Western Sahara

legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved

Western Sahara as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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
Position24 30 N, 13 00 W
Area266,000 sq km
LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
2002

Every edition of Western Sahara

Populationas each edition published it
256,177 people July 2002 est. · 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
Not in this edition 7.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
Not in this edition 177 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $300 in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire; a referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 266,000 sq km

permanent crops 0%other 100% (1998 est.)arable land 0% in all
Area
266,000sq km
water: 0 sq kmland: 266,000 sq kmabout the size of Colorado
Coastline
1,110km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Highest point
463m
unnamed locationlowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
Land boundaries
2,046km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

24 30 N, 13 00 W

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

Environment - current issues

sparse water and lack of arable land

Environment - international agreements

party to:
none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas

People

17 fields
Population
256,177
(July 2002 est.)growth rate: NA (2002 est.)

Age structure

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

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Arab, Berber

Religions

Muslim

Languages

Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

Literacy

definition:
NA
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%

Government

Legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved

10 fields

Country name

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

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),led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ and recognized by 54 nations;
  • 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)

Suffrage

none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed

Economy

Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population.

32 fields

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · other 0% · nuclear 0%
Electricity production
90 million (2000)Electricity consumption
83.7 million (2000)

Economy - overview

Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government.

Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
40%-45% (1996 est.) (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%

Budget

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

Industries

phosphate mining, handicrafts

Agriculture - products

fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)

Exports - commodities

phosphates 62%

Exports - partners

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Imports - commodities

fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Currency

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (January 2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Internet users
1
(2000) · country code .eh

Telephones - main lines in use

about 2,000 (1999 est.)

Telephone system

general assessment:
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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

56,000 (1997)

Televisions

6,000 (1997)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

2,438 to 3,047 m
3

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

1,524 to 2,437 m
1914 to 1,523 m
4under 914 m
3

Networkskm

Highways
6,200Railways
0
Highways: paved: 1,350 km · unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est.)

Highways

total:
6,200 km
paved:
1,350 km
unpaved:
4,850 km (1991 est.)

Ports and harbors

Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)

Airports

11 (2001)

Military

2 fields

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

  • Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved;
  • UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties reject other proposals

Central Intelligence Agency. “Western Sahara.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/western-sahara/2002.

How to cite ← 2001 edition 2003 edition →