# Palestine

> country in West Asia

**Wikidata**: [Q219060](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219060)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/palestine

## Summary
Palestine, officially known as the State of Palestine (دولة فلسطين), is a country and sovereign state located in West Asia, specifically within the Southern Levant region of the Middle East. It is classified as a state with limited recognition, maintaining observer status at the United Nations, and has a population of approximately 5.2 million people as of 2021. Its de jure capital is East Jerusalem, while Ramallah serves as the de facto administrative capital.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** State of Palestine (دولة فلسطين).
- **Classification:** Country; Sovereign state (with limited recognition); Mediterranean country.
- **Location:** West Asia (Middle East), Southern Levant. Borders Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.
- **Inception:** November 15, 1988 (Palestinian Declaration of Independence).
- **Capital:** East Jerusalem (De jure); Ramallah (De facto).
- **Government:** Parliamentary republic.
    - **Head of State:** Mahmoud Abbas (President, since January 15, 2005).
    - **Head of Government:** Mohammad Mustafa (Prime Minister).
    - **Legislature:** Palestinian Legislative Council.
    - **Executive Body:** Palestinian National Authority.
- **Population:** 5,227,193 (2021 estimate).
- **Area:** 6,020 square kilometers.
- **Currency:** Israeli new shekel (preferred), Jordanian dinar, Egyptian pound.
- **Languages:** Arabic (official), Samaritan Hebrew, South Levantine Arabic.
- **ISO Codes:** PS (Alpha-2), PSE (Alpha-3), 275 (Numeric).
- **Telephone Code:** +970.
- **Internet TLD:** .ps.

## FAQs
**What is the political status of Palestine internationally?**
Palestine is a state with limited recognition that serves as a non-member observer state at the United Nations General Assembly (since November 29, 2012). It is a full member of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and joined Interpol in 2017 and the OPCW in 2018.

**What are the administrative and geographic divisions of Palestine?**
The country contains 16 governorates, including Gaza, Hebron, Nablus, and the Quds (Jerusalem) Governorate. It consists of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, featuring a coastline of 42 km on the Mediterranean Sea and 40 km on the Dead Sea.

**Who are the key leaders of Palestine?**
The current President and Head of State is Mahmoud Abbas, who succeeded Yasser Arafat. The current Head of Government is Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. The state was founded by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

**What are the demographics and social indicators?**
As of 2021, the population exceeds 5.2 million, with a literacy rate of 97.2% (2018). The life expectancy is approximately 73 years (2022), and the primary ethnic group is Palestinians. The official religions are Islam and Christianity.

## Why It Matters
Palestine plays a central role in the geopolitics of the Middle East. As an entity representing Palestinian national aspirations, its declaration of independence in 1988 and subsequent diplomatic recognitions mark significant milestones in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and international law. Its unique status as an occupied territory with a high literacy rate (one of the world's highest) highlights a distinct demographic profile focused on education amidst complex political challenges. The region serves as a focal point for historical, religious, and cultural narratives involving the Abrahamic faiths, housing significant heritage sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron. Its diplomatic engagement with over 100 nations and international bodies underscores its relevance in global diplomatic discourse regarding statehood and human rights.

## Notable For
- **High Literacy Rate:** Achieved a 97.2% literacy rate in 2018, ranking among the highest globally.
- **UN Observer Status:** Upgraded to non-member observer state status in the UN General Assembly in 2012.
- **Geography:** Contains the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea (-437 meters).
- **Multi-Currency Economy:** Uniquely utilizes three different currencies (Israeli shekel, Jordanian dinar, Egyptian pound) simultaneously.
- **Diplomatic Reach:** Maintains diplomatic relations with major global powers including Russia, China, and members of the European Union, despite being classified as a state with limited recognition.

## Body

### Geography and Environment
Palestine is situated in West Asia, part of the Southern Levant and the continent of Asia. It comprises the West Bank and Gaza Strip territories. The state has a total area of 6,020 square kilometers.
*   **Borders:** It shares borders with Israel (subject to the Green Line/Israel–Palestine border), Egypt (Gaza-Egypt border/Saladin Corridor), and Jordan (Jordan-Palestine border).
*   **Coastline:** It features a 42 km coastline along the Mediterranean Sea and a 40 km coastline along the Dead Sea.
*   **Extreme Points:**
    *   **Highest Point:** Mount Nabi Yunis (1,020 meters).
    *   **Lowest Point:** The Dead Sea (-437 meters).
*   **Water Bodies:** Located next to the Mediterranean Sea, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River.
*   **Coordinates:** Located approximately at Latitude 32, Longitude 35.25.

### Governance and Leadership
The state functions as a parliamentary republic with an executive body known as the Palestinian National Authority.
*   **Head of State:** Mahmoud Abbas serves as the President (Head of State), a position he has held since January 15, 2005. He succeeded Yasser Arafat, the first president, who served from 1989 until his death in November 2004. Abbas is affiliated with the Fatah party.
*   **Head of Government:** The Prime Minister is Mohammad Mustafa. Previous Prime Ministers include Mohammad Shtayyeh, Rami Hamdallah, Salam Fayyad, Ahmed Qurei, and Ismail Haniyeh.
*   **Legislature:** The legislative body is the Palestinian Legislative Council.
*   **Judiciary:** The highest judicial authority is the Palestinian Supreme Judicial Council.
*   **Capital:** The de jure (legal) capital is East Jerusalem, while Ramallah serves as the de facto administrative capital.
*   **Foundation:** The state was founded on November 15, 1988, via the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in Algiers, established by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

### Demographics and Society
The population of Palestine is estimated at 5,227,193 as of 2021. The population is predominantly urban (4,579,543 urban vs. 1,158,063 rural in 2024 estimates).
*   **Ethnicity and Language:** The primary ethnic group is Palestinians. The official language is Arabic, though Samaritan Hebrew, South Levantine Arabic, and Modern Standard Arabic are also used.
*   **Religion:** The official religions are Islam and Christianity. Public holidays include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, and Christian/International observances like International Workers' Day.
*   **Vital Statistics:**
    *   **Life Expectancy:** 73 years (2022).
    *   **Birth Rate:** 27.69 per 1,000 (2022).
    *   **Death Rate:** 3.854 per 1,000 (2022).
    *   **Literacy:** 97.2% (2018).
    *   **Human Development Index (HDI):** 0.715 (2021).

### Economy and Infrastructure
Palestine operates a developing economy with specific metrics regarding output and employment.
*   **Currency:** The country uses the Israeli new shekel (preferred), the Jordanian dinar, and the Egyptian pound.
*   **Economic Indicators:**
    *   **Nominal GDP:** $19.111 billion USD (2022).
    *   **Unemployment Rate:** 24.42% (2022).
    *   **VAT Rate:** 16%.
*   **Infrastructure:**
    *   **Electricity:** 230 Volts, 50 Hz. Plug types include Europlug, Type H, and BS 546.
    *   **Driving:** Right-hand traffic.
    *   **Telecommunications:** Telephone country code +970; trunk prefix 0.
    *   **Internet:** Top-level domain .ps.

### International Relations
Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by many countries and holds membership in several international organizations.
*   **United Nations:** Observer State (non-member) since November 29, 2012.
*   **Member Of:**
    *   League of Arab States.
    *   Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (since 1969).
    *   Interpol (since September 27, 2017).
    *   UNESCO (since November 23, 2011).
    *   Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (since June 16, 2018).
    *   World Customs Organization.
*   **Diplomatic Relations:** Palestine maintains diplomatic relations with a wide array of nations, including Russia, China, Brazil, India, Turkey, the Holy See, and members of the European Union (e.g., Hungary, Romania).

### Symbols and Culture
The cultural identity of Palestine is expressed through specific national symbols and heritage.
*   **Flag:** The Flag of Palestine.
*   **Anthem:** "Fida'i" (The Warrior) is the preferred national anthem; "Mawtini" is considered unofficial.
*   **Coat of Arms:** Coat of arms of Palestine.
*   **Cultural Institutions:** The state is home to The Palestinian Museum and the Palestine National Archives. "Palestine studies" is a dedicated academic field.
*   **Cuisine:** Maqluba is a food traditionally associated with the region.
*   **Sports:** The IOC country code is PLE.

### Identifiers and Codes
Palestine is indexed in numerous international databases and coding systems:
*   **ISO 3166:** PS / PSE / 275.
*   **IOC Code:** PLE.
*   **UNDP Code:** PAL.
*   **License Plate:** PS.
*   **GS1 GTIN Prefix:** Not specified, but uses maritime identification digits 443.
*   **Wikidata/Q-ID:** Not explicitly in text, but referred to as Entity: Palestine.
*   **Other IDs:** GeoNames ID 6254930; Freebase ID /m/01k0p4; BBC Things ID be78be13-d6db-4f71-a988-143a40f80a4a.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/place/west-bank-and-gaza)
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4. [Source](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40431737)
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6. [Source](https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231103-the-gaza-egypt-rafah-crossing-explained-it-is-not-a-normal-border)
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8. [Source](https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/palestine_legislative_council/)
9. Virtual International Authority File
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11. [Source](https://www.pcrf.net/information-you-should-know/who-are-the-palestinians.html)
12. [Source](https://www.oic-oci.org/states/?lan=en)
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15. [Source](https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/10/393562)
16. [Source](http://icdo.org/who-we-are/members/observer-states.html)
17. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-us/member-states/state-palestine)
18. [Source](http://icdo.org/who-we-are/members/member-states.html)
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20. [Source](https://www.ncnk.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/publications/NCNK_Issue_Brief_DPRK_Diplomatic_Relations.pdf)
21. Wikisource
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23. [Human Development Report. 2022](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI)
24. [World Bank Open Data](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL)
25. [Source](http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/site/881/default.aspx#Population)
26. World Bank Open Data
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28. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
29. The National Terminology Database for Irish
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31. [Source](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autorit%C3%A9_palestinienne)
32. [Source](https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/occupied-palestinian-territory-humanitarian-atlas-2019)
33. [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD)
34. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=DEMO_DS)
35. [(5) #Palestine - Twitter Search / Twitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestine?src=hashtag_click)
36. [(5) #FreePalestine - Twitter Search / Twitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreePalestine?src=hashtag_click)
37. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=3372)
38. Olive cultivation in Palestine
39. [Source](https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15670.doc.htm)
40. [Source](https://gopalestine.org/languages-in-palestine/)
41. [Source](https://countrycodebase.com/undp/)
42. Quora
43. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=239)
44. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
45. [Gazetteer](https://github.com/EnvironmentOntology/gaz/blob/master/src/ontology/gaz_countries.csv)
46. [Palestine Scores One of World's Highest Literacy Rates. Asharq Al-Awsat. 2019](https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/1894066/palestine-scores-one-worlds-highest-literacy-rates)
47. [Palestine | Today's latest from Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/where/palestine/)
48. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
49. FactGrid
50. 2020 Democracy Index