Palestinian Worldwide Population Hits 9.6 Million

By Yasser El-Banna, IOL Correspondent

GAZA CITY, October 24 (IslamOnline.net) - The fifth statistical yearbook issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics Issue (PCBS) estimated at 9.6 millions the total number of the Palestinian population in the world in 2003.

Some 4.8 million Palestinians live in diaspora, 1.1 million in Israel and 3.7 millions in the Palestinian Territory, said the yearbook, issued on Thursday, October 21.

The yearbook pretends the Palestinian demographic, social and economic conditions in 2003.

It mainly depends on surveys conducted by PCBS in 2003, records of public institutions, field surveys in Palestinian localities in diaspora, UNRWA records and other statistical sources which covers the Palestinian situation in their existence places.

The year book put at 380 schools the total number of UNRWA schools in each of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, with 5940 classes, 7493 teachers and 242566 students in the 20012002 school year.

It showed that the labor force participation rate for persons aged (15 years and over) was 40.9%, in Jordan, 49.3% in Syria (Year 2000) and 42.3% in Lebanon (Year 1999).

It added that the number of Arabic schools in Israel was 682 schools for the various stages in the scholastic year 20032004, with 11307 classes, 417921 students and 26415 teachers for the 20032004 school year.

The year book said the labor force participation rate for Palestinian persons aged (15-64 years) in Israel was 41.3%.

It estimated at 11.5% the unemployment rate for Palestinian persons in the same age group in year 2003.

According to the yearbook, there are 172 settlements in the 6,020 km2 that make up the area of the Palestinian Territory.

It put at 2956 the total number of schools and kindergartens in the Palestinian Territory, with a 91.9% literacy rate among Palestinian males and 87.4% among females in the age group from 15 and over.

The yearbook said there are 1786 mosques, seven museums, sixty two cultural centers, five theatres and two cinemas in the Palestinian Territory.

It put at 73 the total number of hospitals in the Palestinian Territory, including 4979 beds.

According to the yearbook, 40.4% of Palestinian persons aged (15 years and over) are unemployed in the Palestinian Territory, put from 25.6% in year 2003.

Palestinian businessmen have accused Israel of attempting to paralyze the already-shattered Palestinian economy by closing Al-Muntar crossing, an economic lifeline for transporting 95 per cent of the strip’s exports and imports on a daily basis.

The Palestinian economy is regularly disrupted by Israeli roadblocks, curfews, bulldozing of homes and farms, destruction of wells and confiscation of land to build new Jewish settlements, in violation of international law.

The Palestinian Authority's olive output, one of its most important agricultural products, was reduced by more than 80% in 2001, due to Israeli military actions against both people and groves.

UN rights experts had condemned Israel's "systematic" demolition of Palestinian homes and destruction of water sources and livelihoods in the southern Gaza Strip Rafah refugee camp during a massive incursion in May.