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Western Sahara |
Capital: None
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Background: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and lacking sufficient 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.
PEOPLE
Population: 382,617 (July 2007 est.); 491,519
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 60.74 years
Male: 58.57 years
Female: 62.99 years (2010 est.); 3.169% NA (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 88,176/female 85,421)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 98,345/female 101,895)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,705/female 5,075) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 92,428/female 89,570)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 105,191/female 108,803)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,881/female 5,337) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.169% NA (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: N/A
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: N/A
People living with HIV/AIDS: N/A
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write N/A
Refugees and Internally Displaced People: N/A
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: N/A
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural Products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Exports - Commodities: phosphates 62%
Exports - Partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
Imports - Commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - Partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: sparse water and lack of arable land
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.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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