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
172nd
of 239 countries
All-time high
579,734 people
in 2023
All-time low
42 people
in 1000
Years of data
106
1000–2023
Population in Western Sahara, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing 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 106 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, 42 people, in 1000.
Western Sahara ranks 172nd of 239 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 42 people | — |
| 1100 | 63 people | +50.0% |
| 1200 | 94 people | +49.2% |
| 1300 | 142 people | +51.1% |
| 1400 | 213 people | +50.0% |
| 1500 | 319 people | +49.8% |
| 1600 | 479 people | +50.2% |
| 1700 | 718 people | +49.9% |
| 1710 | 721 people | +0.4% |
| 1720 | 723 people | +0.3% |
| 1730 | 726 people | +0.4% |
| 1740 | 728 people | +0.3% |
| 1750 | 731 people | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 733 people | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 735 people | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 738 people | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 740 people | +0.3% |
| 1800 | 743 people | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 745 people | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 752 people | +0.9% |
| 1830 | 758 people | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 764 people | +0.8% |
| 1850 | 771 people | +0.9% |
| 1860 | 777 people | +0.8% |
| 1870 | 793 people | +2.1% |
| 1880 | 809 people | +2.0% |
| 1890 | 826 people | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 843 people | +2.1% |
| 1910 | 860 people | +2.0% |
| 1920 | 1,720 people | +100.0% |
| 1930 | 3,441 people | +100.1% |
| 1940 | 6,883 people | +100.0% |
| 1950 | 12,981 people | +88.6% |
| 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% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | +100.0% | 860 people | 1,720 people |
| 1930 | +100.1% | 1,720 people | 3,441 people |
| 1940 | +100.0% | 3,441 people | 6,883 people |
| 1950 | +88.6% | 6,883 people | 12,981 people |
| 1300 | +51.1% | 94 people | 142 people |
| 1100 | +50.0% | 42 people | 63 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 42 people | 42 people | 42 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 63 people | 63 people | 63 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 94 people | 94 people | 94 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 142 people | 142 people | 142 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 213 people | 213 people | 213 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 319 people | 319 people | 319 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 479 people | 479 people | 479 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 718 people | 718 people | 718 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 721 people | 721 people | 721 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 723 people | 723 people | 723 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 726 people | 726 people | 726 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 728 people | 728 people | 728 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 731 people | 731 people | 731 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 733 people | 733 people | 733 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 735 people | 735 people | 735 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 738 people | 738 people | 738 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 740 people | 740 people | 740 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 743 people | 743 people | 743 people | 1 |
| 1810s | 745 people | 745 people | 745 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 752 people | 752 people | 752 people | 1 |
| 1830s | 758 people | 758 people | 758 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 764 people | 764 people | 764 people | 1 |
| 1850s | 771 people | 771 people | 771 people | 1 |
| 1860s | 777 people | 777 people | 777 people | 1 |
| 1870s | 793 people | 793 people | 793 people | 1 |
| 1880s | 809 people | 809 people | 809 people | 1 |
| 1890s | 826 people | 826 people | 826 people | 1 |
| 1900s | 843 people | 843 people | 843 people | 1 |
| 1910s | 860 people | 860 people | 860 people | 1 |
| 1920s | 1,720 people | 1,720 people | 1,720 people | 1 |
| 1930s | 3,441 people | 3,441 people | 3,441 people | 1 |
| 1940s | 6,883 people | 6,883 people | 6,883 people | 1 |
| 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
- 169 Luxembourg 665,101 people compare
- 170 Montenegro 633,553 people compare
- 171 Suriname 628,892 people compare
- 173 Malta 532,964 people compare
- 174 Maldives 526,009 people compare
- 175 Cape Verde 522,335 people compare
More population data for Western Sahara
- Population density 3.13 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.351 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3345 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 41,447 people (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1005 % change on previous year (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 in Western Sahara?
- Population in Western Sahara was 579,734 people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing 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 42 people in 1000.
- How does Western Sahara rank for population?
- Western Sahara ranks 172nd out of 239 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 HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 106 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.