Since the foundation of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) in1993, it endeavors to provide recent and precise data that cover statistical indicators.  PCBS had conducted many periodic surveys in addition to the population, housing and establishment census 1997 to build a comprehensive information system that represents a true and clear picture of the Palestinians political, economical, social and land situation.  

PCBS persists to provide data on statistical indicators to all interested users in various ways and methods: publications, books, conferences, workshops, international network (Internet) or by any other available method in order to reach as many users as possible.  

Using maps in general and statistical maps in specific is considered as an important tool for presenting statistical data, since it is considered a concise, easy and clear way to provide the user with the information. PCBS had given a great attention to develop this way of publication through providing the up-to-date hardware, software and training.  PCBS had decided to release interactive statistical maps (statistical atlas) that cover the most important statistical indicators and for various years.  This project came as a result of the continuous development of technology in general and in GIS in specific.  GIS software is considered an important and efficient factor in the process of manipulating, publishing and analyzing statistical data. It offers a wide range of choices to study and analyze the data in addition to linking it to its spatial location and disseminating it electronically.

Using internet GIS software provides the ability to distribute spatial and statistical information widely and easily. It enables the user to compare between the past and the present and give him a look into the future. It saves time and effort required by  researchers, students and other users to analyze data and help them in understanding and manipulating it through linking data to its location on the map.

Producing this Atlas is considered as an important output of PCBS as well as it is considered a developed method of statistical data dissemination. It is a distinguished and qualitative transfer in the Bureau work, as it includes computerized statistical maps using the latest technologies and programs used in GIS.

The atlas site consists of statistical maps covering a wide range of the most important statistical indicators in demography, economic and land. Also the atlas site provides a summary of the concepts and definitions used in these maps, methodology of data collection and data quality.

Statistical Atlas Goals:

Main goal: The Atlas aims in general to present statistics in an attractive and easy way, that links data to its spatial location on the computerized maps which are considered an easy method for producing data.

Other specific goals for atlas are:

1. Disseminating statistical data using the most recent technology.
2. Offering a wider domain for the user to choose and build maps (from available data) according to his needs.
3. Offering a permanent and renewable information source, using the maps as a presentation tool.