Geography of West Bank
Total Area: 5,860 sq. km (3,642 sq mi)
Land Area: 5,640 sq km (3,505 sq mi)
Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Delaware
Boundaries: None
Coastline: None - landlocked
Terrain: Mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east
Climate: Temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Natural Resources: Negligible
Maritime Claims: None - landlocked
Disputes: Israeli occupied with status to be determined
Environment: Highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers
Note: Landlocked; there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank and 14 Israeli-built Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem The war betwen Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza STrip, the Sinai and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and reaffirmed by President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the view of the US, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. However, with respect to negotiations enfisaged in the distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank becuase of the city's special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the rest of the West Bank.
Land Use: Arable land 27%, permanent crops 0%, meadows and pastures 32%, forest and woodland 1%, other 40%
People of West Bank
Population 1980: 833,000
Population 1993: 1,600,000
Population 2010: 2,291,000
Population 2025: 2,891,000
Population Density: 626 persons/sq mi
Population Growth (1993 est.): 63,440
Population Growth Rate (1993 est.): 4.0 % annually
Population Doubling Time: 17.48 years
Births (1993 est.): 74,320 annually
Birth Rate: 46.45 births per 1,000 population.
Fertility Rate: 5.70 children per woman.
Deaths (1993 est.): 10,880
Death Rate: 6.80 per 1,000 population.
Population Under Age 15, Total: 798,400
Population Under Age 15, Percent: 49.9 %
Population Over Age 65, Total: 6,400
Population Over Age 65, Percent: 0.4 %
Life Expectancy: 68.6 years
Life Expectancy, Female: 69.9 years
Life Expectancy, Male: 67.3 years
Net Migration Rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Religious Affiliations: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 80%, Jewish 12%, Christian and other 8%
Major Languages: Arabic, Israeli settlers speak Hebrew, English widely understood
Ethnic Divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 88%, Jewish 12%
Education in West Bank
Education Spending: 999% of GNP
Health in West Bank
Infant Deaths (1993 est.): 2,973
Infant Mortality Rate: 40.0 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Economy of West Bank
Overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive assets that would enable local firms to compete with Israeli industry. A major share of GNP is derived from remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states, but such transfers from the Gulf dropped dramatically after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have plunged because of the loss of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. Israeli measures to curtail the intifadah also have pushed unemployment up and lowered living standards. The area's economic outlook remains bleak.
GDP: Exchange rate conversion -- $1.3 billion, per capita 41,200; real growth rate -10% (1990 est.)
Labor Force: Excluding Israeli Jewish settlers - small industry, commerce, and business 29.8%, construction 24.2%, agriculture 22.4%, service and other 23.6% (1984)
Industrial Production: Growth rate 1% (1989); accounts for about 4% of GNP
Imports: $410 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities: NA; partners: Jordan, Israel
Exports: $150 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities: NA; partners: Jordan, Israel
Budget: Revenues $31.0 million; expenditures $36.1 million (FY88)
Unemployment Rate: 15% (1990 est.)
Electricity Production: Power supplied by Israel
Industries: Generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Agriculture: Accounts for about 15% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, beef, and dairy products
Economic Aid: NA
Exchange Rates: New Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.4019 (March 1992), 2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.6760 (January 1992), 0.6810 (1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (19
Agricultural Products of West Bank
Asses: 14,000 head
Camels: 0 head
Cattle: 13,000 head
Goats: 221,000 head
Horses: 2,000 head
Mules: 3,000 head
Sheep: 359,000 head
Poultry Meat: 33,000 metric tons
Hen Eggs: 6,900 metric tons
Almonds: 3,000 metric tons
Bananas: 14,000 metric tons
Dates: 0 metric tons
Oranges: 30,000 metric tons
Barley: 0 metric tons
Lentils: 0 metric tons
Olives: 145,000 metric tons
Potatoes: 17,000 metric tons
Vegetables: 206,000 metric tons
Wheat: 45,000 metric tons
Beef and Veal: 3,000 metric tons
Cow Milk: 19,000 metric tons
Goat Milk: 14,000 metric tons
Goat Meat: 6,000 metric tons
Mutton and Lamb: 11,000 metric tons
Sheep Milk: 32,000 metric tons
Total Meat: 51,000 metric tons
Cereals: 45,000 metric tons
Transportation in West Bank
Highways: Small road network, Israelis developing east-west axial highways to service new settlements
Civil Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Communication in West Bank
FM Broadcast Stations: 0
AM Broadcast Stations: 0
Telecommunications: Open-wire telephone system currently being upgraded; broadcast stations - no AM, no FM, no TV
Travel in West Bank
Health Conditions: U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage is available. Information subject to change. Contact travel agent, State Department, or U.S. Embassy for updates.
Tourist Attractions: Area of Ramallah-El Bira; various historic biblical areas.
Embassies: Nonenote....note....note