Western Sahara Culture, Facts & Travel

Where is Western Sahara located?

What countries border Western Sahara?

Western Sahara Facts

What is the capital of Western Sahara?

Capital	Laayoune (administrative center)
Government Type	legal status of territory and issue 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), near Tindouf, Algeria, was led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ until his death in May 2016; current President Brahim GHALI elected in July 2016; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976 when Spain withdrew, 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 Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984 - Morocco between 1980 and 1987 built a fortified sand berm delineating the roughly 80 percent of Western Sahara west of the barrier that currently is controlled by Morocco; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
Currency	MAD
Total Area	102,703 Square Miles 266,000 Square Kilometers
Location	Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Language	Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$2,500.00 (USD)

Western Sahara Demographics

What is the population of Western Sahara?

Ethnic Groups	Arab, Berber
Nationality Adjective	Sahrawi,Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Nationality Noun	Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
Population	652,271
Population - note	note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries
Population Growth Rate	2.96%
Population in Major Urban Areas	Laayoune 237,000
Predominant Language	Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Urban Population	82%

Western Sahara Government

What type of government does Western Sahara have?

Executive Branch: none More
Suffrage: none; (residents of Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara participate in Moroccan elections) More

Western Sahara Geography

What environmental issues does Western Sahara have?

Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew More
Border Countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km More
Environment - Current Issues: sparse water and lack of arable land More
Environment - International Agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements More
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast More

Western Sahara Economy

How big is the Western Sahara economy?

Economic Overview: Western Sahara has a small market-based economy whose main industries are fishing, phosphate mining, tourism, and pastoral nomadism. The territory's... More
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts More
Currency Name and Code: MAD More
Export Partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts More
Import Partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts More

Western Sahara News & Current Events

What current events are happening in Western Sahara?
Source: Google News

Interesting Western Sahara Facts

What unique things can you discover about Western Sahara?

Western Sahara fell under Spanish rule in 1884, becoming a Spanish province in 1934.

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