The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics has warned that the ongoing war has significantly worsened the social and economic conditions of women in Gaza, increasing the number of widows, deepening unemployment and severely damaging the health sector, reports the Middle East Monitor.
In a statement to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, the bureau said women are expected to constitute around 49% of the total population in Palestine by the end of 2025, amounting to approximately 2.74 million women.Of these, around 1.69 million live in the West Bank and 1.06 million in the Gaza Strip, highlighting what the bureau described as the central role of women in Palestinian society.
According to the data, 22,057 women in Gaza have lost their husbands since the start of the war, increasing the proportion of female-headed households from 12% before the conflict to around 18% during the war.
The report also highlighted severe labour market disparities. Women’s participation in Gaza’s labour force remained at 17% in 2025, while men’s participation dropped sharply from 63% to 31%. The unemployment rate among women reached 92%, compared with 81% among men.
In the West Bank, women’s labour force participation stood at about 19%, compared with 72% for men, while unemployment rates were 27% for women and 28% for men.
Among young people aged 19 to 29 with a diploma or higher, unemployment reached 79%, including 86% for women and 70% for men.