On the International Day of Older Persons, the census reviews the reality of 347,000 elderly men and women

Ramallah - Ofoq News - The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reviewed the situation of the elderly in Palestinian society, on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, which falls on 10/01/2026, under the title: “Empowering the elderly, enhancing their community participation, and calling for healthy and comprehensive aging that preserves their rights and dignity.”

The Central Bureau of Statistics indicated that the Palestinian population is witnessing continuous population growth and a gradual shift towards population aging, explaining that the number of elderly people (60 years and over) in Palestine in mid-2026 reached about 347 thousand, i.e. 6.2% of the total population.

The agency said that the number of elderly people in the Gaza Strip is estimated at 109,000 elderly men and women, i.e. 5% of the population of the Strip, while their number in the West Bank is estimated at 238,000 elderly men and women, i.e. they constitute 6.9% of the population of the West Bank in the middle of 2026.

The agency indicated that from 4,000 elderly people in 1914 to about 347,000 in 2026, the number of elderly people is expected to reach about 947,000 in 2050, or 9.9% of the population.

Regarding health insurance and chronic diseases, the agency explained that 91% of the elderly are covered by health insurance, 2023, while about 76% of the elderly in Palestine suffer from chronic diseases, 2023, of whom 94% are covered by health insurance.

The agency also indicated that the illiteracy rate among the elderly in the West Bank reached 12%, at 4% for males compared to 20% for females, for the year 2025.

Regarding the participation of the elderly in the labor force, the agency reported that the participation rate of the elderly in the labor force in the West Bank reached only 18% during the year 2025, at 32% for males and 4% for females.