Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 54,285 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Western Sahara, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Western Sahara recorded 54,285 people for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Western Sahara peaked at 54,285 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12,960 people, in 1950.
Western Sahara ranks 181st of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12,960 people | — |
| 1955 | 12,992 people | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 18,298 people | +40.8% |
| 1965 | 24,392 people | +33.3% |
| 1970 | 37,201 people | +52.5% |
| 1975 | 32,347 people | -13.0% |
| 1980 | 41,086 people | +27.0% |
| 1985 | 37,897 people | -7.8% |
| 1990 | 26,352 people | -30.5% |
| 1995 | 29,463 people | +11.8% |
| 2000 | 36,093 people | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 41,150 people | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 47,024 people | +14.3% |
| 2015 | 42,815 people | -9.0% |
| 2020 | 54,285 people | +26.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12,976 people | 12,960 people | 12,992 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 21,345 people | 18,298 people | 24,392 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 34,774 people | 32,347 people | 37,201 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 39,492 people | 37,897 people | 41,086 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 27,907 people | 26,352 people | 29,463 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 38,622 people | 36,093 people | 41,150 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 44,920 people | 42,815 people | 47,024 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 54,285 people | 54,285 people | 54,285 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
- 178 Brunei Darussalam 86,027 people compare
- 179 Micronesia (country) 78,331 people compare
- 180 Bahamas 69,890 people compare
- 182 Saint Lucia 48,579 people compare
- 183 Kiribati 42,181 people compare
- 184 Tonga 41,669 people compare
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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.351 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 41,447 people (2100)
- Population density 3.13 people per km² (2100)
- Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Western Sahara?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Western Sahara was 54,285 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 54,285 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,960 people in 1950.
- How does Western Sahara rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Western Sahara ranks 181st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Sahara data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.