What is the population of Western Sahara in 2026?
Western Sahara has a population of 587,259 people, which is 172nd in the world and about 0.01% of the global total.
Officially Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Population 2026
587,259
0.01% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual Growth
+2.54%
+14,916 people a year
Archive estimateDensity
2/km²
266,000 km² land area
Archive estimateMedian Age
32.6 years
Life expectancy 70.3 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Western Sahara
With a population of 587,259, Western Sahara ranks 170th globally and covers 266,000 km² of sparsely settled territory, averaging just 2 people per km². The vast majority—87%—live in urban areas, concentrated primarily in the capital El Aaiún. Annual growth of 2.5% reflects a median age of 32.6 years and a fertility rate of 2.4 births per woman, while life expectancy stands at 70.3 years.
Economic output averages $2,500 per capita. The territory borders Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco, and three currencies circulate: the Algerian dinar, Moroccan dirham, and Mauritanian ouguiya. Berber, Hassaniya, and Spanish are spoken among the population.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- El Aaiún
- Continent
- Africa
- ISO codes
- EH · ESH
- Demonym
- Sahrawi
- Currency
- Algerian dinar (DZD دج), Moroccan dirham (MAD DH), Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU UM)
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +2
- Internet TLD
- .eh
- Land neighbours
- 3
Languages
- Berber
- Hassaniya
- Spanish
Demographics
Not published for Western Sahara: Birth Rate, Death Rate.
Economy
Not published for Western Sahara: GDP Growth, Unemployment Rate, Inflation Rate, Poverty Rate, Gini Index.
Health
None of our sources publish these indicators for Western Sahara.
Education
None of our sources publish these indicators for Western Sahara.
Environment
None of our sources publish these indicators for Western Sahara.
Infrastructure
None of our sources publish these indicators for Western Sahara.
Quality of Life
None of our sources publish these indicators for Western Sahara.
Geography
Military
None of our sources publish these indicators for Western Sahara.
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 23.1%
- Age 15–64
- 70.3%
- Age 65+
- 6.6%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 6 | 2 |
| 95-99 | 23 | 17 |
| 90-94 | 102 | 107 |
| 85-89 | 416 | 454 |
| 80-84 | 1,288 | 1,389 |
| 75-79 | 3,003 | 3,208 |
| 70-74 | 5,680 | 5,920 |
| 65-69 | 8,793 | 8,290 |
| 60-64 | 11,883 | 9,333 |
| 55-59 | 16,095 | 10,817 |
| 50-54 | 21,122 | 13,354 |
| 45-49 | 26,482 | 17,132 |
| 40-44 | 33,196 | 23,486 |
| 35-39 | 32,452 | 23,821 |
| 30-34 | 28,178 | 21,476 |
| 25-29 | 24,035 | 19,732 |
| 20-24 | 21,774 | 19,508 |
| 15-19 | 21,177 | 20,085 |
| 10-14 | 22,828 | 21,984 |
| 5-9 | 23,746 | 22,819 |
| 0-4 | 23,143 | 22,154 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 12,960 |
| 1960 | 30,328 |
| 1970 | 71,728 |
| 1980 | 117,374 |
| 1990 | 179,544 |
| 2000 | 271,943 |
| 2010 | 409,716 |
| 2020 | 549,365 |
| 2030 | 647,480 |
| 2040 | 722,865 |
| 2050 | 777,316 |
| 2060 | 809,953 |
| 2070 | 824,293 |
| 2080 | 832,607 |
| 2090 | 836,543 |
| 2100 | 831,293 |
How Western Sahara Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
- Western Sahara587K
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Western Sahara | 587K |
Countries Bordering Western Sahara
3 land borders.
- Algeria47.4M · +1.32%
- Mauritania5.32M · +2.78%
- Morocco38.4M · +0.91%
Western Sahara Population FAQ
Is the population of Western Sahara growing or shrinking?
Western Sahara's population is growing at +2.54% per year, a change of roughly 14,916 people annually.
What is the capital of Western Sahara?
The capital of Western Sahara is El Aaiún.
How densely populated is Western Sahara?
Western Sahara has 2/km² across 266,000 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Western Sahara?
Life expectancy at birth in Western Sahara is 70.3 years.
What is the median age in Western Sahara?
The median age in Western Sahara is 32.6 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Western Sahara in?
Western Sahara is in Africa.