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| THE STATE OF PALESTINE |
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| General Information |
| Total Land Area: |
6,004 km2 |
| Land boundaries: |
424 km (West Bank) - 87 km (Gaza) |
| Coastline: |
40 km (Gaza) |
| Capital: |
Al-Quds |
| Other Large Cities: |
Jenin, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Nablus, Qalqilya, Al-Bireh, Bethlehem and Hebron (West Bank), Jericho, Jerusalem, Gaza, Deir Al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah (Gaza Strip) |
| Official Language: |
Arabic |
| National Currency Unit: |
Jordanian Dinar, US $, New Israeli Shekel |
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| Location and Geography |
Palestine is one of the most ancient regions in the Middle East. It is located in southwest Asia between 290 30َ and 330 15َ lines of latitude north of the equator and 340 15َ and 350 40َ lines of longitude east of Greenwich line. Natural Palestine refers to the region bounded in the west by the Mediterranean Sea, east by Syria and Jordan, north by Lebanon, and south by Egypt and the Gulf of Aqaba. Despite its small area, Palestine contains five clear divisions from west to east: Continental shelf, Costal plain, Palestinian mountains, Negev, Dead Sea rift (considered to be the lowest area in the world, about 400m below sea level).
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| Demography |
| Population: |
3.586.969 million (2004) |
| Crude Birth Rate: |
38 per thousand people (2004) |
| Crude Death Rate: |
4 per thousand people (2004) |
| Infant Mortality Rate: |
24 per thousand (2003) |
| Life Expectancy: |
Male: 71 years, Female: 73 years (2004) |
| Urban Population: |
56.6 percent (2004) |
| Adult Literacy: |
92.30 percent (2004) |
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| Economy |
The Palestinian economy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is mainly service-oriented. The country has limited natural resources (minerals and some marine products), but highly educated people and a well-skilled labour force. Agriculture activities, including fishing, gain importance in the country’s economy. Major agricultural products include olives, citrus, flowers and vegetables. The industrial sector is mainly based on small size establishments of agriculture-related industries, footwear and clothing. The Palestinian economy enjoys considerable remittances and transfers from expatriates and overseas business enterprises. The country has also a promising tourism sector.
| GDP at Current Market Prices: |
3426.77 million US$ (2004) |
| Per Capita GDP: |
1262.63 US$ (2004) |
| Share of Sectors in GDP: |
9.84% Agriculture, 12.5% Industry, 77.5% Services, (2004) |
| Total Exports: |
582.00 million US$ (2004) |
| Total Imports: |
2898.23 million US$ (2004) |
| Major Exports Items: |
Non-metallic mineral manufactures, olive oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco and flowers |
| Major Imports Items: |
Petroleum products, construction materials and foodstuffs |
| Major Trading Partners: |
Israel, Jordan and Egypt |
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| External Links |
Palestine National Authority
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of National Economy
Ministry of Information
Ministry of Education and Higher Education
Ministry of Labor
Central Bureau of Statistics
Palestine Monetary Authority |
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