Page last updated on January 10, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Western Sahara is a disputed territory on the northwest coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria. After Spain withdrew from its former colony of Spanish Sahara in 1976, Morocco annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara and claimed the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Morocco's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping operation. As part of this effort, the UN sought to offer a choice to the peoples of the Western Sahara between independence (favored by the Polisario Front) or integration into Morocco. A proposed referendum never took place due to lack of agreement on voter eligibility. The 2,700 km- (1,700 mi-) long defensive sand berm, built by the Moroccans from 1980 to 1987 and running the length of the territory, continues to separate the opposing forces with Morocco controlling the roughly 80 percent of the territory west of the berm. Ethnic tensions in Western Sahara occasionally erupt into violence requiring a Moroccan security force response.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 266,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 78
land: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,110 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 805 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 0.02%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.98% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Arab, Berber
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Standard Arabic (national), Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Muslim
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
538,811 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2013 est.)
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 104,539/female 102,315)
15-24 years: 19.7% (male 53,536/female 52,814)
25-54 years: 33.5% (male 88,716/female 91,874)
55-64 years: 4.7% (male 11,870/female 13,518)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 8,616/female 11,013) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 41.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 37.5 %
elderly dependency ratio: 3.7 %
potential support ratio: 27 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 20.6 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 21.1 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.96% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.18 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.64 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 82% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Laayoune 237,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 57.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 30
male: 62.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 61.9 years
country comparison to the world: 189
male: 59.65 years
female: 64.23 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.15 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara
former: Rio de Oro, Saguia el Hamra, Spanish Sahara
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), near Tindouf, Algeria, led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Laayoune (administrative center)
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in September
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (territory west of the berm under de facto Moroccan control)
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none; (residents of Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara participate in Moroccan elections)
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
AU, CAN (observer), WFTU (NGOs)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Western Sahara has a small market-based economy whose main industries are fishing, phosphate mining, and pastoral nomadism. The territory's arid desert climate makes sedentary agriculture difficult, and Western Sahara imports much of its food. The Moroccan Government administers Western Sahara's economy and is a key source of employment, infrastructure development, and social spending in the territory. Western Sahara's unresolved legal status makes the exploitation of its natural resources a contentious issue between Morocco and the Polisario. Morocco and the EU in July 2006 signed a four-year agreement allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara, but this agreement was terminated in 2011. Oil has never been found in Western Sahara in commercially significant quantities, but Morocco and the Polisario have quarreled over who has the right to authorize and benefit from oil exploration in the territory. Western Sahara's main long-term economic challenge is the development of a more diverse set of industries capable of providing greater employment and income to the territory.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$906.5 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 40% (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
144,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 50%
industry and services: 50% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
phosphates 62%
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
90 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
83.7 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 204
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,948 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,702 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 206
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
316,700 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Communications:
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: sparse and limited system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco (2008)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Morocco's state-owned broadcaster, Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM), operates a radio service from Laayoune and relays TV service; a Polisario-backed radio station also broadcasts (2008)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.eh
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 174
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m:
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Ad Dakhla, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 79,489
females age 16-49: 87,362 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 5,523
female: 5,429 (2010 est.)