Western Sahara
legal status of territory and question of
Western Sahara as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 72 fields, one of 31 editions from 1990 to 2020.
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Geography
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, | between Mauritania and Morocco
14 fieldsLand useshare of 266,000 sq km
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 in effect since September 1991
Terrain
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
- lowest point:
- Sebjet Tah -55 m
- highest point:
- unnamed location 463 m
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 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- NA male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- NA male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- NA male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- NA male(s)/female
- all ages:
- NA male(s)/female
Government
Legal status of territory and question of
9 fieldsType of government
- 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
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.
20 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 60,000 kW
Economic 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.
Agriculture
fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by the nomads)
Exports
$NA
- commodities:
- phosphates 62%
- partners:
- Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports
$NA
- commodities:
- fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
- partners:
- Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Exchange rates
Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.607 (January 1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991)
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 12 in all
Networkskm
Communications
NA
9 fieldsTelephone system
sparse and limited system
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite;
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Western Sahara.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/western-sahara/1996.