Civil Police, Civil Defense, Preventative Security Service, the General Intelligence Organization, and the Military Intelligence Organization (2020) | Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Ground Forces, Israel Naval Force (IN, includes commandos), Israel Air Force (IAF, includes air defense); Ministry of Public Security: Border Police (2021) note: the Border Police is a unit within the Israel Police with its own organizational and command structure; it works both independently as well as in cooperation with or in support of the Israel Police and Israel Defense Force |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the Palestinian Authority Security Forces have approximately 30,000 active personnel (2020) | the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have approximately 173,000 active personnel (130,000 Ground Forces; 9,000 Naval; 34,000 Air Force) (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Palestinian Authority Security Forces are armed mostly with small arms and light weapons, although since 2007, they have received limited amounts of heavier equipment from Jordan (armored personnel carriers) and Russia (armored personnel carriers and transport helicopters) (2020) | the majority of the IDF's inventory is comprised of weapons that are domestically-produced or imported from Europe and the US; since 2010, the US is by far the leading supplier of arms to Israel, followed by Germany; Israel has a broad defense industrial base that can develop, produce, support, and sustain a wide variety of weapons systems for both domestic use and export, particularly armored vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, air defense, and guided missiles (2021) |
Transnational Issues
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | West Bank is Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier construction; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); in March 2019, the US Government recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization 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): 858,758 (Palestinian refugees) (2020) IDPs: 131,000 (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) (2020) data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank | refugees (country of origin): 12,181 (Eritrea), 5,061 (Ukraine) (2019) stateless persons: 42 (2020) |
Terrorism
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Terrorist Group(s) | Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; HAMAS; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Kahane Chai; Palestine Islamic Jihad; Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T | Kahane Chai; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine; Palestinian Islamic Jihad note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T |
Environment
| West Bank | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | carbon dioxide emissions: 3.23 megatons (2016 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. | particulate matter emissions: 19.46 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 65.17 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 13.02 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 181.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 32 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 162 million cubic meters (2017 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. | municipal: 983 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 72 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.249 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.387 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 6,935 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.5% (2013 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. | municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.4 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1.35 million tons (2017 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25% (2017 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
