With a name that predates to Roman times when it was referred to as "Kalkelie", this informal name is still used by its residents today. With a population of 42,000 inhabitants in 2008, Qalqilya has experienced an annual growth rate of 3.8 percent.

Like other cities of the West Bank, Qalqilya’s economy has been strangled in recent years due to the wall and isolation from the rest of West Bank and Israel. The town was once frequented by Israelis shopping for produce and relatively cheap services. Today, Israeli law prevents Israelis from entering the town, which is Area A under the Oslo accords.

Qalqilya has also been dramatically affected by the construction of Israelzzz*zs Wall around the town, severing it from agricultural lands. Landowners are supposed to be able to gain access to their land through special permits, but families have found that only certain members are allowed to cross the boundary of the Wall.