RAMALLAH, April 5, 2011 (WAFA) - Marking the occasion of Palestinian Children Day on April 5, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), in a press release Thursday, said that in 2013, there were 2.08 million children under the age of 18, constituting 47.1% of the total population in Palestine.

In 2012, Ministry of Health data indicated that the main cause of infant deaths in West Bank was respiratory diseases by 36.7% (35.6% for males and 38.0% for females). Followed by pre-birth causes: (premature birth and underweight) by 17.5% (19.4% for males and 15.4% for females).

As for the children's death under the age of five, Ministry of Health data in West Bank and during the same period clarified that the main cause for death is due to per-birth's diseases by 53.8%; (52.8% of males and 54.9% of females).

The release said that 3.5% of all children aged 10-17 years were working, with or without pay, in 2013; 4.9% in West Bank and 1.4% in Gaza Strip. The number of male children engaged in work was higher than for females; 6.5% of male children compared to 0.3% of female children.

Data indicate that the Palestinian family is formed earlier with an average age of females at first marriage in Palestine is 20.1 years and 24.6 years for males in 2012.

The percentage of females who married before the age of 18 is 21.9% of the total marriages contracts in 2012, which amounted to 40,292 contract: 20.0% in West Bank and 24.6% in Gaza Strip, said the release.

T.R.