Many demographic specialists from the United Nations, the US, and Israel estimate that the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza may currently (midyear 2004) be as high as 3.8 million persons. Those same sources, furthermore, suggest West Bank/Gaza is among the world's fastest growing regions today. But are these estimates accurate? 

Inconsistencies and contradictions in Palestinian Authority data seem to raise the possibility that the West Bank/Gaza population may be significantly--and increasingly--overcounted.

Zimmerman, Seid and Wise will present evidence showing that the Palestinian Arab population of West Bank/Gaza may currently be overestimated by as much as 1.4 million--that is to say, by over a third. The team will also demonstrate why it is important to verify demographic assumptions before they create exponential errors.

Speakers:
Bennett Zimmerman
Roberta Seid 
Michael Wise