Sub-National Population Estimates in the State of Palestine: A High-Frequency Common Operational Dataset for Population Statistics

Sebastian Steinmueller, UNRWA
Valeria Cetorelli, United Nations

A Common Operational Dataset for Population Statistics (COD-PS) for the State of Palestine in 2023 exists for sub-national admin level 1, consisting of sex- and age-disaggregated data in 5-year age groups for Gaza and the West Bank respectively (UNFPA 2023a). For an effective humanitarian response, population data at higher geographic resolution is required. In the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, this lack of baseline population data is exacerbated by ongoing displacement, making it challenging to estimate population needs for responses such as shelter, vaccination, WASH, food distribution and psycho-social support. This paper proposes an estimation method for quarterly sex- and age-disaggregated population estimates on admin level 2 in Gaza and the West Bank. Data sources to be integrated include population projections and census data from the Palestine Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), a population register for food distribution in Gaza and UNRWA’s population database on Palestine refugees. This will result in production of an enhanced high-frequency COD-PS for the State of Palestine to support implementation of the humanitarian response.

Keywords: Migrant Populations and Refugees, Population, Shocks and Pandemics, Population projections, forecasts, and estimations, Census data

See extended abstract.