RAMALLAH, June 19, 2010 (WAFA)- On the eve of the International day of refugees on June 20, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) released a statistical review on the status of Palestinian Refugees.   The main findings are summarized as follows:

        -       According to UNRWA  records, the Palestinian registered refugees totaled 4.8  million at end of 2009, of whom 41.6% in Jordan, 23.2% in Gaza Strip, 16.3% in the West Bank, 10.0% in Syria and 8.9% in Lebanon.

        -       The percentage of Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian Territory 2009, represents 43.7% of the total population in the Palestinian Territory, distributed as 29.3% in the West Bank and 67.5 % in Gaza Strip.

        -       The Refugees in the Palestinian Territory are characterized as young population, 41.8% of them are under the age of  15 years compared to 42.0% for non-refugees.  On the other hand, 2.8 % of refugees aged 65 years and over, compared to 3.2% for the non- refugees in the Palestinian Territory  for the year 2009.

        -       Total Fertility Rate for refugees in the Palestinian Territory was 4.9 birth per woman  for 2007.

        -       6.4% of the Palestinian refugees in the West Bank are disabled compared to 4.9% for the non-refugees in 2007.

        -       Percentage of poor households in refugee camps in the Palestinian Territory is 47.7%.

        -       Unemployment Rate of Palestinian refugees 15 years and over  in the Palestinian Territory during the first quarter 2009, was 29.5% compared to 21.5% for non refugees.

        -       Illiteracy rate among Palestinian refugees 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory in 2009 was 4.9%, compared to 5.7% for non - refugees.

        -       Drop-out rate from schools for refugees aged 6 years and above in the Palestinian Territory in 2009 reached 21.9% (32.0% for males and 20.7% for females) compared to 27.3% for the non-refugees (29.0% for males and 25.6% for females).

        -       Percentage of refugee households that own their housing units in the Palestinian Territory in 2008 was 85.0% compared to 87.3% for non - refugees.

        -       Percentage of refugee households that own privet cars in the Palestinian Territory in 2008 was 17.8% compared to 25.3% for non - refugees.