Statistical information Western Sahara 1995

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 pageLocation: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
AfricaAreaTotal area total: 266,000 km²
Land: 266,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado
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: 217,211 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.48% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
Adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic groups: Arab, Berber
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Religions: Muslim
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.48% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 46.9 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 18.52 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.62 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: sparse water and arable land
Current issues 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
Current issues international agreements: NA
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 148.95 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 46.31 years
Male: 45.34 years
Female: 47.59 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.91 children born/woman (1995 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 expendituresLiteracy: NA%
School 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 branch: none
Legislative 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, 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: $NA
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: limited largely to subsistence agriculture and fishing; 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, handicrafts
Industrial production 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 indexBudgetRevenues: $N/A
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 external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.892 (January 1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 60,000 kW
Production: 79 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 2,000 telephones; sparse and limited system
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, troposcatter, and 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations linked to Rabat, Morocco
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expenditures: $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
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 3
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
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