The percentage of the refugee population is 41% of the total population residing in the State of Palestine, according to data recorded last year, 26% of the population in the West Bank refugees, while the percentage in the Gaza Strip 64%.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said in a report Thursday that there were no significant differences between the demographic and social characteristics of refugees and non-refugees in general, with the exception of indicators of poverty and unemployment. Due to regional reasons, where about two thirds of the population of the Gaza Strip are refugees.
39% of Palestinian refugees and non-refugees under 15 years
The percentage of individuals under the age of 15 is 39% of the total population in Palestine at the end of 2018, which is the same for refugee and non-refugee individuals. While the percentage of elderly persons 60 years and over for refugees and non-refugees is about 5%, which confirms the absence of demographic differences.
There are no obvious differences in the average number of children born to refugee and non-refugee women
The average number of children who had previously given birth to pre-married women in Palestine was 4.4 births, while the average refugee status was 4.5 for refugee women, compared with 4.3 births for non-refugee women.
Ethnic cleansing, population change and control of the land
In its report, the statistics pointed out that the events of the Nakba of Palestine and its consequent displacement constituted a great tragedy for the Palestinian people, as it was represented and continues to be a process of ethnic cleansing, in which a whole people were destroyed and groups and individuals from all parts of the world replaced and displaced. 800,000 Palestinians from their villages and cities out of the 1.4 million Palestinians who lived in historic Palestine in 1948, in 1,300 Palestinian villages and cities.
Several official estimates have been issued concerning the number of Palestinian refugees as a result of the 1948 war from various sources. According to the United Nations estimates of 1950, the number of Palestinian refugees was 957,000 at the time.
6 million registered refugees
According to UNRWA records, the number of registered Palestinian refugees in 2018 is about 6 million. These figures represent the minimum number of Palestinian refugees, accounting for nearly half of the world´s approximately 13 million Palestinians.
The percentage of refugees registered with the UNRWA in the West Bank in 2018 is 17% of the total registered refugees in UNRWA, compared to 25% in the Gaza Strip. In the Arab countries, the percentage of Palestinian refugees registered with the UNRWA in Jordan was about 39% of the total Palestinian refugees, while in Lebanon and Syria it was 9% and 11%, respectively.
7% of refugees suffer from at least one difficulty
Based on the Census of Population, Housing and Establishment Census 2017, approximately 7% of Palestinian refugees suffer from difficulty, compared with 5% among non-refugees. On the types of difficulties between refugees and non-refugees, it was found that individuals with difficulty in seeing rise among refugees compared to non-refugees, at 3% and 2%, respectively, while the proportion of people who suffer from difficulty in movement among refugees is about 4% Among non-refugees.
At the regional level, the percentage of refugees with difficulty in the West Bank was about 6%, compared with 7% for refugees living in the Gaza Strip for 2017.
Poverty among refugees
The poverty rate among the refugees was 39% in 2017 according to the monthly consumption patterns, ie, monthly household consumption was below the poverty line of 2,470 shekels for the Palestinian family of 5 (2 adults and 3 children).
The high rate of poverty among refugees compared to non-refugees is due to the high rate of unemployment in the Gaza Strip, where refugees determine about two-thirds of the population. The poverty rate among the refugees in the West Bank is 15.7%, while the poverty rate among refugees in the Gaza Strip reached 54.1%.
According to the extreme poverty line, the percentage of people who have suffered from extreme poverty is 23%, meaning that the monthly household consumption was below the extreme poverty line of 1974 for the Palestinian family of 5 (2 adults and 3 children) The percentage of extreme poverty among refugees in the West Bank reached 7.6%, and reached 33.5% among refugees in the Gaza Strip.
In comparison to the general average, the poverty rates among refugees were higher than the general average. The percentage of poor individuals in Palestine was about 29%. The percentage of people who suffered from extreme poverty in Palestine was about 17% during 2017.
Refugees and the labor market
The results of the Labor Force Survey for 2018 showed that the percentage of participation in the labor force for individuals (15 years and over) was about 47% for refugees living in Palestine, compared to 46% for non-refugees.
The data show significant differences in unemployment rates between refugees and non-refugees. The unemployment rate among refugees is about 40% compared with about 24% among non-refugees. This difference is due to the high unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip.
The unemployment rate among Palestinian refugees in the West Bank is about 19%, compared with about 54% for refugees in the Gaza Strip.
One-third of the refugees work as professionals and technicians
During the year 2018, the profession of "technicians, specialists, assistants and clerks" is considered the most accessible profession for refugees, with 35% of working refugees working in the field, compared with 23% among non-refugees.
The profession of legislators and senior administrative staff also instituted the minimum percentage for both refugees and non-refugees, by 3% among working refugees, compared with about 4% for non-working refugees.
Percentage of degree holders
According to the Labor Force Survey of 2018, the illiteracy rate among Palestinian refugees (15 years and over) was 2.5%, while for non-refugees it was 3.0%. The percentage of Palestinian refugees (15 years and over) with a bachelor´s degree or above was 16% The total number of refugees is 15 years and over, while non-refugees reached 14%.
Owning a cell phone
According to the 2018 Social and Economic Conditions Survey, approximately 86% of Palestinian refugees aged 18 years and over have a cell phone or a smartphone in Palestine, 91% in the West Bank and 83% in the Gaza Strip.
Situation of Palestinian Refugees in the Diaspora
The Palestinians in Jordan
In a study prepared by FAFO on the living conditions in the Palestinian camps in Jordan in 2011, the study showed that about 40% of the camp population is under the age of 15 years, while the percentage of persons aged 65 years and over is about 4% The size of the family in the camps was 5.1 persons, and the illiteracy rate among individuals was 15 years and above 8.6%.
The Palestinians in Lebanon
The results of the general census of Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian refugee camps and gatherings in Lebanon for 2017 show that the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are concentrated in the Saida region at 36%, in the north by 25%, in Tire at 15% in Beirut at 13% And 7% in Al-Shouf area and 4% in Bekaa.
The results indicate that about 5% of the Palestinian refugees have a nationality other than Palestinian nationality.
The average size of the family was 4, and the percentage of female-headed households was 17%, while the total fertility rate of the Palestinian woman was 2.6 births.
The findings indicate that 7.2% of the Palestinian refugees (10 years and over) in Lebanon are illiterate (unable to read and write).
The rate of enrollment in education for individuals (3-13 years) was 94%, while the percentage of those with a university degree or higher was about 11%.
The results showed that the unemployment rate among Palestinian refugees (15 years and over) in Lebanon was about 18% of the labor force. The rate of unemployment among young people (15-19 years) increases to 44%, while the unemployment rate is 29% for individuals (20-29 years)
