Western Sahara
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Current Population (Live)
Annual Growth Rate: +0.88%
Situated in Northern Africa, Western Sahara has a population of approximately 600.9k—a modestly sized nation in population terms. The country extends across 266,000 km², translating to a density of 2.0 people per km². Its capital is El Aaiún, and official languages include Berber, Hassaniya, and Spanish, while the Algerian dinar serves as the national currency.
Population
600,904
Area
266,000 km²
Density
2/km²
World Rank
#172
General Information
- Capital
- El Aaiún
- Region
- Africa
- Subregion
- Northern Africa
- Continent
- Africa
- Languages
- Berber, Hassaniya, Spanish
- Currencies
- Algerian dinar (دج), Moroccan dirham (DH), Mauritanian ouguiya (UM)
- Calling Code
- +2125288
- Top-Level Domain
- .eh
- Landlocked
- No
- UN Member
- No
- Timezones
- UTC+00:00
Population Details
- Total Population
- 600,904
- Land Area
- 266,000 km²
- Population Density
- 2 per km²
- Annual Growth Rate
- +0.88%
- Annual Growth
- +5,288 people
- Daily Growth
- +14 people
- World Population Share
- 0.01%
- Coordinates
- 24.50°, -13.00°
Global Population Share
Major Cities in Western Sahara
Western Sahara has 1 cities with a population over 100,000. Click on markers to see details.
Population Projections (2026-2050)
Near-zero growth suggests that Western Sahara is entering a period of demographic stability—or, depending on policy responses, the early stages of decline. The territory's governance arrangements will influence how effectively it adapts to evolving population dynamics.
| Year | Projected Population |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 600,904 |
| 2030 | 622,193 |
| 2035 | 649,563 |
| 2040 | 677,829 |
| 2045 | 707,051 |
| 2050 | 737,285 |
Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Western Sahara?
The population of Western Sahara is approximately 600,904 as of 2026, making it #172 in the world by population.
What is the capital of Western Sahara?
The capital of Western Sahara is El Aaiún.
What languages are spoken in Western Sahara?
The main languages spoken in Western Sahara are Berber, Hassaniya, Spanish.
How big is Western Sahara?
Western Sahara covers an area of 266,000 km² with a population density of 2 people per km².
Is Western Sahara growing or shrinking?
Western Sahara is growing at a rate of 0.88% per year, adding approximately 5,288 people annually.
What is the life expectancy in Western Sahara?
Life expectancy data is not currently available for Western Sahara.
What is the GDP per capita of Western Sahara?
GDP per capita data is not currently available for Western Sahara.