The census was carried out by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, part of the Ramallah government, late last year. The preliminary results were published in late March.

According to the Portland Trust shows the 2.7 per cent average annual growth rate falling well short of the 3.7 per cent level that has been predicted.

There remains a wide gap between the rates of growth in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Gaza’ population has risen 38.6 per cent to 1.42 million, far outstripping the growth rate in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which saw a 25.2 per cent increase to 2.35 million.