The rate of natural increase (RNI) in the West Bank is relatively high compared to many neighboring countries, reflecting a youthful population and higher fertility rates. As of recent data, the West Bank's RNI stands at around 2.1% per year, driven by a birth rate of approximately 23 per 1,000 people and a death rate of about 3 per 1,000. This rate is notably higher than Israel’s RNI, which is about 1.5%, and significantly surpasses that of Jordan (around 1.4%) and Egypt (about 1.7%). In contrast, Lebanon’s RNI is much lower, hovering close to zero or even negative due to low fertility and emigration. The West Bank’s higher RNI is primarily due to cultural and socioeconomic factors that support larger family sizes, whereas neighboring countries are experiencing declining fertility rates and, in some cases, increased emigration, leading to slower natural population growth.
| Year | Rate of Natural Increase | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.881 | 1,947,048 |
| 2005 | 2.662 | 2,170,622 |
| 2010 | 2.491 | 2,403,049 |
| 2015 | 2.341 | 2,646,750 |
| 2020 | 2.17 | 2,898,556 |
| 2024 | 2.022 | 3,101,334 |
| 2025 | 1.978 | 3,151,594 |
| 2026 | 1.939 | 3,201,527 |
| 2030 | 1.764 | 3,396,868 |
| 2035 | 1.576 | 3,628,844 |
| 2040 | 1.411 | 3,846,518 |
| 2045 | 1.275 | 4,050,436 |
| 2050 | 1.149 | 4,240,579 |
| 2055 | 1.02 | 4,414,079 |
| 2060 | 0.884 | 4,566,442 |
| 2065 | 0.752 | 4,694,278 |
| 2070 | 0.625 | 4,796,071 |
| 2075 | 0.5 | 4,870,572 |
| 2080 | 0.373 | 4,916,114 |
| 2085 | 0.247 | 4,931,038 |
| 2090 | 0.124 | 4,915,114 |
| 2095 | 0.014 | 4,870,411 |
| 2100 | -0.089 | 4,799,915 |
Data from US Census International Database