Statistical information Western Sahara 1993

Western Sahara in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 and is not expected to occur until at least 2002.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 266,000 km²
Land: 266,000 km²
Land boundaries:
total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km,
Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
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
ElevationNatural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land useArable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 19%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 206,629 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.52% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
Adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic groups: Arab, Berber
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Total population: NA%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
Religions: Muslim
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 47.54 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 19.57 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration ratePopulation distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility; sparse water and arable land
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 155.5 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 44.88 years
Male: 43.98 years
Female: 46.06 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.01 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracySchool life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Western Sahara
Government 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
Capital: none
Administrative divisions: none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Dependent areasIndependenceNational holidayConstitutionLegal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrageExecutive branchLegislative branchJudicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: none
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none
From the us: none
Flag description
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little rainfall, has a per capita GDP of roughly $300. Pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining are 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: $300 (1991 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: limited largely to subsistence agriculture; 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
Industries: phosphate mining, fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA%
Labor force: 12,000
By occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: NA
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.)
Commodoties: 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.)
Commodoties: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricityProduction: 60,000 kW capacity; 79 million kWh produced, 425 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 14
Usable: 14
With permanentsurface runways: 3
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 3
With runways 1220-2439 m: 5
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international:
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
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs