Western Sahara
in Northern Africa
Africa

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Dirham - MAD
Spoken languages:
Arabic
Local electricity:
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 3G
ISO 2-Letter code:
EH
Internet top level domain:
.eh
Country phone prefix:
+212
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours

Explore Western Sahara

Western Sahara with its capital is located in Africa (Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 266,001 square kilometers (about the size of Colorado) with a population of 603,253. Arabic is the official language spoken by people in Western Sahara. Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco are bordering countries.

Western Sahara is an area in North Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco. Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Mostly low, flat desert, with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast. Low-lying sand dunes cover the territory.

Popular Destinations in Western Sahara

Administrative regions of Western Sahara

About the country

The topography is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast. The average density of population is about 2 per km². The climate in Western Sahara can be described as hot, dry desertrain being rare, cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew. Potential natural disasters are hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility

To reach someone Western Sahara dial +212 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".eh". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local . The sign for the locally used currency Dirham is MAD.

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Flag of Western Sahara

Western Sahara is a disputed territory on the northwest coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria. After Spain withdrew from its former colony of Spanish Sahara in 1976, Morocco annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara and claimed the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Morocco's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping operation. As part of this effort, the UN sought to offer a choice to the peoples of Western Sahara between independence (favored by the Polisario Front) or integration into Morocco. A proposed referendum never took place due to lack of agreement on voter eligibility. The 2,700 km- (1,700 mi-) long defensive sand berm, built by the Moroccans from 1980 to 1987 and running the length of the territory, continues to separate the opposing forces with Morocco controlling the roughly 80 percent of the territory west of the berm. Local demonstrations criticizing the Moroccan authorities occur regularly, and there are periodic ethnic tensions between the native Sahrawi population and Moroccan immigrants. Morocco maintains a heavy security presence in the territory.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 79) 266,000sq km
Land (World Rank: 75) 266,000sq km
Forest (World Rank: 95) 18.80%
Comparative about the size of Colorado
Coastline
1110
Landborder
2049
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 61) -55m
Highest point (World Rank: 180) 805m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 169) 18.80%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 95) 18.80%
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues sparse water and lack of arable land
Hazzards
  • - hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring
  • - widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
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

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 168) 603,253
Deathrate (World Rank: 89) 0.81%
Birthrate (World Rank: 41) 2.93%
Growthrate (World Rank: 13) 2.70%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 38) 3.86%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 181) 20.70
Female (World Rank: 181) 21.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 163) 113,581
0 14 female (World Rank: 162) 111,077
15 24 male (World Rank: 166) 59,309
15 24 female (World Rank: 166) 58,478
25 54 male (World Rank: 173) 102,031
25 54 female (World Rank: 173) 105,093
55 64 male (World Rank: 176) 14,153
55 64 female (World Rank: 176) 16,178
65 x male (World Rank: 178) 10,287
65 x female (World Rank: 176) 13,066
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 24) 5.33%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 192) 63years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 191) 65years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 193) 61years

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 198) 90,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 200) 83,700,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 9) 100.00%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 194) 1,700bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 188) 1,702bbl / day
Carbon footprint
300000

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 203) 906,500,000USD
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 193) 2,500USD
Source service (World Rank: 209) 40.00%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 175) 144,000
Products
Industries
  • - handicrafts
  • - phosphate mining
Agriculture
  • - camels
  • - fish
  • - fruits
  • - goats
  • - sheep
  • - vegetables
Exports phosphates
Imports
  • - foodstuffs
  • - fuel for fishing fleet

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 167) 3.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 165) 3.00

Nation

Adjective
Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Noun
Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
Background
Western Sahara is a disputed territory on the northwest coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria. After Spain withdrew from its former colony of Spanish Sahara in 1976, Morocco annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara and claimed the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Morocco's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping operation. As part of this effort, the UN sought to offer a choice to the peoples of Western Sahara between independence (favored by the Polisario Front) or integration into Morocco. A proposed referendum never took place due to lack of agreement on voter eligibility. The 2,700 km- (1,700 mi-) long defensive sand berm, built by the Moroccans from 1980 to 1987 and running the length of the territory, continues to separate the opposing forces with Morocco controlling the roughly 80 percent of the territory west of the berm. Local demonstrations criticizing the Moroccan authorities occur regularly, and there are periodic ethnic tensions between the native Sahrawi population and Moroccan immigrants. Morocco maintains a heavy security presence in the territory.

Communication

Phone
Assessment 0