Fact Check: "Gaza has a population of over 2 million people."
What We Know
The population of the Gaza Strip has been a subject of various estimates and projections. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the population at the end of 2024 is estimated to be approximately 2.1 million. This figure reflects a decline of about 6% from the previous year, attributed to the ongoing Gaza war which has significantly impacted the region's demographics. The Gaza Strip is recognized as one of the most densely populated areas in the world, primarily inhabited by Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
Further corroboration comes from a Wikipedia entry which states that the population of Gaza is indeed over 2 million, specifically citing an estimate of 2.1 million at the end of 2024. This aligns with the data provided by the PCBS, reinforcing the claim's validity.
Analysis
The claim that Gaza has a population of over 2 million people is supported by reliable sources, including the PCBS and Wikipedia, both of which are credible in the context of demographic statistics. The PCBS is the official statistical agency of the State of Palestine, tasked with collecting and disseminating demographic data. This lends a high degree of reliability to their estimates.
Moreover, the Al Jazeera report further confirms that the population has declined to 2.1 million due to the war, indicating that the figure is not only accurate but also reflective of current events affecting the region. The decline in population is significant, as it highlights the humanitarian crisis and the impact of conflict on civilian life.
Conversely, a source from World Population Review estimates the population of Gaza to be around 823,407 for 2025, which appears to be a misrepresentation or a misunderstanding of the broader Gaza Strip population versus that of Gaza City specifically. This discrepancy emphasizes the importance of context when discussing population figures, as Gaza City is just one part of the larger Gaza Strip.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Gaza has a population of over 2 million people is accurate based on multiple credible sources. The estimates from the PCBS and corroborating reports indicate that the population is approximately 2.1 million as of the end of 2024. The ongoing conflict has led to a decline in this number, but it remains above the 2 million mark, confirming the validity of the claim.
