RAMALLAH, April 3, 2011 (WAFA) – About half of the Palestinian people live in apartments and the other half live in houses, Sunday said the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).

The results of the Housing Conditions Survey 2010 indicated that 0.9% of households in the Palestinian Territory live in a villa and 48% live in a house, while 50% live in apartments, said the PCBS.

The percentage of households living in owned housing units in the Palestinian Territory is 84%, including 82% in the West Bank and 87% in Gaza Strip.

The results show that the average housing density in the Palestinian Territory in general is 1.6 persons per room. The average for the West Bank is 1.5 whereas the average for Gaza Strip is 1.8 persons per room.

About 10% of the households in the Palestinian Territory live in housing units with three persons or more per room including 12% in Gaza Strip and 8% in the West Bank.

The average number of rooms in the housing unit in the Palestinian Territory is 3.6. About 15% of the households in the Palestinian Territory live in housing units with 1-2 rooms; 17% in the West Bank and 13% in Gaza Strip.

The average monthly rent paid for a housing unit in the Palestinian Territory was 115 Jordanian dinars. This average increased to reach 153 Jordanian dinars in 2010, including 165 Jordanian dinars in the West Bank and 109 Jordanian dinars in Gaza Strip.

Data also indicate that 43% of households in the West Bank live in rented housing units and pay a monthly rent of 150 Jordanian dinars or more, whereas, the percentage in Gaza Strip is 7%.

Results show that 22% of the households in the Palestinian Territory have a private car including 30% in the West Bank and 7% in Gaza Strip, whereas the percentage of households that have a refrigerator in the Palestinian Territory is 97%. Also 94% households in the Palestinian Territory have satellite dish, while 47% have computer.

About 72% of households in the Palestinian Territory need to build new housing units during the next 10 years, while 37% of the households in the Palestinian Territory can build additional housing units.

In the West Bank, 72% of households need to build new housing units during the next 10 years, while the percentage is 71% in Gaza Strip.

M.A.