Photo: KlausFoehl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 07 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Palestine: Environment & Sustainability
How much pressure does a country put on the natural world?
Palestine is placed 24th of 186 countries on environment & sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: CO₂ Emissions per Capita 0.87 (2024); Ecological Footprint 1.112 (2025).
Share
Environment & Sustainability
24th
of 186 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Palestine on environment & sustainability — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.87
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)
Lower is better
Palestine: 0.87. Across the 210 countries in this edition, values run from 0.054 (DR Congo) to 41.27 (Qatar); the world median is 3.21.
- World median
- 3.21
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.249 Yemen
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 2.217 · Israel 5.607 · Jordan 2.01
Key 2 of 4
Water Stress
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2023 figure for Palestine, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 177 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Republic of the Congo) to 3,851 (Kuwait); the world median is 10.
- World median
- 10
- Best in Western Asia
- 4.21 Georgia
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 112.93 · Israel 119.58 · Jordan 105.2
Key 3 of 4
Organic Agricultural Area
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Organic share of agricultural land (%)
Higher is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Palestine, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Afghanistan) to 86.38 (Samoa); the world median is 0.725.
- World median
- 0.725
- Best in Western Asia
- 8.77 Cyprus
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 2.74 · Israel 0.76 · Jordan 0.14
1.112
Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)
Lower is better
Palestine: 1.112. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 0.514 (Yemen) to 11.73 (Qatar); the world median is 2.296.
- World median
- 2.296
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.514 Yemen
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 1.362 · Israel 3.983 · Jordan 1.375
02Over time
Which way Palestine is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
CO₂ Emissions per Capita
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) · lower is better
PalestineWorld median
Palestine rose from 0.527 in 2000 to 0.87 in 2024; the world median went from 2.662 to 3.21.
Every year’s figures
Year Palestine World median 2024 0.870 3.210 2023 0.879 3.145 2022 0.886 3.162 2021 0.701 3.087 2020 0.656 2.903 2019 0.658 3.273 2018 0.610 3.036 2017 0.688 3.049 2016 0.698 2.894 2015 0.664 2.846 2014 0.642 2.919 2013 0.565 2.779 2012 0.521 2.770 2011 0.546 2.748 2010 0.506 2.812 2009 0.533 2.799 2008 0.536 2.979 2007 0.623 2.593 2006 0.622 2.865 2005 0.769 2.885 2004 0.630 2.802 2003 0.375 2.918 2002 0.347 2.785 2001 0.415 2.726 2000 0.527 2.662 Ecological Footprint
Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person) · lower is better
PalestineWorld median
Palestine rose from 0.956 in 2004 to 1.112 in 2025; the world median went from 2.105 to 2.296.
Every year’s figures
Year Palestine World median 2025 1.11164 2.2963 2024 1.12085 2.3139 2023 1.13676 2.3174 2022 1.27851 2.2724 2021 1.28213 2.3370 2020 1.14204 2.3057 2019 1.26709 2.2578 2018 1.27304 2.2485 2017 1.25712 2.2209 2016 1.18564 2.2308 2015 1.18739 2.3000 2014 1.24420 2.3814 2013 1.10976 2.3363 2012 1.11278 2.4200 2011 1.16694 2.4794 2010 1.15858 2.3679 2009 1.11238 2.2224 2008 1.09872 2.1727 2007 1.09875 2.2036 2006 0.90009 2.1203 2005 0.90843 2.1512 2004 0.95571 2.1055 2003 — 2.0449 2002 — 2.1195 2001 — 2.2004 2000 — 1.9499
03In context
Palestine beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 186 countries on environment & sustainability, never a place within the region.
Palestine and the countries it borders
Standing among all 186; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | CO₂ Emissions per CapitaFossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) | Water StressFreshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%) | Organic Agricultural AreaOrganic share of agricultural land (%) | Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint (global hectares per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palestine | 24th | 0.87 | — | — | 1.112 |
 Egypt | 96th | 2.217 | 112.93 | 2.74 | 1.362 |
 Jordan | 136th | 2.01 | 105.2 | 0.14 | 1.375 |
 Israel | 163rd | 5.607 | 119.58 | 0.76 | 3.983 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 186.
Placed either side on environment & sustainability
The countries immediately above and below Palestine in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Palestine is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under environment & sustainability, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Palestine does better than the middle country measured.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27939.395.279▲ Improved since 2014
Palestine: 39.39 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
Children's Climate Risk IndexUNICEF · 2020 · world median 53.85No earlier reading
Palestine: 3.8 · world median 5 · Children's Climate Risk Index (0–10, higher is more risk). UNICEF, 2021 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 8.7; lower is better.
Ranked 111th of 163 by UNICEF (1st = worst).
Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 32.0639.3932.06▲ Improved since 2014
Palestine: 39.39 · world median 32.06 · Renewables (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 162 · derived.
Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 0.9660.8830.966No earlier reading
Palestine: 0.883 · world median 0.966 · Municipal solid waste generated (kg per person per day). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.058 to 4.176; lower is better.
Position 106th of 201 · derived, 1st = worst.
Carbon Intensity of ElectricityEmber · 2024 · world median 433.75417.17433.75▲ Improved since 2014
Palestine: 417.17 · world median 433.75 · Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 23.73 to 1,306; lower is better.
Position 87th of 165 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3239.3937.32▲ Improved since 2014
Palestine: 39.39 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 81st of 162 · derived.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which Palestine does worse than the middle country measured.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.6530.678▼ Worsened since 2013
Palestine: 0.653 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 90th of 156 · derived.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4521.914.45No real change since 2013
Palestine: 21.9 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 66th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7388.6832.738▼ Worsened since 2014
Palestine: 8.683 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Palestine: 0 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
No better end13
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.04939.393.049Moved since 2014
Palestine: 39.39 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.9664.9337.96Moved since 2013
Palestine: 64.93 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 31st of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.36199.5287.36Moved since 2013
Palestine: 199.52 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 37th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.1970.144Moved since 2014
Palestine: 0.197 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Agricultural Irrigated LandFAO · 2023 · world median 3.663.6533.66No earlier reading
Palestine: 3.653 · world median 3.66 · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 89.04.
Position 62nd of 121 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Burned AreaGWIS · 2025 · world median 13,8241,11613,824Moved since 2015
Palestine: 1,116 · world median 13,824 · Burned area (hectares). European Commission Joint Research Centre — Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50,562,035.
Tree Cover LossWorld Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland) · 2025 · world median 3,775113.383,775Moved since 2015
Palestine: 113.38 · world median 3,775 · Tree cover loss (hectares, where canopy cover exceeded 30% in 2000). World Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 6,225,187.
Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 2015 · world median 2.9540.2052.954No real change since 1990
Palestine: 0.205 · world median 2.954 · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population). Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University, 2015 edition, data for 2015.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 78.48.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,27820,698689,278Moved since 2013
Palestine: 20,698 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 148th of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Forest AreaFAO · 2023 · world median 31.081.68331.08No real change since 2013
Palestine: 1.683 · world median 31.08 · Forest area (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 94.45.
Position 189th of 210 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,37528252,375Moved since 2014
Palestine: 282 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1090.0080.109Moved since 2013
Palestine: 0.008 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 192nd of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.70801.708No real change since 2011
Palestine: 0 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 180th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Palestine
Adjusted Net Savings, Agricultural Emissions, Agricultural Emissions Intensity, Annual Forest Area Change Rate, Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct), Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN), Consumption-Based CO₂ Emissions, Cropland Nitrogen Balance, Environmentally Related Tax Revenue, Forest Area within Legally Established Protected Areas, Livestock Density, Mangrove Area, Meat Supply per Person, Methane Emissions, ND-GAIN Country Index, Operating Coal Power Capacity, Operating Wind Power Capacity, Organic Agricultural Area, Pesticide Use per Hectare, Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per Capita (last 2021), Temperature Change on Land, Tropical Moist Forest Deforestation, Water Stress, Water Withdrawal by Sector (last 2020), Water-Use Efficiency, World Energy Trilemma Index and World Risk Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Environment & Sustainability among Palestine’s 12 topics
Environment & Sustainability is Palestine’s best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability24th of 1862/4 keys
- Energy70th of 1652/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 70th of 1592/3 keys
- Digital & Technology108th of 1982/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital119th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience125th of 1932/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing140th of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge140th of 1983/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions140th of 1942/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation156th of 1763/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties180th of 1982/4 keys
- Gender & Equality177th of 1833/4 keys
No standing on Work & Labour, Peace & Security, Mobility & Trade, Food & Agriculture: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on environment & sustainability
The three countries placed highest of 186, and the leaders Palestine can most readily be measured against.
1
AngolaMiddle Africa
1st of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk · CC0, greyscale
- 2
São Tomé and PríncipeMiddle Africa
2nd of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
3
Sierra LeoneWestern Africa
3rd of 186 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Palestine24th2/4 keys
Positions out of 186 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Palestine on environment & sustainability: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Palestine rank on environment & sustainability?
Palestine is placed 24th of 186 countries on Environment & Sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (CO₂ Emissions per Capita and Ecological Footprint). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest CO₂ Emissions per Capita figure for Palestine?
0.87 in 2024 (fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)), according to Global Carbon Project. The world median in the same edition was 3.21.
What is the latest Ecological Footprint figure for Palestine?
1.112 in 2025 (ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)), according to Global Footprint Network. The world median in the same edition was 2.296.
How does Palestine compare with Egypt on environment & sustainability?
Egypt is placed 96th of 186, and Palestine 24th. CO₂ Emissions per Capita: Egypt 2.217, Palestine 0.87; Ecological Footprint: Egypt 1.362, Palestine 1.112.
How have Palestine’s environment & sustainability figures changed?
CO₂ Emissions per Capita rose from 0.527 in 2000 to 0.87 in 2024; Ecological Footprint rose from 0.956 in 2004 to 1.112 in 2025.
Which environment & sustainability statistics are missing for Palestine?
No current reading is published for Palestine on Adjusted Net Savings, Agricultural Emissions, Agricultural Emissions Intensity, Annual Forest Area Change Rate, Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct), Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN), Consumption-Based CO₂ Emissions, Cropland Nitrogen Balance, Environmentally Related Tax Revenue, Forest Area within Legally Established Protected Areas, Livestock Density, Mangrove Area, Meat Supply per Person, Methane Emissions, ND-GAIN Country Index, Operating Coal Power Capacity, Operating Wind Power Capacity, Organic Agricultural Area, Pesticide Use per Hectare, Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per Capita, Temperature Change on Land, Tropical Moist Forest Deforestation, Water Stress, Water Withdrawal by Sector, Water-Use Efficiency, World Energy Trilemma Index and World Risk Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Air quality and biodiversity are not keys, because the site does not yet hold data for them that passes every test. Forest cover, farmland, farm emissions and the renewable share of electricity are published here as context. Exposure to natural hazards belongs to Risk & Resilience.
How the Environment & Sustainability standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The environment & sustainability method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- CO₂ Emissions per Capita — Global Carbon Project, CC BY 4.0
- Water Stress — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Organic Agricultural Area — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Ecological Footprint — Global Footprint Network, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 10 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Palestine’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Palestine (banner) — KlausFoehl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Angola — Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk, CC0
- Sierra Leone — Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Palestine: Environment & Sustainability — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/palestine/environment