Palestine Population
How does Palestine’s population change, 1990–2100?
Medium projection with low/high uncertainty band
Explore Palestine by year
Drag to read any year's indicators, 1950–2100
Current year
Palestine in context
Palestine has one of the youngest populations in the Middle East, with a median age under 20 and fertility well above replacement, and Gaza ranks among the most densely populated places on earth. The war that began in 2023 caused a sharp fall in life expectancy in the UN's latest estimates. Even so, demographic momentum is strong, and the projection sees the population roughly doubling by 2100.
What does Palestine’s demographic future look like?
With roughly 5.6 million people as of 2026, Palestine ranks 119th in the world by population. In Western Asia, where it lies, that future is driven by fertility, longevity and the movement of people across its borders. Population density stands at about 946 people for every square kilometre of land.
Growth continues for Palestine until around 2100, the year its population is set to crest at about 11.5 million. From there a slow fall takes it to roughly 11.5 million by century's end.
Half of Palestine is currently younger than about 20, but by 2100 the median age is projected to reach around 43, even as life expectancy improves from about 69 years. For now it remains one of the world's youngest populations, with a large generation about to reach working age. A rising median age means fewer working-age people supporting each retiree over time.
Fertility is around 3.25 births per woman, above the replacement level, which keeps natural growth positive for now. Net outward migration also weighs on the total, with more people leaving than arriving.
These figures follow the UN's medium variant, the most widely cited scenario. The low and high variants, driven mainly by differing fertility assumptions, fan out into a wide range by 2100, so treat each number as a central estimate rather than a precise forecast.
Migration & natural change
Net migration against natural change (births − deaths), 2026
Palestine is a net source of migration: roughly 20,055 more people leave than arrive each year. Births still outnumber deaths, adding about 128,055 people a year on their own.
Who supports whom
Dependants (under 15 and 65+) per 100 working-age adults (15–64)
| Year | Youth | Old-age | Total | 65+ share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 65 | 7 | 72 | 4% |
| 2050 | 42 | 12 | 54 | 8% |
| 2100 | 27 | 42 | 69 | 25% |
A total ratio of 100 means as many dependants as working-age adults. Rising old-age figures signal an ageing population and growing pressure on pensions and healthcare.
Key milestones
Age structure
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Demographic indicators
| Population 2024 | 5.5 million |
| Population 2050 | 8.4 million |
| Population 2075 | 10.6 million |
| Population 2100 | 11.5 million |
| Median age 2050 | 28.0 years |
| Fertility rate 2050 | 2.34 |
| Life expectancy 2100 | 87.5 years |