Country Profile: Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip, a small territory on the eastern Mediterranean, is known for its complex history and ongoing conflict. Governed by the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) since 2007, it has faced significant challenges including political instability, a struggling economy, and humanitarian crises. The area has a high population density, predominantly Palestinian Arab, with a significant urban population. The economy is largely service-oriented but suffers from high unemployment and inflation, reflecting the impact of ongoing conflicts and restrictions on movement and trade.

Geography

The Gaza Strip is located in the Middle East, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Egypt to the south, and Israel to the east and north. It covers an area of 360 square kilometers, roughly twice the size of Washington, D.C. The coastline extends 40 kilometers, and the terrain consists of flat to rolling sand-covered plains.

Climate: Temperate with mild winters and hot summers.
Natural resources: Includes arable land and natural gas.
Land usage: 64.9% of the land is agricultural, with 7% classified as arable as of 2022.

People and Society

As of 2024, the Gaza Strip has a population estimated at 2,141,643 individuals, with a notable urban population concentrated in cities like Gaza City. The society is predominantly Palestinian Arab, with a significant majority practicing Islam, primarily Sunni. The population has a youthful demographic, with a median age of 19.5 years.

Languages: Primarily Arabic, with Hebrew and English widely understood.
Literacy rate: 98% of the population as of 2022.
Urbanization: 77.6% of the population live in urban areas as of 2023.

Economy

The economy of the Gaza Strip is heavily affected by ongoing conflicts and restrictions. In 2024, the Real GDP (PPP) was projected at $20.339 billion, but the region faced a staggering Real GDP growth rate of -26.6% following escalating tensions. Unemployment remains critically high, with rates reaching 24.5% in 2022.

GDP per capita: $3,800 in 2024.
Inflation rate: Estimated at 53.7% in 2024.
Primary sectors: Services dominate the economy, contributing 58.3% of GDP as of 2022.

Government

The political structure of the Gaza Strip is defined by the de facto governance of HAMAS, which controls various security and governmental institutions. The territory lacks a formal, internationally recognized government, leading to complex governance issues resulting from ongoing conflicts.

Military and Security

The security landscape in the Gaza Strip is primarily dominated by HAMAS and its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, which has an estimated force of 20,000 to 30,000 fighters. These groups frequently engage in conflicts with Israel, utilizing a range of light weapons and receiving military support from allies, including Iran.

Military capabilities: Include rocket and mortar systems acquired through smuggling.
Key militant groups: HAMAS, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and several other factions operate within the area.

Energy

The Gaza Strip has achieved 100% electrification as of 2022. The main sources of electricity generation consist of fossil fuels (66.5%) and solar power (33.5%). In 2023, the total electricity consumption was 6.956 billion kWh with significant reliance on imports.

Installed capacity: 352,000 kW in 2023.
Carbon emissions: 3.913 million metric tonnes CO2 as of 2023.

Environment

Environmental issues in the Gaza Strip include soil degradation, water pollution, and improper sewage treatment. Agricultural land constitutes 64.9% of the territory, but challenges such as salinization and depletion of underground water resources are prevalent.

Natural hazards: Droughts are common.
Water withdrawal: Estimated at 181.2 million cubic meters for municipal use in 2017.

Communications

The Gaza Strip has made strides in telecommunications, with an estimated 87% of the population being internet users in 2023. The region has 4.15 million mobile cellular subscriptions and a growing infrastructure for broadband services.

Fixed-line telephones: Approximately 384,000 subscriptions as of 2023.
Broadcast media: Includes 1 TV station and about 10 radio stations.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,141,643 (2024 est.)
Area	360 sq km
Real GDP (PPP)	$20.339 billion (2024 est.)
GDP per capita	$3,800 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate	24.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate	53.7% (2024 est.)
Total electricity consumption	6.956 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Literacy rate	98% (2022 est.)
Urban population	77.6% (2023 est.)
Age structure (0-14 years)	38.8%