Western Sahara

Name: Western Sahara Population Statistics
Creator: Measured World
Published: 2024-07-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/

1950

2025

2100

Western Sahara

1950

2025

2100

What to know

Current population: 600,904 (2025).

Growing rapidly at +1.78% per year—one of the faster rates globally.

Projected to reach 831,293 by 2100 (+38% from today).

Key statistics for 2025

Total population

600.9K

Density

2 people/km²

Median age

32.6 years

Growth rate

+1.69%

Key terms

Population growth rate: — Annual percentage change in total population size.
Population density: — People per square kilometre of land area.
Median age: — Age at which half the population is younger and half is older.
Sex ratio: — Number of males per 100 females in the population.

The trajectory

How fast is the population growing?

Total population from 1950 to 2100 (projections beyond 2024)

At the current growth rate, the population would double in approximately 39 years.

Population structure

How is the population split by gender?

Male and female population with sex ratio trend

No population by gender data available.

The sex ratio of 122.4 males per 100 females is above the global average (~101).

Density & aging

Density

People per square kilometre

Median age

Age where half the population is younger

With only 2 people per km², this is a sparsely populated country. The median age is projected to rise by 4 years by 2050, from 32.3 to 36.6.

Rate of change

How fast is the population changing?

Annual percentage change in population size

Growth peaked at 20.16% in 1970.

The bottom line

Western Sahara is experiencing rapid population growth, adding millions of people each year. The sex ratio of 122 males per 100 females is notably higher than the global average of ~101. The population is gradually aging, with median age projected to reach 37 by 2050. Population density is low at 2 people per km². UN projections show continued growth to 831.3K by 2100.

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).

What to know

Current population: 600,904 (2025).

Growing rapidly at +1.78% per year—one of the faster rates globally.

Projected to reach 831,293 by 2100 (+38% from today).

Key statistics for 2025

Total population

600.9K

Density

2 people/km²

Median age

32.6 years

Growth rate

+1.69%

Key terms

Population growth rate: — Annual percentage change in total population size.
Population density: — People per square kilometre of land area.
Median age: — Age at which half the population is younger and half is older.
Sex ratio: — Number of males per 100 females in the population.

The trajectory

How fast is the population growing?

Total population from 1950 to 2100 (projections beyond 2024)

At the current growth rate, the population would double in approximately 39 years.

Population structure

How is the population split by gender?

Male and female population with sex ratio trend

No population by gender data available.

The sex ratio of 122.4 males per 100 females is above the global average (~101).

Density & aging

Density

People per square kilometre

Median age

Age where half the population is younger

With only 2 people per km², this is a sparsely populated country. The median age is projected to rise by 4 years by 2050, from 32.3 to 36.6.

Rate of change

How fast is the population changing?

Annual percentage change in population size

Growth peaked at 20.16% in 1970.

The bottom line

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).

Western Sahara - Population Statistics | Measured World