RAMALLAH, Tuesday, April 4, 2023 (WAFA) - The estimated number of children (under 18 years) is expected to be 2.39 million in Palestine by mid-2023; 1.22 million males and 1.17 million females. Children in Palestine represent about 44% of the total population (41% in the West Bank, and 47% in the Gaza Strip), today said the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) highlighting the Palestinian children's situation on the occasion of the Palestinian Child Day, which coincides tomorrow, Wednesday.

Data showed that there is a decline in the percentage of early marriage (under the age of 18) for both sexes, where it reached about 12% of the total number of registered marriages among females in 2021 (6% in the West Bank and 19% in Gaza Strip) compared with 24% in 2010. Whereas, the percentage of early marriage among males under the age of 18 years reached 0.4% of the total number of registered marriages in 2021 compared to 2% in 2010.

The PCBS said the Israeli violations against Palestinian children continued with 150 children detained in Israeli prisons and 56 children killed in 2022.

The number of school students for the scholastic year 2022/2023 in Palestine reached about 1.388 million students, out of which 1.116 million were students in the elementary stage (51% males and 49% females), and 272,000 students in the secondary stage (45% males and 55% females).

Data showed that the percentage of employed children (paid or unpaid) reached about 3% of the total number of children (10-17 years) in 2022: 5% in the West Bank and 1% in Gaza Strip (6% male children and 0.3% female children). Moreover, the percentage of children enrolled in schools and engaged in the labor market reached 1% (2% in the West Bank and 0.4% in Gaza Strip). As for gender distribution, the percentage was 2% among male children and 0.2% among female children in 2022.

At the same time, 53% of children aged (10-17 years) working in Palestine are wage employees, and the percentage of those working as unpaid family members reached 37%.

About nine out of every 10 children (89%) in the age group (10-17 years) use the Internet, 94% in the West Bank and 82% in Gaza Strip. This percentage was equal for both male and female children, reaching about 89% in 2022.

About four out of every 10 children (39%) in the age group (10-17 years) own a mobile phone, 54% in the West Bank and 19% in Gaza Strip. At the gender level, the ratio was 44% for males compared to 34% for females in 2022.

About 10% of children (12-17 years) in Palestine were exposed to a form of electronic violence through social media (11% in the West Bank, and 9% in Gaza Strip) in 2019.

About 3% of children (12-17 years) were exposed to violence through communications (i.e. threats, extortion/blackmailing, or harassment of various persons or parties through calls or messages) in Palestine (3% in the West Bank, 2% in Gaza Strip) during 2019.

M.K.