Poverty in Palestine 2017

Around 29% of the Palestinians were Poor in 2017

29.2% of the Palestinians were living below the poverty line in 2017; that means their household consumption was below the poverty line. The poverty line for household of 5 members (2 adults and 3 children) was 2,470 NIS, and 16.8% of the Palestinians suffered deep poverty in 2017, and the deep poverty line was 1,974 NIS.

More than Half of the Population were Poor in the Gaza Strip in 2017

The percentage of poverty was 13.9% in the West Bank, while in the Gaza Strip it was 53.0%, which means the poverty rate in the Gaza Strip was four times higher than the poverty rate in the West Bank. 5.8% of individuals were below the deep poverty line in the West Bank and 33.8% of individuals in Gaza Strip, so the deep poverty percentage in Gaza Strip was six times higher than the West Bank.

Two different faces of poverty in Palestine

First is the West Bank story with an obvious decrease in poverty percentages, from 17.8% in 2011, it declined to 13.9% in 2017.

Second is the Gaza Strip story, the poverty rates sky rocketed to 53.0% in 2017 after being 38.8% in 2011.

Poverty Vary Within Different Geographical Regions

Poverty Decreased in the southern of the West Bank

An obvious change occurred in South of the West Bank in 2017 in comparison with previous years. A sharp decrease in poverty percentage happened in 2017, as the poverty percentage in Southern governorates (Hebron and Bethlehem) of the West Bank was increasing in the years 2009-2011, and it stood at around 30% in 2011.However, in 2017, a different trend occurred, as the poverty percentage was around 17% among individuals in these governorates

Poverty Percentages Among Individuals According to Monthly Consumption in the West Bank (North, Middle, and South), 2009-2011, 2017

Gaza Strip is the most suffering

High percentages of poverty was mainly because of the sharp increase in poverty in the Gaza Strip. The standard of living in Gaza Strip became worse than it was in 2011.

Poverty among individuals in the Gaza Strip was 38.8% in 2011 while it jumped to 53.0% in 2017 with 37% increase. In the West Bank, the situation was different, as the poverty percentages decreased from 17.8% in 2011 to 13.9% in 2017 with about 22.0% decrease.

Poverty Percentages Among Individuals According to Monthly Consumption by Region,

2009-2011, 2017