Urban and rural population in Western Sahara

Western Sahara: Urban and rural population was 522,087 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
522,087
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
162nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
522,087
in 2025
All-time low
4,018
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025

Urban and rural population in Western Sahara, 1950–2025

0200.0k400.0k600.0k195019872025

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, urban and rural population in Western Sahara stood at 522,087. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Western Sahara peaked at 522,087 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4,018, in 1950.

Western Sahara ranks 162nd 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 6,161 4,018 8,745 10
1960s 15,042 9,462 23,784 10
1970s 43,904 28,638 77,289 10
1980s 121,712 90,403 146,868 10
1990s 181,568 152,135 222,326 10
2000s 286,513 233,625 340,809 10
2010s 412,491 353,686 466,578 10
2020s 498,640 476,228 522,087 6

Countries ranked near Western Sahara

  1. 159 Macao 722,007 compare
  2. 160 Luxembourg 645,643 compare
  3. 161 Fiji 555,642 compare
  4. 163 Malta 521,847 compare
  5. 164 Mauritius 495,098 compare
  6. 165 Suriname 420,949 compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More population data for Western Sahara

All data for Western Sahara →

Frequently asked questions

What is urban and rural population in Western Sahara?
Urban and rural population in Western Sahara was 522,087 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Western Sahara?
The highest recorded value was 522,087 in 2025.
What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Western Sahara?
The lowest recorded value was 4,018 in 1950.
How does Western Sahara rank for urban and rural population?
Western Sahara ranks 162nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Western Sahara?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Western Sahara data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Urban and rural population
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
237 places, 18,012 data points, 1950–2025
Last refreshed