Overview:
Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military
administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah).
Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have
been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli
policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not
productive assets that would enable local firms to compete with Israeli
industry. A major share of GNP is derived from remittances of workers
employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states, but such transfers from the Gulf
dropped dramatically after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake
of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West
Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have plunged because of
the loss of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. Israeli measures to
curtail the intifadah also have pushed unemployment up and lowered living
standards. The area's economic outlook remains bleak.
National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-10% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,200 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (1990 est.)
Budget:
revenues $31.0 million; expenditures $36.1 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
$150 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
commodities:
NA
partners:
Jordan, Israel
Imports:
$410 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.)
commodities:
NA
partners:
Jordan, Israel
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 1% (1989); accounts for about 4% of GNP
Electricity:
power supplied by Israel
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap,
olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have
established some small-scale modern industries in the settlements and
industrial centers
Agriculture:
accounts for about 15% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
beef, and dairy products
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000
fils
*West Bank, Economy
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.6480 (November 1992), 2.2791 (1991),
2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987); Jordanian dinars
(JD) per US$1 - 0.6890 (January 1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991), 0.6636
(1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
*West Bank, Communications
Highways:
small road network, Israelis developing east-west axial highways to service
new settlements
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
open-wire telephone system currently being upgraded; broadcast stations - no
AM, no FM, no TV
*West Bank, Defense Forces
Branches:
NA
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Western Sahara, Geography
Location:
Northern Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Morocco and Mauritania
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
266,000 km2
land area:
266,000 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
1,110 km
Maritime claims:
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes:
claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the
UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered
cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991
Climate:
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and
heavy dew
Terrain:
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising
to small mountains in south and northeast
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
81%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring;
widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting
visibility; sparse water and arable land
*Western Sahara, People