Western Sahara

legal status of territory and question of sovereignty

Western Sahara as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 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 sq km

LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between

1995

Every edition of Western Sahara

Populationas each edition published it

217,211 people July 1995 est. · 191,707 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.48% 1995 est. · 2.52% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2009

Life expectancyyears at birth

46.31 years 1995 est. · 44.88 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.91 children per woman 1995 est. · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

148.95 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 177 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $300 in 1993

Geography

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between | Mauritania and Morocco

13 fields

Land useshare of 266,000 sq km

permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 19%forest and woodland 0%other 81%arable land 0% in all

Area

266,000sq km

land area: 266,000 sq kmcomparative 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

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco

International 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 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

Environment

current issues:: sparse water and arable land
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
international agreements:: NA

People

15 fields

Population

217,211

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.48% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

46.9Death

18.52Net migration

-3.62

Labor force

12,000

by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Infant mortality rate

148.95 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 46.31 years
male:: 45.34 years
female:: 47.59 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective:: Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Government

Legal status of territory and question of sovereignty

9 fields

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Western Sahara

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)

Diplomatic representation in US

none

Economy

Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and | having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and | phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the | population.

18 fields

Installed generating capacity, 60,000 kW

Electricity production

79 millionElectricity consumption per capita

339 (1993)

Overview

Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as 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. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level.

National product

GDP $NA

National product real growth rate

NA%

National product per capita

$NA

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%

Industries

phosphate mining, handicrafts

Agriculture

limited largely to subsistence agriculture and fishing;
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

Transportation

4 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 14 in all

2,438 to 3,047 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

6,200Railroads

Highways: unpaved: gravel 1,450 km; improved, unimproved earth, tracks 4,750 km

Highways

total:: 6,200 km
unpaved:: gravel 1,450 km; improved, unimproved earth, tracks 4,750 km

Ports

Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, El Aaiun

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

2,000 telephones; sparse and limited system

local:: NA
intercity:: NA
international:: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, troposcatter, and 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations linked to Rabat, Morocco