Country Profile: wi

Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory located on the northwest coast of Africa, bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria. The region has a complex history marked by a guerrilla war for sovereignty, resulting in a cease-fire and a UN peacekeeping operation established in 1991. With a population of approximately 652,000, the economy is primarily driven by fishing, phosphate mining, and pastoral nomadism, while governance remains contentious due to Morocco's administrative control and the ongoing claims of the Polisario Front for independence.

Geography

Western Sahara is situated in Northern Africa, with a coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean. The territory spans approximately 266,000 sq km, which is about the size of Colorado. The terrain consists of mostly low, flat desert, punctuated by small mountain ranges, and features a hot, dry desert climate where rainfall is scarce. The region's natural resources include phosphates and iron ore, although its arid conditions hinder extensive agriculture.

1,110 km of coastline
2,049 km of land boundaries with Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco
256 m average elevation, with the lowest point at -55 m (Sebjet Tah)

People And Society

The estimated population of Western Sahara is 652,271 as of July 2020, predominantly comprising Sahrawis and other ethnic groups such as Arabs and Berbers. Urbanization is significant, with 86.8% of residents living in urban areas, largely due to economic activities and migration patterns. The primary languages spoken include Standard Arabic, Hassaniya Arabic, and Spanish, with Islam as the predominant religion.

40% of the population resides in Laayoune
36.29% of the population is aged 0-14 years
4.1% of the population is aged 65 years and over
28 births/1,000 population birth rate (2020)

Economy

The economy of Western Sahara is small and market-based, mainly reliant on fishing, phosphate mining, and tourism. The Moroccan government has significant control over the economy, which complicates the exploitation of resources due to unresolved sovereignty issues. Despite these challenges, recent investments aim to develop the region further, although agriculture remains limited by environmental conditions.

$906.5 million GDP (2007 estimate, PPP)
$2,500 GDP per capita (2007 estimate, PPP)
Phosphates accounted for 62% of exports (2012 estimate)

Government

Western Sahara's governance is characterized by an unresolved legal status and competing claims of sovereignty between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The territory is administratively partitioned, with Morocco controlling roughly three-quarters. The international community remains divided on the issue, with some countries recognizing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, while others support Morocco's autonomy proposal.

No official capital due to the disputed status
Suffrage is not applicable; residents in Moroccan-controlled areas participate in Moroccan elections

Military And Security

The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been active since 1991, tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Moroccan forces and the Polisario Front. The mission's personnel conduct operations aimed at reducing the risks associated with mines and support ongoing humanitarian efforts.

Approximately 460 UN personnel deployed as of November 2019

Energy

Western Sahara currently lacks major energy production, relying entirely on fossil fuels for any installed capacity. The region has no significant reserves of crude oil or natural gas, and electricity generation is virtually non-existent.

58,000 kW installed generating capacity (2016 estimate)
1,700 bbl/day refined petroleum products consumption (2016)

Transportation

The territory has a limited transportation infrastructure, featuring six airports, three of which have paved runways. Major seaports such as Laayoune facilitate limited maritime trade primarily through fishing activities.

6 airports (2013), with 3 paved runways (2019)

Communications

Telecommunication services in Western Sahara are sparse and mostly tied to Moroccan systems. Internet access is available, but infrastructure development is limited, affecting overall connectivity.

Country code: .eh
International connection through 2 Intelsat satellite earth stations linked to Morocco

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	652,271	July 2020 estimate
Area	266,000 sq km	Comparable to Colorado
GDP (PPP)	$906.5 million	2007 estimate
GDP per capita (PPP)	$2,500	2007 estimate
Birth rate	28 births/1,000	2020 estimate
Urban population	86.8%	2020 estimate
Infant mortality rate	47.9 deaths/1,000 live births	2020 estimate
Life expectancy	64.5 years	2020 estimate
Median age	21.8 years	2020 estimate
Unemployment rate	NA	Data not available