Population of Western Sahara

As of May 2026, the population of Western Sahara is 618.5 thousand. The number of inhabitants has increased by 11 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.79%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 29.1 years in 2016 to 32.4 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 71.8 years and population density is 2.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Western Sahara peaked in 1976, reaching around 19.91% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.75% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 17 thousand in 2012 to nearly 10.84 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Western Sahara, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 65.6 years in 2006 to 71.8 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 6 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Western Sahara

The cities of Western Sahara are mostly small, but 2 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Laayoune, with approximately 196.3 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Dakhla with 106.3 thousand and Boujdour with 42.7 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Western Sahara: