Western Sahara
Western Sahara keeps a steady and stable profile in Africa. Across the board, it neither leads nor lags dramatically. How well do you really know Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is a country in Africa and an area of 266,000 km².
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Life Expectancy
71.4 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Fertility Rate
3.65The average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime based on current birth rates.
Urban Population (%)
86.8%The percentage of people living in cities and urban areas.
Coastline Length
1.1KTotal coastline length from CIA World Factbook.
Land Boundaries Length
2.0KTotal land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
👥Fertility Rate
3.65The average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime based on current birth rates.
👥Birth Rate
28The number of babies born per 1,000 people each year.
👥Urban Population (%)
86.8%The percentage of people living in cities and urban areas.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #227 in lowest elevation
Lowest Elevation: -55
Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #31 globally in fertility rate
Fertility Rate: 3.65
The average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime based on current birth rates.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #186 in irrigated land
Irrigated Land: 0
Irrigated land area from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #34 globally in birth rate
Birth Rate: 28
The number of babies born per 1,000 people each year.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowAbout Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a non-self-governing 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 Western Sahara between independence (favored by the Polisario Front) or integration into Morocco. A proposed referendum on the question of independence never took place due to lack of agreement on voter eligibility. The approximately 1,600 km- (almost 1,000 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 three-quarters of the territory west of the berm. There are periodic ethnic tensions between the native Sahrawi population and Moroccan immigrants. Morocco maintains a heavy security presence in the territory. The UN revived direct talks about the territory between Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania in December 2018.
- Location
- Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
- Climate
- hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
- Terrain
- mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
- Natural Resources
- phosphates, iron ore
- Natural Hazards
- hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
- Size Comparison
- about the size of Colorado
- Languages
- Standard Arabic, Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, Berber, Spanish, French
- Religions
- Muslim
- Ethnic Groups
- Arab, Berber
- Major Cities
- 232,000 Laayoune (2018)
- Government Type
- 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 of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), near Tindouf, Algeria, led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ until his death in May 2016; current President Brahim GHALI elected in July 2016; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976 when Spain withdrew, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; Morocco between 1980 and 1987 built a fortified sand berm delineating the roughly 75% of Western Sahara west of the barrier that currently is controlled by Morocco; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
- Capital Timezone
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- self-descriptive name specifying the territory's western location on the African continent's vast desert
- Overview
- Western Sahara has a small market-based economy whose main industries are fishing, phosphate mining, tourism, and pastoral nomadism. The territory's arid desert climate makes sedentary agriculture difficult, and much of its food is imported. 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 December 2013 finalized a four-year agreement allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. As of April 2018, Moroccan and EU authorities were negotiating an amendment to renew the agreement. ++ Oil has never been found in Western Sahara in commercially significant quantities, but Morocco and the Polisario have quarreled over rights 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. However, following King MOHAMMED VI's November 2015 visit to Western Sahara, the Government of Morocco announced a series of investments aimed at spurring economic activity in the region, while the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises announced a $609 million investment initiative in the region in March 2015.
- Industries
- phosphate mining, handicrafts
- Export Commodities
- phosphates 62% (2012 est.)
- Import Commodities
- fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Deep Dive
13 of 14 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Mauritania
Morocco
Senegal
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Burkina FasoShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Western Sahara!
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Sahara
Western Sahara is located in Africa. It has an area of 266,000 km².
Western Sahara ranks particularly high in Life Expectancy (#160), Fertility Rate (#31), Birth Rate (#34).
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