Annual population growth in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Annual population growth was 10,988 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
10,988
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
137th
of 236 countries
All-time high
16,403
in 2013
All-time low
-9,585
in 1975
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Western Sahara, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Western Sahara recorded 10,988 for annual population growth in 2023.
That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Western Sahara peaked at 16,403 in 2013 and was at its lowest, -9,585, in 1975.
Western Sahara ranks 137th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 1,245 | — |
| 1952 | 1,333 | +7.1% |
| 1953 | 1,431 | +7.4% |
| 1954 | 1,563 | +9.2% |
| 1955 | 1,677 | +7.3% |
| 1956 | 1,794 | +7.0% |
| 1957 | 1,896 | +5.7% |
| 1958 | 2,017 | +6.4% |
| 1959 | 2,147 | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 2,260 | +5.3% |
| 1961 | 2,399 | +6.2% |
| 1962 | 2,527 | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 2,644 | +4.6% |
| 1964 | 2,765 | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 2,871 | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 2,993 | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 4,104 | +37.1% |
| 1968 | 5,355 | +30.5% |
| 1969 | 5,661 | +5.7% |
| 1970 | 10,082 | +78.1% |
| 1971 | 6,993 | -30.6% |
| 1972 | -469 | -106.7% |
| 1973 | -604 | +28.8% |
| 1974 | -1,169 | +93.5% |
| 1975 | -9,585 | +719.9% |
| 1976 | -2,402 | -74.9% |
| 1977 | 12,898 | -637.0% |
| 1978 | 13,497 | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 14,095 | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 12,390 | -12.1% |
| 1981 | 9,517 | -23.2% |
| 1982 | 7,590 | -20.2% |
| 1983 | 6,104 | -19.6% |
| 1984 | 5,565 | -8.8% |
| 1985 | 5,607 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 5,604 | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 5,516 | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 5,528 | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 5,517 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 5,616 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 5,759 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 5,636 | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 5,536 | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 5,443 | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 8,014 | +47.2% |
| 1996 | 11,461 | +43.0% |
| 1997 | 12,384 | +8.1% |
| 1998 | 12,529 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 12,664 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 12,967 | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 13,251 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 13,271 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 13,323 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 13,406 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 13,507 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 13,954 | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 14,216 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 13,960 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 14,125 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 14,763 | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 15,371 | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 15,940 | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 16,403 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 15,155 | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 13,641 | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 13,426 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 13,193 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 12,939 | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 12,660 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 10,924 | -13.7% |
| 2021 | 9,251 | -15.3% |
| 2022 | 10,121 | +9.4% |
| 2023 | 10,988 | +8.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in Western Sahara changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -719.9% | -1,169 | -9,585 |
| 1977 | +637.0% | -2,402 | 12,898 |
| 1972 | -106.7% | 6,993 | -469 |
| 1974 | -93.5% | -604 | -1,169 |
| 1970 | +78.1% | 5,661 | 10,082 |
| 1976 | +74.9% | -9,585 | -2,402 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1,678 | 1,245 | 2,147 | 9 |
| 1960s | 3,358 | 2,260 | 5,661 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4,334 | -9,585 | 14,095 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,894 | 5,516 | 12,390 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8,504 | 5,443 | 12,664 | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,598 | 12,967 | 14,216 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,349 | 12,660 | 16,403 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,321 | 9,251 | 10,988 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More population data for Western Sahara
- Population growth rate -0.109 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 41,447 (2100)
- Population density 3.13 (2100)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.4967 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.109 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.351 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3345 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population aged 15-24 years (thousands), annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Western Sahara?
- Annual population growth in Western Sahara was 10,988 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 16,403 in 2013.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was -9,585 in 1975.
- How does Western Sahara rank for annual population growth?
- Western Sahara ranks 137th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Western Sahara data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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