Israel today has a population of around 10 million , and Palestine (West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip combined) has around 5.5 million people as of early 2026.

Quick Scoop: Population of Israel and Palestine

1. Headline Numbers (2026 estimates)

  • Israel : About 10.2 million people in 2026 based on UN-style estimates and Israeli statistics.
  • Palestine (State of Palestine: West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip) : About 5.5 million people in 2026 using recent comparative population estimates.

So, very roughly, for every 2 people in Palestine, there are about 4 in Israel.

2. Simple Comparison Table

[1][3][8] [8]
Area Approx. Population (2026) Notes
Israel ≈ 10.2 million Based on start‑of‑2026 data and UN‑style projections.
Palestine (West Bank & Gaza) ≈ 5.5 million From recent Israel–Palestine population comparison estimates.

These are estimates , not exact counts. Population figures shift with births, deaths, migration, and—especially in this region—displacement and conflict.

3. Why Numbers Vary Between Sources

Different organizations quote slightly different numbers because they:

  1. Use different reference dates (start of 2025 vs start of 2026, etc.).
  1. Rely on different baselines (national statistics vs UN estimates vs independent demographic models).
  1. May include or exclude :
    • East Jerusalem in different ways
    • Certain groups like foreign workers and long‑term residents
    • Refugees registered outside the territories

For example, one widely cited comparison put Israel at about 9.97 million in 2024 and Palestine at roughly 5.29 million, then projects about 10.25 million vs 5.48 million for 2026.

4. Context and Sensitivity

Talking about “what is the population of Israel and Palestine” is not just a technical demographic question; it sits in the middle of political debates about:

  • Borders and sovereignty (who counts where).
  • Refugees and right of return (Palestinians in neighboring countries are not included in the 5.5 million within the territories).
  • Long‑term balance : demographers often discuss whether Jews or Arabs/Palestinians will form majorities between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, and how that shapes politics and peace talks.

Because of this, different sides sometimes emphasize different datasets or cutoffs to support their narratives.

TL;DR:

  • Israel: ~10.2 million people.
  • Palestine (West Bank + Gaza): ~5.5 million people.
    Numbers are approximate and politically sensitive but give a solid big‑picture view for early 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.