lestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%

Religions:
Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%

Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),
English (widely understood)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 87.4% (2003 est.)

Government West Bank

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank

Economy West Bank

Economy - overview:
The West Bank - the larger of the two areas under the Palestinian
Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in economic
conditions since the second intifadah began in September 2000. The
downturn has been largely the result of Israeli closure policies -
the imposition of border closures in response to security incidents
in Israel - which disrupted labor and trading relationships. In
2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in
PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of
administrative structures, and widespread business closures.
International aid of at least $1.14 billion to the West Bank and
Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy
and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations.
In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities - due to
continued closures both within the West Bank and externally -
stymied growth. Israel's and the international community's financial
embargo of the PA since HAMAS took office in March 2006 has
interrupted the provision of PA social services and the payment of
PA salaries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.327 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.45 billion (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,500 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 18.2%
services: 73.9%
note: includes Gaza Strip (2005 est.)

Labor force:
568,000 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 16%
industry: 29%
services: 55% (2005)

Unemployment rate:
20.3% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Population below poverty line:
45.7% including Gaza Strip (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Budget: