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Home/Countries/Western Sahara
The flag of Western Sahara has three equal horizontal stripes of black, white, and green overlaid by a red triangle issuing from the hoist. Centered in the white band is a red fly-facing crescent surrounding a red five-pointed star.
🇪🇭

Western Sahara

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

El Aaiún
Africa
Northern Africa
View on Google Maps

Population

600.9K

Area

266,000 km²

Region

Northern Africa

Timezone

UTC+00:00

Currency

Algerian dinar (دج), Moroccan dirham (DH), Mauritanian ouguiya (UM)

Languages

Berber, Hassaniya, Spanish

Capital

El Aaiún

UN Member

No

About Western Sahara

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, commonly known as Western Sahara, is a sovereign country located in Northern Africa, Africa. The capital and seat of government is El Aaiún. Situated on the continent of Africa, Western Sahara covers a total area of 266,000 km², making it a sizable country by global standards. Western Sahara is a dependent territory.

The population of Western Sahara is approximately 600,904 people. With a population density of 2.3 people per square kilometer, Western Sahara is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The people of Western Sahara are known as Sahrawis. Western Sahara ranks 172nd in the world by population.

Western Sahara is located at approximately 24.5° latitude and -13.0° longitude. It shares land borders with Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco, giving it 3 neighboring countries. The country operates on the UTC+00:00 time zone.

The official languages of Western Sahara are Berber, Hassaniya, and Spanish. The international dialing code for Western Sahara is +2125288. The country's internet top-level domain is .eh.

The official currencies of Western Sahara are the Algerian dinar (دج, DZD), Moroccan dirham (DH, MAD), and Mauritanian ouguiya (UM, MRU).

Population of Western Sahara

Total Population

600,904

Population Density

2.3 people/km²

Demonym

Sahrawi (male) / Sahrawi (female)

Geography of Western Sahara

Total Area

266,000 km² (102,703 sq mi)

Region / Subregion

Africa / Northern Africa

Coordinates

24.5°, -13°

Continents

Africa

Landlocked

No

Timezones

UTC+00:00

Bordering Countries

🇩🇿Algeria🇲🇷Mauritania🇲🇦Morocco

Economy of Western Sahara

Currencies

دج Algerian dinar (DZD)DH Moroccan dirham (MAD)UM Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU)

Government of Western Sahara

Capital

El Aaiún

UN Member

No

Status

officially-assigned

Independent

No

Languages Spoken in Western Sahara

BerberHassaniyaSpanish

Additional Information

Top-Level Domain

.eh

Calling Code

+2125288

Driving Side

N/A

FIFA Code

N/A

ISO Codes

EH / ESH

Frequently Asked Questions About Western Sahara

What is the population of Western Sahara?

The population of Western Sahara is approximately 600,904 people. With a total area of 266,000 km², the population density is about 2.3 people per square kilometer. Western Sahara ranks 172nd in the world by population.

Where is Western Sahara located?

Western Sahara is located in Northern Africa, on the continent of Africa. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 24.5° latitude and -13.0° longitude. Western Sahara shares borders with Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco.

What is the capital of Western Sahara?

The capital city of Western Sahara is El Aaiún. As the political and administrative center, El Aaiún is the seat of the national government of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

How big is Western Sahara?

Western Sahara covers a total area of 266,000 km² (102,703 square miles). This makes Western Sahara a sizable country by global standards.

What languages are spoken in Western Sahara?

The official languages of Western Sahara are Berber, Hassaniya, and Spanish. The people of Western Sahara are referred to as Sahrawis.

What currency does Western Sahara use?

Western Sahara uses the Algerian dinar (دج, DZD), Moroccan dirham (DH, MAD), and Mauritanian ouguiya (UM, MRU) as its official currencies.

Is Western Sahara a member of the United Nations?

No, Western Sahara is not currently a member of the United Nations. Western Sahara is classified as a dependent territory or non-sovereign entity.

What countries border Western Sahara?

Western Sahara shares land borders with 3 countries: Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco. These neighboring nations are also located in the Africa region.

What time zone is Western Sahara in?

Western Sahara operates in the UTC+00:00 time zone.

What are the key facts about Western Sahara?

Western Sahara (officially Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) is a dependent country in Northern Africa. It has a population of 600,904, covers 266,000 km², and its capital is El Aaiún. The official languages are Berber, Hassaniya, and Spanish. The currencies are Algerian dinar, Moroccan dirham, and Mauritanian ouguiya.

Compare Western Sahara with Other Countries

See how Western Sahara compares in population, area, and other key metrics.

Western Sahara vs United StatesWestern Sahara vs ChinaWestern Sahara vs IndiaWestern Sahara vs GermanyWestern Sahara vs United Kingdom

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