Population in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Population was 579,734 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
579,734 people
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
171st
of 236 countries
All-time high
579,734 people
in 2023
All-time low
12,981 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Western Sahara, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Western Sahara is 579,734 people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Western Sahara peaked at 579,734 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12,981 people, in 1950.
Western Sahara ranks 171st 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.
Population in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12,981 people | — |
| 1951 | 14,226 people | +9.6% |
| 1952 | 15,559 people | +9.4% |
| 1953 | 16,990 people | +9.2% |
| 1954 | 18,553 people | +9.2% |
| 1955 | 20,230 people | +9.0% |
| 1956 | 22,024 people | +8.9% |
| 1957 | 23,920 people | +8.6% |
| 1958 | 25,937 people | +8.4% |
| 1959 | 28,084 people | +8.3% |
| 1960 | 30,344 people | +8.0% |
| 1961 | 32,743 people | +7.9% |
| 1962 | 35,270 people | +7.7% |
| 1963 | 37,914 people | +7.5% |
| 1964 | 40,679 people | +7.3% |
| 1965 | 43,550 people | +7.1% |
| 1966 | 46,543 people | +6.9% |
| 1967 | 50,647 people | +8.8% |
| 1968 | 56,002 people | +10.6% |
| 1969 | 61,663 people | +10.1% |
| 1970 | 71,745 people | +16.4% |
| 1971 | 78,738 people | +9.7% |
| 1972 | 78,269 people | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 77,665 people | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 76,496 people | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 66,911 people | -12.5% |
| 1976 | 64,509 people | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 77,407 people | +20.0% |
| 1978 | 90,904 people | +17.4% |
| 1979 | 104,999 people | +15.5% |
| 1980 | 117,389 people | +11.8% |
| 1981 | 126,906 people | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 134,496 people | +6.0% |
| 1983 | 140,600 people | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 146,165 people | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 151,772 people | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 157,376 people | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 162,892 people | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 168,420 people | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 173,937 people | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 179,553 people | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 185,312 people | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 190,948 people | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 196,484 people | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 201,927 people | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 209,941 people | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 221,402 people | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 233,786 people | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 246,315 people | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 258,979 people | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 271,946 people | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 285,197 people | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 298,468 people | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 311,791 people | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 325,197 people | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 338,704 people | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 352,658 people | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 366,874 people | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 380,834 people | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 394,959 people | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 409,722 people | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 425,093 people | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 441,033 people | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 457,436 people | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 472,591 people | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 486,232 people | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 499,658 people | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 512,851 people | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 525,790 people | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 538,450 people | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 549,374 people | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 558,625 people | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 568,746 people | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 579,734 people | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19,850 people | 12,981 people | 28,084 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 43,536 people | 30,344 people | 61,663 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 78,764 people | 64,509 people | 104,999 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 147,995 people | 117,389 people | 173,937 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 212,465 people | 179,553 people | 258,979 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 332,663 people | 271,946 people | 394,959 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 476,886 people | 409,722 people | 538,450 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 564,120 people | 549,374 people | 579,734 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
- 168 Luxembourg 665,101 people compare
- 169 Montenegro 633,553 people compare
- 170 Suriname 628,892 people compare
- 172 Malta 532,964 people compare
- 173 Maldives 526,009 people compare
- 174 Cape Verde 522,335 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 population in Western Sahara?
- Population in Western Sahara was 579,734 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 579,734 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,981 people in 1950.
- How does Western Sahara rank for population?
- Western Sahara ranks 171st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.