Western Sahara population (2026)
The population of Western Sahara is 610,813 as of 1 July 2026, according to UN World Population Prospects 2024. Western Sahara ranks #172 of 236 countries and territories and holds <0.01% of the world population. The population is growing by 1.58% a year (+9,909 people). The median age is 33.8 years, women have 2.13 children on average and life expectancy at birth is 72.0 years. Population density is 2 people per km² of land. The capital is Laayoune.
Population of Western Sahara, 1955–2050
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Median age | Fertility | Life expectancy | World share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2050 | 777,316 | +0.57% | 37.6 | 1.85 | 75.9 | <0.01% |
| 2045 | 753,418 | +0.73% | 36.8 | 1.88 | 75.1 | <0.01% |
| 2040 | 722,864 | +0.91% | 36.1 | 1.92 | 74.3 | <0.01% |
| 2035 | 688,152 | +1.10% | 35.4 | 1.98 | 73.5 | <0.01% |
| 2030 | 647,480 | +1.38% | 34.7 | 2.06 | 72.7 | <0.01% |
| 2026 | 610,813 | +1.58% | 33.8 | 2.13 | 72.0 | <0.01% |
| 2025 | 600,904 | +1.69% | 33.6 | 2.15 | 71.8 | <0.01% |
| 2024 | 590,506 | +1.80% | 33.3 | 2.18 | 71.6 | <0.01% |
| 2023 | 579,729 | +1.88% | 33.0 | 2.16 | 71.4 | <0.01% |
| 2022 | 568,738 | +1.95% | 32.7 | 2.19 | 71.1 | <0.01% |
| 2020 | 549,365 | +1.70% | 31.9 | 2.25 | 70.6 | <0.01% |
| 2015 | 486,222 | +2.79% | 30.0 | 2.42 | 69.3 | <0.01% |
| 2010 | 409,716 | +3.68% | 27.9 | 2.64 | 67.5 | <0.01% |
| 2005 | 338,699 | +4.00% | 25.5 | 2.89 | 65.2 | <0.01% |
| 2000 | 271,944 | +4.86% | 22.8 | 3.49 | 62.7 | <0.01% |
| 1995 | 209,924 | +5.05% | 19.7 | 4.05 | 60.2 | <0.01% |
| 1990 | 179,544 | +3.25% | 19.9 | 4.69 | 57.7 | <0.01% |
| 1985 | 151,760 | +3.71% | 21.6 | 5.36 | 47.8 | <0.01% |
| 1980 | 117,374 | +8.99% | 22.2 | 5.86 | 39.4 | <0.01% |
| 1975 | 66,890 | -26.36% | 17.7 | 6.2 | 36.0 | <0.01% |
| 1970 | 71,727 | +20.16% | 21.3 | 6.37 | 42.7 | <0.01% |
| 1965 | 43,532 | +6.72% | 23.4 | 6.52 | 40.6 | <0.01% |
| 1960 | 30,328 | +7.67% | 23.6 | 6.41 | 38.7 | <0.01% |
| 1955 | 20,208 | +8.59% | 22.6 | 6.19 | 36.8 | <0.01% |
Western Sahara statistics by category
Economy · Energy · Environment · Health · Food & Agriculture · Water · Education · Technology · Society & Media · Government · Transport · Biodiversity · Geography · Space & Science · Time & Calendar
Nearby countries: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, DR Congo, Tanzania