Gaza Strip

Introduction

The Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal enclave, has been a focal point of geopolitical tension and humanitarian crises for decades. Governed by the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) since 2007, the region has endured a complex history marked by conflict, poverty, and a struggle for autonomy. Its roots trace back to ancient civilizations, with evidence of habitation dating to at least the 15th century B.C. Over the centuries, the Gaza Strip has witnessed the rise and fall of various empires, including its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. The aftermath of World War I saw the territory come under British control as part of the Mandate of Palestine, setting the stage for future conflicts. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War led to Egypt's administration of the Gaza Strip until Israel's capture during the Six-Day War in 1967. The Oslo Accords of the 1990s marked a significant, albeit contentious, attempt to establish Palestinian self-governance, with Israel transferring certain responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000 and subsequent violent clashes have hindered progress toward peace. Despite Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it maintains control over critical aspects such as borders and airspace. The political landscape remains fragmented, with ongoing tensions between HAMAS and Fatah, the dominant party in the West Bank. Efforts to reconcile these factions have repeatedly faltered, leaving the region in a state of political disarray. The Gaza Strip has also been the site of recurrent military confrontations, with exchanges of fire between Palestinian militants and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The situation escalated dramatically in October 2023, when a coordinated attack by HAMAS militants resulted in significant casualties and a declaration of war by Israel. This ongoing conflict underscores the fragility of the region and the urgent need for a comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

Neighboring countries

Egypt - Israel

Geography

Location
The Gaza Strip is strategically located in the Middle East, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, with Egypt to the southwest and Israel to the east and north. This geographic positioning has historically made it a vital corridor for trade and cultural exchange between Africa and Asia.

Geographic coordinates
31 25 N, 34 20 E

Map references
Middle East

Area
Total: 360 sq km

Land: 360 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

Comparison ranking: Total 206

Area - comparative
The Gaza Strip is slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C., illustrating its relatively small yet densely populated landscape.

Land boundaries
Total: 72 km

Border countries (2): Egypt 13 km; Israel 59 km

Coastline
40 km

Maritime claims
See entry for Israel

Climate
The climate in the Gaza Strip is characterized as temperate, featuring mild winters and dry, warm to hot summers, which influences agricultural practices and water resource management in the region.

Terrain
The terrain is predominantly flat to rolling, consisting of a sand- and dune-covered coastal plain, which impacts land use and urban development.

Elevation
Highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Natural resources
The Gaza Strip is endowed with arable land and natural gas reserves, although the exploitation of these resources is constrained by ongoing political and economic challenges.

Land use
Agricultural land: 64.9% (2022 estimated)

Arable land: 7% (2022 estimated)

Permanent crops: 11.8% (2022 estimated)

Permanent pasture: 46.1% (2022 estimated)

Forest: 1.7% (2022 estimated)

Other: 33.4% (2022 estimated)

Irrigated land
(2013) 151 sq km; note - includes the West Bank

Population distribution
The population is concentrated in major urban areas, particularly Gaza City in the north, which serves as the economic and cultural hub of the region.

Natural hazards
Droughts pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity and water supply in the Gaza Strip.

Geography - note
Historically, the Gaza Strip has been a strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes, which has shaped its cultural and economic landscape.

People and Society

Population
Total: 2,141,643 (2024 estimated)

Male: 1,086,340

Female: 1,055,303

Comparison rankings: Total 148; Male 148; Female 149

Ethnic groups
The population is predominantly Palestinian Arab, reflecting the region's historical and cultural identity.

Languages
Arabic is the official language, with Hebrew spoken by many Palestinians and English widely understood, facilitating communication in various contexts.

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.

Arabic audio sample:
Religions
Muslim 98.0 - 99.0% (predominantly Sunni), Christian <1.0%, other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1.0% (2012 estimated)

Note: Israel dismantled its settlements in September 2005; Gaza has had no Jewish population since then.

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 estimated) (male 31,655/female 30,112)

2024 population pyramid:

This population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of the Gaza Strip's population, providing insights into potential political and social stability, as well as economic development trends. The distribution of age groups indicates a youthful population, which may influence future labor market dynamics and social services.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 71.6 (2024 estimated)

Youth dependency ratio: 66.6 (2024 estimated)

Elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 (2024 estimated)

Potential support ratio: 20.2 (2024 estimated)

Median age
Total: 19.5 years (2024 estimated)

Male: 19.3 years

Female: 19.8 years

Comparison ranking: Total 208

Population growth rate
2.02% (2024 estimated)

Comparison ranking: 40

Birth rate
26.8 births/1,000 population (2024 estimated)

Comparison ranking: 38

Death rate
2.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 estimated)

Comparison ranking: 225

Net migration rate
-3.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 estimated)

Comparison ranking: 190

Population distribution
The population is concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north, which serves as the economic and cultural hub of the region.

Urbanization
Urban population: 77.6% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 estimated)

Note: Data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Major urban areas - population
778,000 Gaza (2023)

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

65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 estimated)

Maternal mortality ratio
16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 estimated)

Note: Data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Comparison ranking: 133

Infant mortality rate
Total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 estimated)

Male: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Comparison ranking: Total 91

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.5 years (2024 estimated)

Male: 73.7 years

Female: 77.4 years

Comparison ranking: Total population 126

Total fertility rate
3.26 children born/woman (2024 estimated)

Comparison ranking: 42

Gross reproduction rate
1.58 (2024 estimated)

Drinking water source
Improved:

Total: 98.9% of population

Unimproved:

Total: 1.1% of population (2022 estimated)

Note: Includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Health expenditure
13.5% of national budget (2022 estimated)

Note: Includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Physician density
2.17 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 estimated)

Sanitation facility access
Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 estimated)

Rural: 99% of population (2022 estimated)

Total: 99.8% of population

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 estimated)

Rural: 1% of population (2022 estimated)

Total: 0.2% of population (2022 estimated)

Note: Includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.1% (2019/20)

Note: Estimate is for Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Comparison ranking: 94

Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.4% (2023 estimated)

Note: Data includes Gaza and the West Bank.

Child marriage
Women married by age 15: 0.7% (2020)

Women married by age 18: 13.4% (2020)

Note: Includes both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Education expenditure
5.4% of GDP (2021 estimated)

Note: Includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 47

Literacy
Total population: 98% (2022 estimated)

Male: 99% (2022 estimated)

Female: 97% (2022 estimated)

Note: Estimates are for Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
Total: 13 years (2023 estimated)

Male: 12 years (2023 estimated)

Female: 14 years (2023 estimated)

Note: Data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Environment
Environmental issues
The Gaza Strip faces significant environmental challenges, including soil degradation, desertification, and water pollution from chemicals and pesticides. The salination of fresh water, improper sewage treatment, and the depletion and contamination of underground water resources further exacerbate these issues, posing risks to public health and agricultural productivity.

Climate
The climate is temperate, with mild winters and dry, warm to hot summers, influencing the region's agricultural practices and water resource management.

Land use
Agricultural land: 64.9% (2022 estimated)

Arable land: 7% (2022 estimated)

Permanent crops: 11.8% (2022 estimated)

Permanent pasture: 46.1% (2022 estimated)

Forest: 1.7% (2022 estimated)

Other: 33.4% (2022 estimated)

Urbanization
Urban population: 77.6% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 estimated)

Note: Data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Carbon dioxide emissions
3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 estimated)

From petroleum and other liquids: 3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: Total emissions 142

Particulate matter emissions
31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 estimated)

Waste and recycling
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.387 million tons (2024 estimated)

Note: Data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 251 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial: 37 million cubic meters (2022)

Agricultural: 158 million cubic meters (2022)

Note: Data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Total renewable water resources
837 million cubic meters (2022 estimated)

Note: Data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Government

Country name
Conventional long form: none

Conventional short form: Gaza, Gaza Strip

Local long form: none

Local short form: Qita' Ghazzah

Etymology: The name is derived from the largest city in the enclave, Gaza, whose settlement can be traced back to at least the 15th century B.C. (as "Ghazzat"); "Strip" refers to its elongated shape along the Mediterranean.

Economy

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$20.339 billion (2024 estimated)
$27.694 billion (2023 estimated)
$29.016 billion (2022 estimated)

Note: Data in 2021 dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 155

Real GDP growth rate
-26.6% (2024 estimated)
-4.6% (2023 estimated)
4.1% (2022 estimated)

Note: Annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 217

Real GDP per capita
$3,800 (2024 estimated)
$5,400 (2023 estimated)
$5,800 (2022 estimated)

Note: Data in 2021 dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 184

GDP (official exchange rate)
$13.711 billion (2024 estimated)

Note: Data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Inflation rate (consumer prices)
53.7% (2024 estimated)
5.9% (2023 estimated)
3.7% (2022 estimated)

Note: Annual % change based on consumer prices; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 205

GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.7% (2022 estimated)

Industry: 17.4% (2022 estimated)

Services: 58.3% (2022 estimated)

Note: Figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data.

Comparison rankings: Agriculture 103; Industry 150; Services 100

GDP - composition, by end use
Household consumption: 95.5% (2024 estimated)

Government consumption: 20.7% (2024 estimated)

Investment in fixed capital: 21.8% (2024 estimated)

Investment in inventories: 1.7% (2024 estimated)

Exports of goods and services: 21% (2024 estimated)

Imports of goods and services: -60.3% (2024 estimated)

Note: Figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection.

Agricultural products
Tomatoes, milk, cucumbers/gherkins, olives, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, pumpkins/squash, grapes, goat milk (2023)

Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage.

Industries
Textiles, food processing, furniture.

Industrial production growth rate
-32.2% (2024 estimated)

Note: Annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 195

Labor force
1.391 million (2022 estimated)

Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 136

Unemployment rate
24.5% (2022 estimated)
26.4% (2021 estimated)
25.9% (2020 estimated)

Note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 187

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Total: 36.1% (2022 estimated)

Male: 31.6% (2022 estimated)

Female: 56.6% (2022 estimated)

Note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment.

Comparison ranking: Total 14

Population below poverty line
29.2% (2016 estimated)

Note: % of population with income below national poverty line; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
36.4 (2023 estimated)

Note: Index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 63

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: 2.5% (2023 estimated)

Highest 10%: 27.1% (2023 estimated)

Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Remittances
5.4% of GDP (2024 estimated)
18.2% of GDP (2023 estimated)
24% of GDP (2022 estimated)

Note: Personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Budget
See entry for the West Bank.

Taxes and other revenues
21.5% (of GDP) (2021 estimated)

Note: Central government tax revenue as a % of GDP; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 38

Current account balance
-$2.899 billion (2024 estimated)
-$2.895 billion (2023 estimated)
-$2.037 billion (2022 estimated)

Note: Balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 156

Exports
$2.885 billion (2024 estimated)
$3.413 billion (2023 estimated)
$3.533 billion (2022 estimated)

Note: Balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 157

Exports - partners
Jordan 51%, Turkey 12%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UK 4% (2023)

Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports; entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Exports - commodities
Scrap iron, tropical fruits, olive oil, building stone, prepared meat (2023)

Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars; entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Imports
$8.264 billion (2024 estimated)
$11.637 billion (2023 estimated)
$12.257 billion (2022 estimated)

Note: Balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 130

Imports - partners
Egypt 25%, Jordan 17%, China 8%, Germany 7%, UAE 7% (2023)

Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports; entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Imports - commodities
Cement, raw sugar, cars, baked goods, perfumes (2023)

Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars; entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.328 billion (2024 estimated)
$1.323 billion (2023 estimated)
$896.9 million (2022 estimated)

Note: Holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars; entry includes West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 139

Exchange rates
See entry for the West Bank.

Energy
Electricity access
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 352,000 kW (2023 estimated)

Consumption: 6.956 billion kWh (2023 estimated)

Imports: 6.925 billion kWh (2023 estimated)

Transmission/distribution losses: 988 million kWh (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Comparison rankings: Installed generating capacity 158; Consumption 119; Imports 38; Transmission/distribution losses 98

Electricity generation sources
Fossil fuels: 66.5% of total installed capacity (2023 estimated)

Solar: 33.5% of total installed capacity (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Coal
Exports: 1 metric tons (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 29,000 bbl/day (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Energy consumption per capita
14.991 million Btu/person (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: 139

Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
Total subscriptions: 384,000 (2023 estimated)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 estimated)

Note: Entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: Total subscriptions 101

Telephones - mobile cellular
Total subscriptions: 4.15 million (2023 estimated)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 78 (2021 estimated)

Note: Entry includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Comparison ranking: Total subscriptions 134

Broadcast media
1 TV station and about 10 radio stations; satellite TV accessible.

Internet country code
.ps

Note: IANA has designated .ps for the Gaza Strip, same as the West Bank.

Internet users
Percent of population: 87% (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank.

Broadband - fixed subscriptions
Total: 431,000 (2023 estimated)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 estimated)

Note: Includes the West Bank.

Comparison ranking: Total 103

Military and Security
Military and security forces
HAMAS maintains security forces inside Gaza in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing ostensibly reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau but operates with considerable autonomy; there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2024)

Military expenditures
Not available

Military and security service personnel strengths
Prior to the start of the 2023-2025 conflict with Israel, the military wing of HAMAS was estimated to have 20-30,000 fighters (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military wing is armed with light weapons, including an inventory of rocket, anti-tank, anti-aircraft, indirect fire (typically mortars), and armed UAV capabilities; HAMAS acquires its weapons through smuggling or local construction and receives significant military support from Iran (2024)

Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
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

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 the Terrorism reference guide.

Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 2,032,011 (2024 estimated)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.674, ranking it 133th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)