State of Palestine

The State of Palestine is a UN non-member observer state in Western Asia. This guide gives you the stable statistical identifiers you need to compare it with other countries, then shows you exactly where to verify population, languages, currency, government, economy and travel requirements, without freezing numbers that change every year. The classification facts below come from the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) M49 standard, which is the UN’s own reference for country and area codes. Statistical coding is not a political or territorial claim; it is a data-management convention used by international agencies.

Country identifiers

Attribute	Value
UN M49 code	275
ISO alpha-2	PS
ISO alpha-3	PSE
UN region	Asia
UN subregion	Western Asia
UN status	Non-member observer state
IANA country-code top-level domain	.ps

These identifiers come from the UN Statistics Division M49 standard. The M49 overview is the authoritative reference for statistical geography: The M49 grouping is a data-collection and reporting convention, not a legal or political determination of statehood, borders or sovereignty.

The State of Palestine is listed as a UN non-member observer state. This is a status within the United Nations, not a statement about sovereignty, borders or recognition by individual countries. The UN General Assembly granted Palestine non-member observer state status in 2012, a procedural category that affects participation in UN bodies but does not settle territorial or recognition disputes. For political or territorial questions, consult the relevant UN resolutions and your own government’s foreign ministry.

How to verify current population

The World Bank publishes annual population estimates for the State of Palestine. Use the World Bank country API to pull the latest figure: ` The reference year is stated in the dataset. The World Bank’s population estimate for West Bank and Gaza is a projection based on the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), which conducts its own census and demographic surveys. Census data in the Palestinian territories is often 5-10 years old by the time it is used; treat all population figures as estimates, not exact counts.

The United Nations Population Division also publishes estimates and projections. The UN M49 listing places the State of Palestine as a non-member observer state, code 275, under Western Asia (see the UN Statistics Division M49 overview at That coding is statistical, not a political or territorial claim.

As of 2023, the PCBS estimated the number of residents in the Palestinian territories at approximately 5.5 million (mid-year estimate), split between the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. These are estimates, not census counts; the most recent census was 2017. The UN World Population Prospects and the World Bank publish their own estimates, which may differ because of different definitions of the territory and different projection methods. Always cite the source and reference year when comparing figures. The World Bank’s 2023 estimate for West Bank and Gaza was also around 5.5 million; PCBS projected 5.7 million for 2024. The last full census was conducted in 2007 by the PCBS. Do not treat later figures as a census.

How to verify current data for the State of Palestine

Volatile figures (population, GDP, currency exchange rates or visa rules) should always be checked against the issuing source for the reference year. The two anchor references are:

• United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), M49 classification:
• World Bank country API:

The M49 page gives the standard geographic and statistical grouping. The World Bank API returns the country’s official name, capital, region, income level and lending category, but the JSON fields do not include population or currency; for those, go to the specific indicator endpoints or the national statistical office. For any figure you quote, name the source and the reference year, because population, GDP and other statistics are estimates that change every year and may be revised.

The political status of Palestine is contested. The United Nations lists “State of Palestine” as a non-member observer state in the UN system. UN M49 coding (code 275) is a statistical convention and does not by itself determine sovereignty, borders or recognition. Treat recognition and territorial claims as a separate question from data classification.

Country basics

The State of Palestine is coded in UN M49 with code 275, ISO alpha-2 PS, and ISO alpha-3 PSE. The UN M49 standard places it in the region of Asia, subregion Western Asia, and lists it as a non-member observer state. The M49 list is a statistical geography, not a political statement; it groups territories for data collection and does not settle sovereignty or border questions. For the official list, see the UN Statistics Division’s M49 overview (

For current population, the World Bank’s country API is the practical starting point. It returns data for West Bank and Gaza (the territory commonly associated with the State of Palestine) with a defined reference year and source. The API is at World Bank figures are estimates, not censuses, and the reference year is listed on each indicator page. The United Nations Population Division publishes the standard estimates used in most cross-country comparisons; always check the year of the estimate before citing it.

Capital and government

The capital is commonly listed as East Jerusalem, but the status of Jerusalem is disputed and is not recognised by the majority of UN member states. The Palestinian Authority’s administrative centre is in Ramallah. For country-profile purposes, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) is the primary source for population, demographics and labour data.

The government operates under a semi-presidential system per the 2003 amended Basic Law. Political division exists between the Fatah-led West Bank and Hamas-led Gaza Strip. President Mahmoud Abbas has held office since 2005, though his term lapsed; see the political status notes below.

Currency and language

The currency is the new Israeli shekel (ILS), which is used in the Palestinian territories alongside other accepted currencies. The Egyptian pound, Israeli new shekel and Jordanian dinar all circulate; there is no single domestic currency issued by the State of Palestine. The Palestine Monetary Authority does not issue a national currency. Verify current details through the PCBS or the IMF.

Arabic is the official language. English is widely used in business and tourism. Hebrew is also used.

Economy and internet

The World Bank income classification for West Bank and Gaza is lower middle income (FY2025). World Bank data for West Bank and Gaza uses the territory code PSG in some historical datasets, while the ISO code is PSE. Check the specific dataset before comparing. GDP and economic indicators from the World Bank cover West Bank and Gaza as a single reporting unit, separate from political status. Use the World Bank API to pull the PSG metadata and current indicators. For GDP per capita (current US$), GDP growth, unemployment, inflation and poverty rate, cite the specific indicator with its year.

The country-code top-level domain is .ps, administered by the Palestinian National Internet Naming Committee (PNIC).

Travel and entry

Visa policy is not uniform because entry is controlled by Israel. All travellers must check their own government’s current travel advice and the IATA Travel Centre before planning a trip.

Political status and data boundaries

Because the State of Palestine is a UN non-member observer state, the political status of the territory is contested and subject to ongoing negotiations. UN M49 classifies it as a statistical entity, not as a UN member state. The World Bank, IMF and WHO include it in their reporting frameworks, but the exact definition of territory and population may differ between organisations. For current official boundary descriptions, consult the UN and the relevant national authorities.