Population growth rate in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Population growth rate was 1.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population growth rate in Western Sahara, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rate in Western Sahara is 1.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 48.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rate in Western Sahara peaked at 20.2% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -26.4%, in 1975.
Western Sahara ranks 59th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth rate in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.1% | — |
| 1951 | 9.2% | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 8.7% | -5.8% |
| 1953 | 9.0% | +2.9% |
| 1954 | 8.7% | -2.7% |
| 1955 | 8.6% | -1.4% |
| 1956 | 8.4% | -1.8% |
| 1957 | 8.1% | -3.6% |
| 1958 | 8.1% | -1.0% |
| 1959 | 7.9% | -2.3% |
| 1960 | 7.7% | -2.6% |
| 1961 | 7.6% | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 7.3% | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 7.1% | -2.7% |
| 1964 | 6.9% | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 6.7% | -3.3% |
| 1966 | 6.6% | -2.3% |
| 1967 | 10.2% | +55.1% |
| 1968 | 10.0% | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 9.3% | -6.2% |
| 1970 | 20.2% | +115.9% |
| 1971 | -0.5% | -102.7% |
| 1972 | -0.7% | +20.4% |
| 1973 | -0.9% | +36.3% |
| 1974 | -2.1% | +140.3% |
| 1975 | -26.4% | +1127.4% |
| 1976 | 19.8% | -175.1% |
| 1977 | 16.9% | -14.6% |
| 1978 | 15.4% | -9.2% |
| 1979 | 13.6% | -11.5% |
| 1980 | 9.0% | -33.9% |
| 1981 | 6.7% | -25.4% |
| 1982 | 5.0% | -26.0% |
| 1983 | 3.9% | -20.5% |
| 1984 | 3.8% | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 3.7% | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 3.5% | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | -5.7% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | -6.6% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 2.9% | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 5.1% | +88.8% |
| 1996 | 5.6% | +10.1% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 5.1% | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 4.9% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 4.1% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -19.7% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | -26.8% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | +18.6% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -3.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth rate 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 | -1127.4% | -2.1% | -26.4% |
| 1976 | +175.1% | -26.4% | 19.8% |
| 1974 | -140.3% | -0.9% | -2.1% |
| 1970 | +115.9% | 9.3% | 20.2% |
| 1971 | -102.7% | 20.2% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | +88.8% | 2.7% | 5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.6% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.9% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.5% | -26.4% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | 3.1% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.1% | 2.7% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.3% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More population data for Western Sahara
- World population growth -0.1% (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 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.351 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population density 3.13 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 41,447 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth rate in Western Sahara?
- Population growth rate in Western Sahara was 1.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rate recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 1970.
- What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was -26.4% in 1975.
- How does Western Sahara rank for population growth rate?
- Western Sahara ranks 59th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rate rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Western Sahara data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rate at which the population is growing, expressed as a percentage.