Western Sahara

Overview

Western Sahara is special status in Northern Africa, Africa.

Disputed territory. Names and boundaries do not imply endorsement of any claim.

Every figure names its source, year, and whether it is an actual value, an estimate, or a projection. Missing values stay missing.

ISO alpha-2

EH

ISO alpha-3

ESH

UN M49

732

Wikidata

Q6250

People

Population stocks and demographic rates are from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium variant unless another source is named. Years from 2024 onward are projections.

PopulationProjection

605,978

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Population (1 July)Projection

610,813

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Population growth rateProjection

1.6 percent

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Population densityProjection

2.3 persons per km²

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s density is below the Northern Africa median of 30.2 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 90.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Median ageProjection

32.8 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s median age is above the Northern Africa median of 28.8 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 29.8 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Population sex ratioProjection

122 males per 100 females

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Total fertility rateProjection

2.1 live births per woman

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s tfr is below the Northern Africa median of 2.2 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 2 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Crude birth rateProjection

14.7 per 1,000 population

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Net number of migrantsProjection

4,689

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Net migration rateProjection

7.7 per 1,000 population

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Economy

National accounts and related World Bank series. Totals are not comparable as “averages” across countries; rates such as GDP per capita include same-year cohort medians where coverage allows.

Gross domestic product

—

Figure not published for this entity.

GDP per capita

—

Figure not published for this entity.

Unemployment, totalProjection

9.1 percent of labour force

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

Western Sahara’s unemployment is below the Northern Africa median of 10.4 (6 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 5.1 among 178 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Labour force participation rateProjection

57.2 percent of population ages 15+

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

Western Sahara’s lfpr is above the Northern Africa median of 44.7 (6 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 62 among 174 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Employment-to-population ratioProjection

52 percent of population ages 15+

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

Youth unemployment rateProjection

24.1 percent of labour force ages 15–24

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

Development

Human development indices are published only from the latest UNDP HDR series. This build does not invent a substitute index.

Human Development Index

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Gender Development Index

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Gender Inequality Index

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Multidimensional Poverty Index

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Health and education

Life expectancy and mortality are UN WPP series unless labelled otherwise. Education figures are UNESCO UIS (CC BY-SA, isolated) where a comparable series exists; otherwise they stay missing.

Life expectancy at birthProjection

72 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s life expectancy is below the Northern Africa median of 75.2 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 74.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Crude death rateProjection

6.6 per 1,000 population

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Life expectancy at birth (male)Projection

70.2 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s life exp. male is below the Northern Africa median of 72.7 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 70.9 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Life expectancy at birth (female)Projection

74.2 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s life exp. female is below the Northern Africa median of 77.8 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 77.4 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Infant mortality rateProjection

21.2 per 1,000 live births

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s infant mortality is above the Northern Africa median of 12.8 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 11.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Under-five mortality rateProjection

25.2 per 1,000 live births

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Western Sahara’s u5mr is above the Northern Africa median of 15.2 (7 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 12.9 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Prevalence of undernourishment

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Adult literacy rate

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Youth literacy rate

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Mean years of schooling

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

School life expectancy

No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Geography

Region

Africa

Subregion

Northern Africa

Natural Earth ADM0_A3

SAH

Cartographic size

Tiny state on the 50m globe (point or small polygon)

Government

Classification is descriptive and is not a recognition of legal claims.Map and status policy.

Status

Special status

Publication tier

Additional profile

Disputed territory. Names and boundaries do not imply endorsement of any claim.

Sources

Names, classifications, and boundaries are for statistical and cartographic use and do not constitute recognition of legal claims.