Palestine (Occupied Palestinian Territory)

Palestine Occupied Palestinian Territory
Status	Proto Independent State (Occupied)
Social and Moral Index	136th best
Capital
Land Area
Location	Asia, The Mediterranean, The Middle East
Population	4.9m1
Life Expectancy	73.47yrs (2017)2
GNI	$6 583 (2017)3
ISO3166-1 Codes	PS, , 4
Internet Domain	5
Currency	6
Telephone	+7

Palestine is divided between two territories, to the West of Israel is the Gaza Strip, coasting the Mediterranean. And to the east of Israel is the West Bank (of the Jordan river). It's divided in two since Israel was imposed in the middle of Palestine in the late 1940s after the failure of a single-state shared solution for Jews and Muslims, resulting in a long, violent and resolved conflicts, showcasing humanity's worst features.

1. Overview
2. Why Does Palestine Struggle to Be a Recognized State?
3. Palestine National and Social Development
4. Palestine's Demographics and Migration
5. Palestine's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
   1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   2. Gender Equality Datasets
   3. Prejudice Datasets
6. Palestine's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
7. Palestine's Responsibility Towards The Environment
8. Palestine's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
9. Palestine's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
10. Religion and Beliefs
11. Links

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1. Overview

“The Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. [...] On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. Progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2006 Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a February 2009 general election. Direct talks with the PA launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank.”

US CIA's World Factbook (2013)₈

2. Why Does Palestine Struggle to Be a Recognized State? ₉

#egypt #israel #jordan #judaism #lebanon #ottoman_empire #palestine #Palestinian_Liberation_Organisation #uk #usa

The Palestinian search for statehood has been at a stalemate since the UN declaration of 1947 that led to the creation of Israel, which now covers 86% of Palestine's original land₁₀. Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. After that broke up, it was run by the British from 1920, as British Mandated Palestine₁₁, but it was colonial policy not to allow Palestinian government apparatus to develop₁₂. When in 1947 the United Nations proposed 56% of Palestine become a new Jewish State, war erupted, and afterwards, the remnants of Palestine was divided between Jordan (West Bank) and Egypt (Gaza) with no voices for Palestinians.

In 1998, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation emerged, declaring Statehood for Palestine, which was accepted by 90 countries within 2 years. As Palestinian political identity stabilized, Israel in 1992 waged a war against PLO infrastructure in Lebanon, slowing progress towards a coherent Palestine. A Palestinian State is now accepted by over 150 countries, but, since 1988 the USA has repeatedly used its Security Council veto to block Palestine's registration as a state at the UN because it is strategically interested in maintaining a strong military alliance with Israel.

For more, see:

• " Why Does Palestine Struggle to Be a Recognized State?" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

3. Palestine National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)13
Pos.		Higher is better Value13
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
103=	Jordan	0.720
104	Libya	0.718
105	Paraguay	0.717
106=	Palestine	0.715
106=	St Lucia	0.715
108	Guyana	0.714
109	S. Africa	0.713
110	Jamaica	0.709
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)13
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $13
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
125	Morocco	$7 303
126	Tonga	$6 822
127	India	$6 590
128	Palestine	$6 583
129	Tuvalu	$6 351
130	Belize	$6 309
131	Cape Verde	$6 230
132	Ghana	$5 745
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index14
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank14
1	Denmark	27.2
2	Norway	29.2
3	Sweden	30.2
	...
133	Tajikistan	105.7
134	Namibia	106.4
135	Vanuatu	106.7
136	Palestine	106.8
137	Rwanda	107.2
138	Sao Tome & Principe	107.5
139	Bangladesh	107.6
140	Turkmenistan	108.2
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	89.2
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

4. Palestine's Demographics and Migration

#demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population Datasets:

Palestine's population is predicted to rise to 6.755 million by 2030.

The Palestinian population has risen from "not much more than half a million" in 1990 to over ten million people by 2020₁₅.

Population1
Pos.		2018 Population1
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
117	Norway	5.3m
118	Congo, (Brazzaville)	5.2m
119	Costa Rica	5.0m
120	Palestine	4.9m
121	Oman	4.8m
122	Liberia	4.8m
123	Ireland	4.8m
124	New Zealand	4.7m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better13
Pos.		2021 Years13
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
78	Vietnam	73.6
79	Latvia	73.6
80	Mauritius	73.6
81	Palestine	73.5
82	N. Korea	73.3
83	Trinidad & Tobago	73.0
84	Colombia	72.8
85	Dominica	72.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
36=	Madagascar	06.4
36=	Papua New Guinea	06.4
38=	Ghana	06.5
38=	Palestine	06.5
40=	Ethiopia	06.6
40=	Swaziland	06.6
42=	Central African Rep.	06.8
42=	Sudan	06.8
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
81	Syria	5.5%
82	Thailand	5.2%
83	Hungary	5.2%
84	Palestine	5.2%
85	Argentina	4.9%
86	Panama	4.7%
87	Tonga	4.6%
88	Venezuela	4.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
4	Grenada	65.5%
5	St Kitts & Nevis	61.1%
6	Guyana	56.9%
7	Monaco	56.3%
8	Antigua & Barbuda	47.6%
9	Tonga	45.4%
10	Albania	45.4%
11	Barbados	41.0%
12	Suriname	39.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

5. Palestine's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Asia (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Japan	31.6
2	Taiwan	42.2
3	S. Korea	45.2
	...
35	Bangladesh	124.0
36	Bahrain	125.2
37	Oman	127.7
38	Palestine	132.1
39	UAE	134.1
40=	Yemen	136.1
41	Qatar	137.2
42	Iraq	138.4
43	Myanmar	138.8
	Asia Avg	110.11
q=51.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
170	Burundi	129.6
171	Djibouti	129.7
172	S. Sudan	131.7
173	Palestine	132.1
174	Malawi	132.6
175	UAE	134.1
176	Libya	135.0
177	Guinea	135.1
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

30 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #palestine #politics

Press Freedom Higher is better21
Pos.		202521
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
159	Venezuela	29.21
160	Cambodia	28.18
161	Saudi Arabia	27.94
162	Palestine	27.41
163	UAE	26.91
164	Cuba	26.03
165	Belarus	25.73
166	Azerbaijan	25.47
	Asia Avg	39.69
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
142=	Kosovo	5.5
142=	Angola	5.5
142=	Thailand	5.5
142=	Palestine	5.5
142=	Mali	5.5
142=	Uganda	5.5
142=	Tanzania	5.5
142=	Kuwait	5.5
	Asia Avg	5.0
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better22
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty22
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
188	Kiribati	15.80
189	Solomon Islands	15.81
190	Nauru	16.16
191	Sao Tome & Principe	16.17
192	Tuvalu	16.33
193	Palau	16.34
194	Marshall Islands	16.34
195	Palestine	17.21
	Asia Avg	10.97
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Palestine stated:

“Palestinian armed groups in Gaza committed apparent war crimes during three days of fighting with Israel in August, using unguided rockets in populated civilian areas and killing at least seven Palestinian civilians. Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continued to heavily restrict freedom of expression, association and assembly. They also held scores of people in arbitrary detention and subjected many to torture and other ill treatment. Justice for serious human rights violations remained elusive. The Hamas de facto authorities in Gaza carried out the first executions in five years. ”

"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₂₃

5.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender_equality #prejudice #women

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Gender Biases Lower is better24
Pos.		2022 %24
1	Sweden	31.825
2	New Zealand	34.426
3	Australia	37.026
	...
60	Mongolia	97.426
61	Uzbekistan	97.925
62	Kyrgyzstan	98.126
63	Palestine	98.225
64	Kuwait	98.325
65	Jordan	98.526
66	Burkina Faso	98.627
67	Algeria	98.725
	Asia Avg	94.24
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

5.3. Prejudice Datasets

#2020s #freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better28
Pos.		LGBT Equality in the 2020s Score28
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
140	Indonesia	-2.55
141	Barbados	-2.63
142	Turkmenistan	-2.68
143	Palestine	-2.72
144	N. Korea	-3.05
145	Djibouti	-3.10
146	Samoa	-3.13
147	Papua New Guinea	-3.18
	Asia Avg	-2.88
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Homosexuality in Palestine is legal in the West Bank (since 1951 under Jordanian law) but remains criminalized in Gaza under the 1936 British Mandate code: being a male homosexual is punishable by 10 years' prison. Enforcement in Gaza is rare but the law persists. Same-sex marriage is unrecognized everywhere, and LGBT activism faces censorship and hostility.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

•  ⇣  Opposed a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and opposed it again in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
•  ⇣  Opposed the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better29
Pos.		202129
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
156=	Russia	3.8
156=	Belarus	3.8
156=	Israel	3.8
156=	Palestine	3.8
156=	Oman	3.8
161=	Azerbaijan	4.0
161=	Algeria	4.0
161=	Vietnam	4.0
	Asia Avg	3.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

6. Palestine's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
28	Turkey	94.2
29	Georgia	94.8
30	Bhutan	96.9
31	Palestine	97.8
32	Azerbaijan	101.6
33	Kyrgyzstan	101.7
34	Indonesia	101.8
35	Mongolia	103.6
36	Jordan	103.7
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
104	Cape Verde	97.0
105	Algeria	97.2
106	Moldova	97.3
107	Palestine	97.8
108	El Salvador	98.3
109	Ukraine	98.4
110	Ecuador	98.4
111	Palau	98.6
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₁.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₁, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₁.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

6.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #suicide

Palestine does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Palestine does the best for its suicide rate₃₂. It does better than average in its average life expectancy₁₃ and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₃. But, things could still be better. Palestine does worse than average in its adolescent birth rate₃₄. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Palestine improved by +7.3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, on par with the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy Higher is better13
Pos.		2021 Years13
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
78	Vietnam	73.6
79	Latvia	73.6
80	Mauritius	73.6
81	Palestine	73.5
82	N. Korea	73.3
83	Trinidad & Tobago	73.0
84	Colombia	72.8
85	Dominica	72.8
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better32
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k32
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
1=	Palestine	1.00
1=	Egypt	1.00
1=	Lebanon	1.00
1=	Syria	1.00
8	Saudi Arabia	1.08
9	Grenada	1.25
10	Jamaica	1.38
11	Kuwait	1.59
12	Peru	1.64
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Adult Obesity Lower is better35
Pos.		2022 %35
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
150	Paraguay	32.1%
151	Brunei	32.4%
152	Nicaragua	32.4%
153	Palestine	32.8%
154	St Vincent & Grenadines	33.6%
155	Greece	33.7%
156	Fiji	33.8%
157	St Lucia	33.9%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

6.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better34
Pos.		2022 Per 100034
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
110	Pakistan	41.2
111	Barbados	41.9
112	Palau	42.1
113	Palestine	42.9
114	Brazil	43.6
115	Egypt	43.6
116	Samoa	43.8
117	Tajikistan	44.9
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better33
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %33
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
89=	Iceland	94.4
89=	Italy	94.4
91	Australia	94.2
92	Palestine	94.0
93	Turks & Caicos Islands	94.0
94	Finland	93.8
95	Germany	93.7
96	Saba	93.3
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Palestine was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19) but made great improvements for the following decade.

7. Palestine's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #internationalism #over-exploitation #palestine #the_environment

Compared to Asia (2025)36
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank36
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
25	Cambodia	84.0
26	Taiwan	86.1
27	Malaysia	89.5
28	Palestine	92.7
29	Qatar	94.1
30	Saudi Arabia	94.9
31	Israel	95.8
32=	Laos	97.0
33	Russia	99.2
	Asia Avg	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)36
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank36
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
129	S. Africa	92.2
130	Malta	92.2
131	Sao Tome & Principe	92.7
132	Palestine	92.7
133	Vanuatu	93.0
134	Mozambique	93.9
135	Qatar	94.1
136	Liberia	94.2
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₃₇. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Palestine is positioned 132nd in the world. This is formulated from 21 data sets. Palestine does better than average in terms of its forested percent change 2000-2020₃₈ and in energy to GDP efficiency₃₉. Palestine does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₀. And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better39
Pos.		2022 Avg39
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
58	Senegal	0.87
59	Sao Tome & Principe	0.88
60	Germany	0.91
61	Palestine	0.91
62	Cyprus	0.92
63	Tunisia	0.93
64	Israel	0.94
65	Djibouti	0.94
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Palestine only had 3 data points in the 1990s, and only 3 n the 2000s, meaning the averages for those decades is possibly inaccurate or misleading.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
190	Palau	34%
191	Angola	33%
192	Iraq	28%
193	San Marino	26%
194	Haiti	25%
195	Andorra	22%
196	Palestine	19%
197	Vatican City	10%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Palestine was one of 19 countries that signed the Paris Agreement within the first few months in Q2 2016.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better40
Pos.		2011 %40
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
98	Comoros	28.3%
99	Ireland	27.9%
100	Israel	27.6%
101	Palestine	27.5%
102	Saudi Arabia	27.2%
103	Belgium	26.9%
104	Syria	26.6%
105	Qatar	26.5%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

8. Palestine's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
	...
36	Mongolia	97.7
37	Indonesia	100.1
38	Maldives	107.2
39	Palestine	115.1
40	Syria	117.6
41	Iraq	121.2
42	Pakistan	122.6
43	Nepal	124.7
44	Bangladesh	127.5
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
133	Bahamas	113.4
134	Kiribati	113.8
135	Cameroon	115.0
136	Palestine	115.1
137	Nigeria	115.5
138	Marshall Islands	116.7
139	Uganda	117.3
140	Syria	117.6
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₄₂. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₂. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₃.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₄

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₂, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₂.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

8.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better45
Pos.		2025 %45
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
165=	Angola	90
165=	Chad	90
165=	Comoros	90
165=	Palestine	90
165=	Congo, DR	90
165=	Zimbabwe	90
165=	Zambia	90
165=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	90
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1905 via British Mandate. Progression:

• 1960 (60%): Metric present; mixed local usage.
• 1970 (70%): Standardization grows in commerce/education.
• 1980 (80%): Metric dominant officially; informal legacy persists.
• 2000 (85%).
• 2025 (90%): High metric usage.

Religiosity Lower is better46
Pos.		2018 %46
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
77=	Jordan	85
79=	Palestine	86
79=	Uganda	86
79=	Chad	86
79=	Niger	86
83=	Kenya	87
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

8.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better47
Pos.		201847
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
88	Guyana	63.3%
89	Ghana	63.1%
90	Peru	62.2%
91	Palestine	61.1%
92	Suriname	60.5%
93	Mexico	59.7%
94	Bahrain	59.6%
95	Brazil	59.5%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better48
Pos.		2021 Years48
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
95	Azerbaijan	13.5
96	Jamaica	13.4
97	Sao Tome & Principe	13.4
98	Palestine	13.4
99	Malaysia	13.3
100	Dominica	13.3
101	Andorra	13.3
102	Bhutan	13.2
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

8.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
63	Bhutan	84%
64	Portugal	84%
65	Macedonia	84%
66	Palestine	83%
67	Serbia	83%
68	Turkey	83%
69	San Marino	83%
70	Costa Rica	83%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better49
Pos.		2017 Ratio49
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
145=	Oman	0.0
145=	Papua New Guinea	0.0
145=	French Polynesia	0.0
145=	Palestine	0.0
145=	Lesotho	0.0
145=	Monaco	0.0
145=	Bermuda	0.0
145=	Isle of Man	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

9. Palestine's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)50
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank50
1	Singapore	16.8
2	Hong Kong	28.6
3	Japan	33.2
	...
32	Uzbekistan	93.8
33	Saudi Arabia	94.0
34	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	96.6
35	Palestine	100.9
36	Nepal	101.5
37	Azerbaijan	102.1
38	Tajikistan	102.8
39	Iran	103.8
40	Bangladesh	108.2
	Asia Avg	84.07
q=50.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)50
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank50
1	Denmark	10.4
2	Netherlands	11.8
3	Finland	12.2
	...
126	Zambia	98.3
127	Algeria	98.3
128	Gambia	98.4
129	Palestine	100.9
130	Nepal	101.5
131	Malawi	101.8
132	Azerbaijan	102.1
133	Tajikistan	102.8
	World Avg	80.47
q=183.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 39 datasets, including multiple decades of data on resisting corruption, Creativity and Culture, overall happiness, Open Trading, Aid and Development, passport utility (so far), personal financial stability, World Giving Index, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

9.1. National Culture Datasets

#happiness #internationalism

Happiness Higher is better51
Pos.		2024 Score51
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
105	Nigeria	4.9
106	Azerbaijan	4.9
107	Senegal	4.9
108	Palestine	4.8
109	Pakistan	4.8
110	Niger	4.7
111	Ukraine	4.7
112	Morocco	4.6
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better52
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q52
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
185	Bangladesh	40.5
186	N. Korea	39.8
187	Libya	39.7
188	Palestine	38.3
189	Nepal	38.0
190	Somalia	34.2
191	Yemen	33.3
192	Pakistan	32.0
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

9.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better53
Pos.		2023 Score53
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
131	USA	2.45
132	Brazil	2.46
133	Eritrea	2.51
134	Palestine	2.54
135	Lebanon	2.58
136	Mexico	2.60
137	Libya	2.61
138	Niger	2.63
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better54
Pos.		2019 Score54
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
116	Indonesia	5.07
117	Nepal	5.09
118	Burundi	5.10
119	Palestine	5.18
120	Bangladesh	5.21
121	Saudi Arabia	5.24
122	Ethiopia	5.35
123	UK	5.41
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

9.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better55
Pos.		Poverty (2020s) %55
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
55	Armenia	1.86%
56	Serbia	1.92%
57	Costa Rica	1.99%
58	Palestine	2.07%
59	Suriname	2.18%
60	Montenegro	2.37%
61	Paraguay	2.43%
62	Nepal	2.44%
	Asia Avg	3.54%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better56
Pos.		201956
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
93=	N. Korea	11.50
94	Egypt	11.60
95=	Panama	12.00
95=	Palestine	12.00
97	Solomon Islands	12.10
98	Cape Verde	12.20
99	El Salvador	12.50
100	Suriname	12.80
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better57
Pos.		2023 %57
1	Slovakia	24.1%58
2	Slovenia	24.3%58
3	Belarus	24.4%59
	...
64=	Bangladesh	33.4%60
65=	Macedonia	33.5%61
65=	Georgia	33.5%60
67	Palestine	33.7%62
68=	Tunisia	33.7%58
68=	Jordan	33.7%63
68=	Switzerland	33.7%59
71=	Spain	33.9%58
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Palestine - only for 8 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better64
Pos.		2018 Severity64
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
10	Albania	.003
11	Thailand	.003
12	Moldova	.004
13	Palestine	.004
14	Tunisia	.005
15	St Lucia	.007
16	Libya	.007
17	Algeria	.008
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

10. Religion and Beliefs

#atheism #Blasphemy #buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #israel #jordan #judaism #palestine #religion #religiosity #secularisation #USA

Religiosity (2018)46
Pos.		Lower is better %46
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
77=	Jordan	85
79=	Palestine	86
79=	Uganda	86
79=	Chad	86
79=	Niger	86
83=	Kenya	87
83=	Mozambique	87
85=	Congo, DR	88
85=	Nigeria	88
85=	Nicaragua	88
88=	Djibouti	89
88=	Ghana	89
88=	Guatemala	89
91=	Honduras	90
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₆₅:

	2010	2020
Muslim	98.8%	99%
Christian	1.18%	1%
Other	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	None	None
Hindu	None	None
Buddhist	None	None
Unaffiliated	None	None

In 1900, Palestine, which also included the whole area that now contains Israel, was 90% Muslim and only 10% Jewish - the mass influx of Jews had not yet occurred.

Often, rulers in Palestine have been somewhat more liberal than the public, but Islamic radicalist and fundamentalist pressure groups such as Hamas are simply too powerful for the government to resist₆₆. When the USA's President Clinton urged Yasser Arafat to agree to the 2001 Camp David accord aimed at solving the Israel<>Palestine conflict, Arafat stated words to the effect of "if I do what you want, Hamas will in power tomorrow"₆₆ - if the hardliners were not happy they could easily, with popular support, overthrow government in just one day, and take power. They were in fact waiting for such a trigger.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) report "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₆₇, in documented bias and prejudice that is based on religion, belief or lack of belief. Their entry for Palestine states:

“Freedom of religion or belief in various parts of the Occupied Territories falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority (in much of the West Bank), or Israel, or Hamas (in the Gaza Strip). The "Basic Law" that functions as a constitution for the Palestinian Authority recognizes international human rights standards, which include freedom of thought and expression.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₆₈

Blasphemy laws have a long history, dating from the long period under Ottoman rule. After that, the New York Times in 1929 announced from Palestine (also covering the West Bank and Gaza), that now "a blasphemy ordinance just made public here [...] any one uttering a word or a sound calculated to outrage the religious feelings or beliefs of another is liable to one year in prison"₆₉. But it's a complicated region especially since Israel displaced central Palestine, and the West Bank and Gaza have had different trajectories, leaders and (sometimes unclear) legal systems.

Covering the West Bank, in 2012, the IHEU's "Freedom of Thought" (2012) said:

“In the West Bank territories the old Jordanian law against "defaming religion" is still in force and may result in a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. [...] On Oct. 31, 2010, a 26-year-old blogger was arrested in the West Bank for posting allegedly blasphemous comments on Facebook and his blog. Waleed Hasayin, who used the named Waleed al-Husseini online, described himself as "an atheist from Jerusalem-Palestine" and wrote that God is "a primitive Bedoiun and anthropomorphic" and that "people are free to think and believe in whatever suits them." He was charged with "defaming religion". Hasayin was released in 2012 and fled to Europe, where he is seeking asylum.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₆₈

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems