Abstract:
This study aimed at identifying the demographic and housing characteristics in Salfit district. The district suffers fi•o1n a dearth or related studies and literature.
To achieve its objectives, the study depended on a survey distributed among population centers in Salfit area. The area itself was divided into three demographic patterns according to number or population: large towns, medium size towns and small villages. The researcher took randomly 6% of all families in Salfit area in order to achieve the study objectives.
The study consisted of nine chapters. The first chapter included the study plan, historical and geographical glimpse of Salfit area, statement of the problem; study objectives, hypotheses, sources, sample; statistical processing, problems in the study and review of literature.
The second chapter examined age structure and diversity or population. It was found that the Sal11t district population was predominantly youthful, demographically considered one of the transitional stages. The mean age was 19.9. The children-women ratio, in Salfit area, was 47.4% while ratio of old people-young people was 8.2%. It was also found that percentage of dependents (children), in Salflt area, was lower than in other Palestinian areas. In Salfit area, the percentage was 64.4% while gender ratio in the area was 110 males for 100 females.
The third chapter investigated the state of education in the area. The rate of illiteracy among those I 0 years old and over was 3.1% among males as opposed to 10% among females. The rate of illiteracy would increase as age categories increased. Chapter three also dwelt on distribution of population according to state of schooling, age and sex. High schooling was the most prevalent among all stages of education. Concerning sex, the percentage of educated males was higher than that of educated females owing to males' interest in education.
Chapter four tackled the population economic structure. The rate of raw economic activity was 19.5%. At the time of conducting the study. The rate of joblessness was 1.8%. On the other hand, the rate of general economic activity was 31.5%. The working males represented 6.1% of all males as opposed to 3.6o/o of all females. The construction profession took the highest percentage of employees (31 .3% of all employee). Some 45.8% of working people were working inside the Green Line. The average monthly income of an individual worker was 370.4 Jordanian dinars. This average income was higher than the average monthly income in Gaza Strip which amounted to 256 .7 Jordanian dinars. However, the average monthly income in Sal fit area was lower than in Nablus in which it amounted to 442.5 Jordanian dinars.
Chapter five investigated marital status of the population. The chapter mainly looked at population distribution according to age and sex. Unmarried males represented 28.4% of all males as opposed to 15.9%females. Percentage of married men was 3 1. 7%. However, the percentage of married woman was lower. The average age at first marriage, among males, was 23.8 as opposed to 21.6.
Chapter six focused on the structure of family. The average number of family members in the area was 5.9. It was also found the nuclear family pattern was the most common, representing 88% of all families.
In chapter seven, the researcher studied the housing characteristics. The total number of owned houses was 80.4%. Houses owned by the extended family represented 14.2%. It was also found that the percentage of owned houses in Salfit area was higher than in other Palestinian cities. and refugee camps. The average annual rent in Salfit was 5338 Jordanian dinars. Several construction materials were used in building housing units. Stone-built houses formed 24.5% while brick and concrete built houses represented 65.9% of all houses. Independent housing units represented 87 .7% of all housing units in the area. The area of a housing unit was 144 sq meters. This was found to be higher than average of area of housing units in other West Bank villages ( 117 sq meters). The average number of rooms, in the area of this study, was 4.36 rooms as. Opposed to lower average in other West Bank towns, villages and refugee camps. Ratio of occupancy was 1.35 individuals per room. Density was 0.042 persons per square meter.
Chapter eight was devoted to services available in housing units. It was found that 81 .3 of all homes had received water from the public water network as opposed to 14%> which had received their running water from wells. Some 96 .8% of all homes received their electricity from public electric network. Some 99. 7o/o of homes would dispose of their waste water (sewage) through cisterns. For heating, there was a rise in number of families depending on wood fire . (45.7%). Pertaining to durable goods, such as TV, refrigerator and satellite dishes .. . , there were different rates.
Chapter nine was devoted to the study findings and recommendations.