Total population in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Total population was 595.83 thousands in 2025. β Volatile
Total population in Western Sahara, 1970β2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Western Sahara stood at 595.83 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Western Sahara peaked at 595.83 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 58.12 thousands, in 1976.
Western Sahara ranks 168th of 230 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 76.37 thousands | 58.12 thousands | 97.86 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 144.76 thousands | 112.1 thousands | 171.22 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 208.02 thousands | 176.63 thousands | 252.61 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 325.81 thousands | 265.33 thousands | 387.74 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 469.75 thousands | 402.18 thousands | 532.19 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 569.54 thousands | 544.69 thousands | 595.83 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
- 165 Luxembourg 676.87 thousands compare
- 166 Montenegro 637.52 thousands compare
- 167 Suriname 637.12 thousands compare
- 169 Malta 542.82 thousands compare
- 170 Maldives 528.75 thousands compare
- 171 Cape Verde 526.14 thousands compare
More population data for Western Sahara
- Projected population under age 5 41,447 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.109 (2100)
- Population density 3.13 (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.109 (2100)
- Population growth rate vs median age 0.9159 (2023)
- Fertility rate by age group 31.23 (2023)
- Comparison of fertility rates 2.16 (2023)
- Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to surviv 2.08 (2023)
- Fertility rate vs share that are religious 2.16 (2023)
- Children per woman fertility rate vs level of prosperity 2.16 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Western Sahara?
- Total population in Western Sahara was 595.83 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 595.83 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.12 thousands in 1976.
- How does Western Sahara rank for total population?
- Western Sahara ranks 168th out of 230 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Western Sahara data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release