State of Palestine population pyramid 2026
5,692,790 people in 2026 (projected). The State of Palestine has a very young pyramid, with 37% of residents under 15 and fertility still above three.
- 2026 population
- 5.7Mrank 119 of 237
- Median age
- 20.3 yearsoldest rank 195
- Fertility rate
- 3.13births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful3.9% age 65+
State of Palestine population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
State of Palestine age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 37.0% of the population, while 3.9% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 59.0% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies State of Palestine’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 69.4: about 69 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (62.8 children and 6.7 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes State of Palestine’s population pyramid
Steep sides shaped by births and departures
The UN figures for the State of Palestine cover the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. For most of the period since 1950 fertility here was very high, close to eight children per woman until the 1960s and still about 6.8 in 1990, and the pyramid has always been exceptionally broad at the base.
Yet the population grew slowly at first, from about 0.94 million in 1950 to only 1.28 million in 1975. Large-scale emigration explains much of the gap: the UN estimates net emigration of about 680,000 people between 1950 and 1999, including displacement during the 1967 war and long-term labour migration to Jordan and the Gulf states. The 1975 pyramid shows the result, with each five-year band up to age 24 about a fifth smaller than the one below it and a thin upper half.
Departures continue, at an estimated 570,000 net between 2000 and 2023, and they leave a trace in the sex balance. Boys outnumber girls at birth by about 105 to 100, but at ages 20–29 women slightly outnumber men, consistent with more young men than women leaving, though the chart alone cannot rule out other contributors.
Falling fertility, still a wide base
Fertility has fallen steadily, to about 4.4 in 2010 and 3.1 in 2026, but the number of births has stopped rising only recently: the 0–4 and 5–9 bands are now almost equal, and both are far wider than any adult band. The 2026 profile is closest to those of Pakistan, Iraq and Senegal, and places the State of Palestine high in the ranking of child population share. The expansive pyramid guide explains why such a base keeps the population growing for decades even as family size falls.
War and the reliability of the outlook
UN estimates of life expectancy fall from about 73 years in 2010 to about 65 in 2023, a drop that coincides with the war in Gaza that began in October 2023. The medium scenario assumes mortality returns to its earlier path from 2024 and projects growth to about 8.5 million by 2050 and 11.5 million by 2100. Those figures were prepared before the full demographic consequences of the conflict, including deaths, injuries and displacement, could be measured, and they should be read with particular caution.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so State of Palestine’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2085.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, State of Palestine is projected to record 144,467 births (about 396 births a day) and 16,412 deaths, a natural increase of 128,055. Net migration adds −20,055 people, ranking #204 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 3,297,482 births, 377,709 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −572,569. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −352,775 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 79.8 years48.4 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 75.0 years43.5 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 17.1 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 10.6per 1,000 births · 143 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 12.5per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.5 yearssex ratio at birth 105.1
Women in State of Palestine are projected to live 4.8 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 143 to 10.6 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #106 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.5 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for State of Palestine
The median age of 20.3 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.13 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 77.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,692,790 | #119 | Largest first |
| Median age | 20.3 years | #195 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.13 | #50 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +1.9% | #47 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 77.4 years | #96 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.9% | #188 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in State of Palestine
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5–9 | 714,848 | 12.6% | 365.8K / 349K |
| 2 | 0–4 | 709,668 | 12.5% | 362.7K / 347K |
| 3 | 10–14 | 683,893 | 12.0% | 347.8K / 336.1K |
| 4 | 15–19 | 601,237 | 10.6% | 300.9K / 300.4K |
| 5 | 20–24 | 507,804 | 8.9% | 250.6K / 257.2K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, State of Palestine has 2,825,033 males and 2,867,757 females. That is 98.5 males per 100 females, ranking #114 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.6% of the population and females for 50.4%. There are 42,724 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 77.6 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.1 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How State of Palestine has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 944,624 in 1950 to 5,692,790 in 2026, a change of 503%. Over the same span, median age moved from 16.1 to 20.3 years.
The under-15 share changed from 45.5% to 37.0%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 4.8% to 3.9%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, State of Palestine’s population is projected to grow by about 48%, reaching 8,451,891 in 2050. The median age changes from 20.3 to 28.0 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 4.1 percentage points to 8.0%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 27.2%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 11,482,186. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 944,624 | 16.1 | 7.84 | 45.7 | 45,680 | 20,017 | −17,881 | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 1,073,081 | 15.1 | 7.79 | 49.3 | 54,254 | 19,038 | −17,662 | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 1,116,280 | 14.3 | 7.65 | 55.4 | 55,966 | 14,166 | −31,405 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 1,469,059 | 14.1 | 7.18 | 62.2 | 68,911 | 11,756 | −15,067 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 2,139,067 | 14.4 | 6.81 | 67.8 | 98,290 | 11,050 | −476 | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 3,151,792 | 15.1 | 5.46 | 70.3 | 121,414 | 12,796 | −11,496 | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 4,016,916 | 17.3 | 4.43 | 73.3 | 138,755 | 13,912 | −26,351 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 5,069,692 | 19.3 | 3.51 | 75.0 | 146,398 | 17,193 | −12,369 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 5,409,202 | 19.8 | 3.31 | 65.2 | 146,384 | 38,937 | −24,996 | +1.5% |
| 2024* | 5,495,443 | 19.9 | 3.25 | 69.2 | 145,440 | 32,257 | −23,145 | +1.6% |
| 2026* | 5,692,790 | 20.3 | 3.13 | 77.4 | 144,467 | 16,412 | −20,055 | +1.9% |
| 2030* | 6,122,314 | 21.3 | 2.93 | 78.1 | 145,600 | 18,386 | −17,729 | +1.8% |
| 2040* | 7,291,826 | 24.5 | 2.59 | 79.7 | 157,533 | 24,539 | −10,727 | +1.7% |
| 2050* | 8,451,891 | 28.0 | 2.34 | 81.3 | 152,872 | 32,522 | −11,490 | +1.3% |
| 2060* | 9,433,003 | 31.3 | 2.15 | 82.7 | 146,074 | 43,158 | −7,944 | +1.0% |
| 2070* | 10,284,820 | 34.4 | 2.02 | 84.1 | 143,731 | 57,285 | −9,259 | +0.8% |
| 2080* | 10,918,983 | 37.6 | 1.93 | 85.3 | 134,304 | 73,168 | −9,504 | +0.5% |
| 2090* | 11,292,864 | 40.7 | 1.87 | 86.5 | 125,598 | 87,433 | −10,974 | +0.2% |
| 2100* | 11,482,186 | 43.2 | 1.82 | 87.5 | 119,389 | 103,216 | −9,106 | +0.1% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 362,685 | 346,983 | 709,668 | 12.5% |
| 5–9 | 365,846 | 349,002 | 714,848 | 12.6% |
| 10–14 | 347,780 | 336,113 | 683,893 | 12.0% |
| 15–19 | 300,874 | 300,363 | 601,237 | 10.6% |
| 20–24 | 250,636 | 257,168 | 507,804 | 8.9% |
| 25–29 | 220,943 | 229,188 | 450,131 | 7.9% |
| 30–34 | 215,286 | 219,571 | 434,857 | 7.6% |
| 35–39 | 187,371 | 189,359 | 376,730 | 6.6% |
| 40–44 | 145,292 | 150,603 | 295,895 | 5.2% |
| 45–49 | 111,656 | 120,626 | 232,282 | 4.1% |
| 50–54 | 88,249 | 97,430 | 185,679 | 3.3% |
| 55–59 | 72,137 | 79,918 | 152,055 | 2.7% |
| 60–64 | 58,137 | 64,887 | 123,024 | 2.2% |
| 65–69 | 42,203 | 48,955 | 91,158 | 1.6% |
| 70–74 | 28,002 | 34,666 | 62,668 | 1.1% |
| 75–79 | 16,795 | 22,604 | 39,399 | 0.7% |
| 80–84 | 8,042 | 12,667 | 20,709 | 0.4% |
| 85–89 | 2,590 | 5,792 | 8,382 | 0.1% |
| 90–94 | 470 | 1,616 | 2,086 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 38 | 231 | 269 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 1 | 16 | 17 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to State of Palestine’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Pakistan98% overlap · median age 20.8
- Guinea-Bissau98% overlap · median age 19.6
- Sierra Leone97% overlap · median age 19.9
- Senegal97% overlap · median age 19.8
- Iraq97% overlap · median age 21.1
- Rwanda97% overlap · median age 20.2
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for State of Palestine.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). State of Palestine Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/state-of-palestine/
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“State of Palestine Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/state-of-palestine/.
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World Population Pyramid. “State of Palestine Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/state-of-palestine/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of State of Palestine in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, State of Palestine's population in 2026 is projected at 5,692,790.
What is the median age in State of Palestine?
The projected median age in State of Palestine in 2026 is 20.3 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in State of Palestine?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.13 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is State of Palestine's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 48%, from 5.7M to 8.5M.
What share of State of Palestine is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 3.9% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 8.0%.
How many babies are born in State of Palestine each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 144,467 births and 16,412 deaths in 2026, about 396 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 128,055.
What is life expectancy in State of Palestine for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 79.8 years for women and 75.0 years for men, a gap of 4.8 years in favour of women.
Does State of Palestine have more immigrants or emigrants?
State of Palestine is projected to lose about 20,055 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −572,569.
What is the sex ratio in State of Palestine?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 98.5 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.