Languages spoken in the Palestinian Territories
Asia · Capital: Ramallah · Population 5.4 million
The official language of the Palestinian Territories is Arabic. An estimated 100% of the population speaks it as a first or additional language, or roughly 5.4 million people. The only other recorded language is Levantine Arabic, at 87% of the population. Arabic belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family. Arabic is also spoken in all three of its neighbours. In total, two languages are recorded in the Palestinian Territories, and their shares add up to 187% of the population, which implies the average resident speaks about 1.9 of them.
What languages are spoken in the Palestinian Territories?
| Language | Share of population | Status | Estimated speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArabicAfro-Asiatic | 100% | Official | 5.4 million |
| Levantine ArabicAfro-Asiatic | 87% | Spoken | 4.7 million |
Percentages are the share of the population that speaks each language, including as a second language, so they add up to well over 100% in multilingual countries. Speaker counts are estimates derived from the percentage and the country's population, not counted figures.
What is the official language of the Palestinian Territories?
The official language of the Palestinian Territories is Arabic. Arabic is spoken by an estimated 100% of the population, or roughly 5.4 million people, counting both first-language and additional speakers.
Official status comes from Unicode CLDR. It distinguishes languages that are official nationwide, those used as de facto official without being named in law, and those official only in particular regions or territories.
How many people speak Arabic in the Palestinian Territories?
An estimated 100% of the Palestinian Territories's 5.4 million people speak Arabic, which works out at roughly 5.4 million speakers. That figure is derived from the population and the reported share, and it counts second-language speakers, so it is an estimate rather than a census count.
Key facts about the Palestinian Territories
- Capital
- Ramallah
- Population
- 5.4 million
- Continent
- Asia
- Area
- 6,220 km²
- Currency
- EGP, ILS, and JOD
- Languages recorded
- 2
- Land borders
- 3
- ISO codes
- PS / PSE / 275
Which countries border the Palestinian Territories?
The Palestinian Territories shares a land border with three countries: Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. Arabic, the most widely spoken language in the Palestinian Territories, is also spoken in Egypt, Israel, and Jordan.
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Language shares, population, and official status: Unicode CLDR. Capital, area, borders, and currency: mledoze/countries (ODbL 1.0). Flag image: flagcdn.com. Speaker counts are estimates derived from population and reported share.