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ESH · EH · United Nations WPP 2024 · 2026

Western Sahara

Western Sahara had a population of 610,813 people in 2026, ranking 172 of 237 countries and areas. Explore its age pyramid, trends and demographic indicators.

Ranking Map Countries Data

Source: United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.

Total population
610,813 people
2026 · Projection
Rank
#172/ 237
Africa #53 / 58
Share of world population
0.01%
2026
Density
2.3 people/km²
2026
Median age
32.8
years
Life expectancy
71.98
years
2026

Country or area overview

Western Sahara is in Africa. In 2026, its population was 610,813 people, about 0.01% of the world total. It ranks #172 of 237 countries and areas worldwide. The population was 12,960 people in 1950 and is projected to reach 831,294 people in 2100. The annual population growth rate in 2026 is 1.58%. The median age is 32.8. 22.7% of the population is under 15 and 7.0% is 65 or older. Life expectancy is 71.98 and the total fertility rate is 2.13. Within Africa, it ranks #53 of 58 by population and #58 of 58 by population density. Data note This page uses the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium variant. Data for 1950–2023 are estimates; 2024 onward, including 2026, are projections. Values for 2100 are long-range projections.

Western Sahara map

Country outline and its location in the world.

Map of Western Sahara
World location

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m.

Population history and projection

Population from 1950 to 2100. The dashed section shows the UN medium-variant projection from 2024 onward.

United Nations WPP 2024
935.46K701.60K467.73K233.87K0.001950197620022028205420802100
EstimatesProjections

Age group · 2026

Population age pyramid

Male and female population by five-year age group. Move the year slider to compare 1950, today and the 2100 projection.

2026Projection
MaleFemaleAge group100+ · Male: 3 (0.00%) · Female: 1 (0.00%)100+ · Male: 3 (0.00%) · Female: 1 (0.00%)100+95–99 · Male: 17 (0.00%) · Female: 18 (0.00%)95–99 · Male: 17 (0.00%) · Female: 18 (0.00%)95–9990–94 · Male: 101 (0.02%) · Female: 117 (0.02%)90–94 · Male: 101 (0.02%) · Female: 117 (0.02%)90–9485–89 · Male: 456 (0.07%) · Female: 529 (0.09%)85–89 · Male: 456 (0.07%) · Female: 529 (0.09%)85–8980–84 · Male: 1,452 (0.24%) · Female: 1,630 (0.27%)80–84 · Male: 1,452 (0.24%) · Female: 1,630 (0.27%)80–8475–79 · Male: 3,441 (0.56%) · Female: 3,779 (0.62%)75–79 · Male: 3,441 (0.56%) · Female: 3,779 (0.62%)75–7970–74 · Male: 6,386 (1.05%) · Female: 6,620 (1.08%)70–74 · Male: 6,386 (1.05%) · Female: 6,620 (1.08%)70–7465–69 · Male: 9,521 (1.56%) · Female: 8,543 (1.40%)65–69 · Male: 9,521 (1.56%) · Female: 8,543 (1.40%)65–6960–64 · Male: 12,970 (2.12%) · Female: 9,597 (1.57%)60–64 · Male: 12,970 (2.12%) · Female: 9,597 (1.57%)60–6455–59 · Male: 17,845 (2.92%) · Female: 11,675 (1.91%)55–59 · Male: 17,845 (2.92%) · Female: 11,675 (1.91%)55–5950–54 · Male: 22,884 (3.75%) · Female: 14,541 (2.38%)50–54 · Male: 22,884 (3.75%) · Female: 14,541 (2.38%)50–5445–49 · Male: 29,495 (4.83%) · Female: 19,870 (3.25%)45–49 · Male: 29,495 (4.83%) · Female: 19,870 (3.25%)45–4940–44 · Male: 33,700 (5.52%) · Female: 24,308 (3.98%)40–44 · Male: 33,700 (5.52%) · Female: 24,308 (3.98%)40–4435–39 · Male: 31,175 (5.10%) · Female: 23,167 (3.79%)35–39 · Male: 31,175 (5.10%) · Female: 23,167 (3.79%)35–3930–34 · Male: 26,674 (4.37%) · Female: 20,806 (3.41%)30–34 · Male: 26,674 (4.37%) · Female: 20,806 (3.41%)30–3425–29 · Male: 23,925 (3.92%) · Female: 20,306 (3.32%)25–29 · Male: 23,925 (3.92%) · Female: 20,306 (3.32%)25–2920–24 · Male: 22,447 (3.67%) · Female: 20,507 (3.36%)20–24 · Male: 22,447 (3.67%) · Female: 20,507 (3.36%)20–2415–19 · Male: 22,226 (3.64%) · Female: 21,222 (3.47%)15–19 · Male: 22,226 (3.64%) · Female: 21,222 (3.47%)15–1910–14 · Male: 23,654 (3.87%) · Female: 22,722 (3.72%)10–14 · Male: 23,654 (3.87%) · Female: 22,722 (3.72%)10–145–9 · Male: 24,019 (3.93%) · Female: 22,965 (3.76%)5–9 · Male: 24,019 (3.93%) · Female: 22,965 (3.76%)5–90–4 · Male: 23,300 (3.81%) · Female: 22,198 (3.63%)0–4 · Male: 23,300 (3.81%) · Female: 22,198 (3.63%)0–4
Age-group data
Age group Male Female Total Share
0–4 23,300 22,198 45,498 7.45%
5–9 24,019 22,965 46,984 7.69%
10–14 23,654 22,722 46,376 7.59%
15–19 22,226 21,222 43,448 7.11%
20–24 22,447 20,507 42,954 7.03%
25–29 23,925 20,306 44,231 7.24%
30–34 26,674 20,806 47,480 7.77%
35–39 31,175 23,167 54,342 8.90%
40–44 33,700 24,308 58,008 9.50%
45–49 29,495 19,870 49,365 8.08%
50–54 22,884 14,541 37,425 6.13%
55–59 17,845 11,675 29,520 4.83%
60–64 12,970 9,597 22,567 3.69%
65–69 9,521 8,543 18,064 2.96%
70–74 6,386 6,620 13,006 2.13%
75–79 3,441 3,779 7,220 1.18%
80–84 1,452 1,630 3,082 0.50%
85–89 456 529 985 0.16%
90–94 101 117 218 0.04%
95–99 17 18 35 0.01%
100+ 3 1 4 0.00%
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Demographic indicators

UN WPP 2024 indicators for 2026.

Projection
Indicator 2026 Projection for 2100 Unit
Total population 610,813 people 831,294 people people
Male population 335,690 people 432,699 people people
Female population 275,122 people 398,595 people people
Population density 2.3 people/km² 3.1 people/km² people/km²
Sex ratio 122.0 108.6 males per 100 females
Median age 32.8 42.9 years
Natural change 4,978 -1,408 people
Natural change rate 8.15 ‰ -1.69 ‰ ‰
Population change 9,670 -909 people
Population growth rate 1.58% -0.11% %
Population doubling time 43.8 — years
Births 9,008 people 8,224 people people
Births to women aged 15–19 653 253 people
Birth rate 14.75 ‰ 9.89 ‰ ‰
Total fertility rate 2.13 1.72 children per woman
Net reproduction rate 1.003 0.829
Mean age at childbearing 29.96 30.66 years
Sex ratio at birth 105.1 105.1 males per 100 females
Deaths 4,030 people 9,632 people people
Male deaths 2,436 5,079 people
Female deaths 1,595 4,553 people
Death rate 6.60 ‰ 11.59 ‰ ‰
Life expectancy at birth 71.98 82.97 years
Male life expectancy at birth 70.24 81.77 years
Female life expectancy at birth 74.22 84.30 years
Life expectancy at age 15 59.09 68.45 years
Life expectancy at age 65 14.52 20.68 years
Life expectancy at age 80 6.08 9.47 years
Infant deaths 191 34 people
Infant mortality rate 21.19 ‰ 4.17 ‰ ‰
Survivors to age 1 8,837 8,192 people
Deaths under age 5 229 41 people
Under-5 mortality rate 25.21 ‰ 4.95 ‰ ‰
Net migration 4,689 497 people
Net migration rate 7.68 ‰ 0.60 ‰ ‰

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Western Sahara?
In 2026, Western Sahara had a population of 610,813 people. It ranks #172 of 237 countries and areas worldwide.
How has the population of Western Sahara changed?
The population was 12,960 people in 1950 and is projected to reach 831,294 people in 2100.
What is the age structure of Western Sahara?
The median age is 32.8. 22.7% of the population is under 15 and 7.0% is 65 or older.
How does Western Sahara compare within Africa?
By total population, Western Sahara ranks #53 of 58 in Africa and #172 of 237 worldwide.

Estimates cover 1950–2023; 2024 and later are UN medium-variant projections. Rankings use the latest available value for the selected year. The world total is the sum of all countries and areas in the dataset.

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