in the 1922 census of palestine conducted by the british mandate authorities, sha'ab had a population of 1,206; 1,166 muslims and 40 christians, where the christians were 15 orthodox and 25 melkites. the population increased slightly in the 1931 census to 1,297; 1,277 muslims, 19 christians and 1 jew, in a total of 284 houses.