Gaza’s population shrinks by 10% amid Israeli genocide

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Jul 2025 08:27

The ongoing Israeli genocide has caused a severe demographic crisis in Gaza, with a sharp decline in population and a distorted age structure.

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Palestinian child Sara al-Nouri mourns over the body of her 13-year-old sister, Sama, who was among 10 people, including two women and five children, killed in an Israeli strike while they were waiting to receive nutritional supplements at a Project Hope-run medical clinic in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)

The population of the Gaza Strip has decreased by 10% amid the ongoing Israeli genocide, according to new data released Thursday by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

In a statement, the bureau warned that “Palestine, specifically the Gaza Strip, is suffering an unprecedented humanitarian and demographic catastrophe due to the ongoing Israeli aggression since October 2023.”

According to the report, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, including 18,000 children and 12,000 women. This number accounts for 2.4% of the territory’s total population prior to the war.

In addition to the mounting death toll, nearly 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced from the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war. The combined impact of deaths and displacement has drastically altered the population landscape.

Targeting of children, youth alters age pyramid

Gaza’s population stood at 2,226,544 in 2023. However, estimates now indicate a sharp decline. “Population estimates indicate that the population has declined to approximately 2,129,724, representing a 6% decrease compared to the projection of mid-2024 estimates,” the bureau stated. It further noted that the population dropped to 2,114,301, a 10% decrease from what was projected for mid-2025.

The statement also highlighted a severe demographic shift in the region. “A fundamental shift” in the population structure is underway, with a visible distortion in the age pyramid "due to the deliberate targeting of younger age groups by the Israeli army, particularly children and youth.”

Long-term implications of the Gaza Strip war impact

The bureau’s findings underscore the long-term demographic challenges facing Gaza.

Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the statistics reflect a reshaping of the social structure, particularly among the younger population, as a result of continued Israeli aggression on Gaza.

As the genocide continues, experts warn that these changes could have lasting consequences on the economic, social, and political fabric of Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip.