How well do these neighbors live?The Palestinian Territories This article is about the Palestinian territories as a geopolitical phenomenon. For more on their geography, demographics and general history, see West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinian territories (the Gaza Strip Gaza Strip (gäz`ə), (2003 est. pop. 1,330,000) rectangular coastal area, c.140 sq mi (370 sq km), SW Asia, on the Mediterranean Sea adjoining Egypt and Israel, in what was formerly SW Palestine. and the West Bank) and the independent nations of Israel Israel, in the Bible Israel (ĭz`rēəl, ĭz`rāəl) [as understood by Hebrews,=he strives with God], according to the book of Genesis, name given to Jacob as eponymous ancestor of the Hebrews, the chosen people of God. and Lebanon Lebanon, country, Asia Lebanon (lĕb`ənən, –nŏn'), officially Republic of Lebanon, republic (2005 est. pop. 3,826,000), 4,015 sq mi (10,400 sq km), SW Asia. are very close, geographically ge·o·graph·ic also ge·o·graph·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to geography. 2. Concerning the topography of a specific region. ge . But living conditions living conditions npl → condiciones fpl de vida living conditions npl → conditions fpl de vie living conditions living vary widely among their populations. Conditions such as overcrowding overcrowding overcrowding of animal accommodation. Many countries now publish codes of practice which define what the appropriate volumetric allowances should be for each species of animal when they are housed indoors. Breaches of these codes is overcrowding. and poverty help fuel the frustrations felt by many people who live in the Middle East. What can statistics tell you about a place's standard of living? This chart provides data on five factors. Study the chart, then answer the following questions. (Note: Population figures for the Palestinian Territories include the West Bank and Gaza Gaza, Ghazzah (both: gäz`ə), or Ghuzzeh (gŭz`ə), town (2003 est. pop. .)
ISRAEL LEBANON PALESTINIAN
TERRITORIES
Population (in million) 7.2 3.9 3.9
Population density 890 963 1,609
(people per sq mi)
Natural population 1.5 1.5 3.3
increase (by percentage)
Projected pop., 2025 9.3 4.6 7.1
(in millions)
Gross domestic product (1) $24,600 (2) $6,200 (2) West Bank:
$1,100 (3)
Gaza Strip:
$600 (3)
(1) Gross domestic product (GDP) is the value of all items produced
by a country in a year, divided by the population, and often is
used as a measure of a nation's wealth. * (2) 2005 estimate * (3) 2003
estimate
SOURCE: GDP: The World Factbook 2006 (CIA); population figures: 2006
World Population Data Sheet (Population Reference Bureau)
QUESTIONS 1. Which area has the largest population today?-- 2. Which two places have the same population?-- 3. What will be the difference in population between those two places in 2025?-- 4. Which category on this chart shows you how crowded a place is?-- 5. What is the difference in that category between Israel and the Palestinian Territories?-- 6. Which category shows you how fast population is rising in a place?-- 7. Where is the population growing fastest?-- 8. Which category of data measures the wealth of a nation?-- 9. What is the difference (in dollars) between the place with the highest GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. and the one with the lowest?-- 10. How might all these factors affect a place's standard of living?-- ANSWER 1. Israel (7.2 million) 2. Lebanon and Palestinian Territories both have 3.9 million 3. The Palestinian Territories will have 2.5 million more people (7.1 minus 4.6). 4. Population density (which measures people per square mile) 5. The Palestinian Territories have 719 more people per square mile (1,609 minus 890). 6. Percentage of natural population rise 7. Palestinian Territories 8. gross national product (GDP) 9. $24,000 (Israel's $24,600, minus the Gaza Strip's $600) 10. Answers will vary; in general, should include that overcrowding will mean greater competition for jobs and housing, lower standards of education; lower personal incomes put strain on all areas of life. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion