Western Sahara

legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved

Western Sahara as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 56 fields, one of 31 editions from 1990 to 2020.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

Capitalnone

Area266,000 km2

1992

Every edition of Western Sahara

Populationas each edition published it

201,467 people July 1992 · 191,707 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.52% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2009

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 44.88 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

7.1 children per woman 1992 · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

159 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 177 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $300 in 1993

Geography

12 fields

Total area

266,000km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado

Coastline

1,110km

Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

Land boundaries

2,046km total

Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

Disputes

claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue;
the UN-administered cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991

Climate

hot, dry desert;
rain is rare;
cold offshore 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

Land use

arable land NEGL%;
permanent crops 0%;
meadows and pastures 19%;
forest and woodland 0%;
other 81%

Environment

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring;
widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility;
sparse water and arable land

People

14 fields

Population

201,467

(July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

48Death

20Net migration

-2

Nationality

noun - Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s); adjective - Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Labor force

12,000; 50% animal husbandry and subsistence farming

Government

Legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved

7 fields

Type

legal status of territory and question 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);
territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, 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 OAU member in 1984;
guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991

Administrative divisions

none (under de facto control of Morocco)

Economy

Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little | rainfall, has a per capita GDP of roughly $300.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$60million

per capita $300; real growth rate NA% (1991 est.)

Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little rainfall, has a per capita GDP of roughly $300. Pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining are the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government.

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports

$8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.)

commodities:: phosphates 62%
partners:: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Imports

$30 million (c.i.f., 1982 est.)

commodities:: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
partners:: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

External debt

$NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

60,000 kW capacity; 79 million kWh produced, 425 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

phosphate, fishing, handicrafts

Agriculture

limited largely to subsistence agriculture;
some barley is grown in nondrought years;
fruit and vegetables are grown in the few oases;
food imports are essential;
camels, sheep, and goats are kept by the nomadic natives;
cash economy exists largely for the garrison forces

Communications

4 fields

Airports, 13 total, 13 usable

permanent-surface runways

3runways | over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

3runways 1,220-2,439 m

sparse and limited system;
tied into Morocco's system by microwave, tropospheric scatter, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations linked to Rabat, Morocco;
2,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV

Defense Forces

3 fields

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