West Bank and Gaza Net Migration

Net migration in the West Bank and Gaza has remained negative in recent years, with the World Bank reporting a net outflow of ‑23,156.00 people in 2025, placing the territory at rank 43 globally. This figure follows a long‑term pattern of out‑migration that began in the 1960s, when the earliest recorded net loss was ‑17,662.00. The only reversal occurred in 1987, the all‑time peak, when the region experienced a net inflow of 50,702.00 people, a brief deviation from the prevailing trend. The deepest decline was recorded in 1967, with a trough of ‑55,265.00 migrants, reflecting the geopolitical upheavals of that period. Compared with peers of similar ranking, the West Bank and Gaza’s outflow is slightly lower than El Salvador’s ‑23,934.00 and higher than Tajikistan’s ‑21,606.00, underscoring a persistent, though modest, net loss. Continued restrictions on movement and limited economic opportunities suggest the negative balance will likely persist unless substantial policy reforms or investment in local livelihoods alter the migration calculus.