Western Sahara Population Pyramid 2026
Western Sahara
Afghanistan
Africa
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Asia
Australia
Australia/New Zealand
Austria
Azerbaijan
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Belize
Benin
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Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Brazil
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Burkina Faso
Burundi
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Cameroon
Canada
Caribbean
Central African Republic
Central America
Central Asia
Chad
Channel Islands
Chile
China
China, Hong Kong SAR
China, Macao SAR
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Comoros
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Croatia
Cuba
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Cyprus
Czech Republic
Côte d'Ivoire
Dem. People's Republic of Korea
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
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Dominican Republic
Eastern Africa
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Ecuador
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El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europe
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
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Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
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Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
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Israel
Italy
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Japan
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Kazakhstan
Kenya
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Latin America and the Caribbean
Latvia
Least developed countries
Lebanon
Lesotho
Less developed regions
Less developed regions, excluding China
Less developed regions, excluding least developed countries
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Melanesia
Mexico
Micronesia
Micronesia (Fed. States of)
Middle Africa
Mongolia
Montenegro
More developed regions
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Northern Africa
Northern America
Northern Europe
Norway
Oceania
Oman
Other non-specified areas
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Polynesia
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Réunion
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South America
South Sudan
South-Central Asia
South-Eastern Asia
Southern Africa
Southern Asia
Southern Europe
Spain
Sri Lanka
State of Palestine
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
TFYR Macedonia
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United Republic of Tanzania
United States Virgin Islands
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Viet Nam
Western Africa
Western Asia
Western Europe
Western Sahara
World
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
2026
Population:
610,813
Summary
Western Sahara in 2026
The population of Western Sahara in 2026 is estimated at 610,813. A decade earlier, in 2016, the population was 499,650; it has grown by 22.2% since.
The median age is 33.8 years, and for every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 32.3 children under 15 and 9.9 people aged 65 or over. The pyramid is stationary: cohort sizes are roughly even through the younger ages, reflecting fertility close to replacement level and slow population change.
Data source: United Nations World Population Prospects, 2024 revision (medium variant) — last updated July 2024.
Key indicators for Western Sahara
Population
610,813
Median age
33.8
0-14 %
22.7%
65+ %
7.0%
Child dependency
32.3
Old-age dependency
9.9
Region
Pyramid shape
Population 2050
777,316
Population 2100
831,294
What is driving the change
Births per woman
No World Bank data for this country.
Life expectancy at birth
No World Bank data for this country.
People supported per 100 workers
Dependency ratios, 1950–2100
Children
Older adults
22456890
19502100
Migration to and from Western Sahara
Where immigrants come from (2024)
5,390 immigrants live in Western Sahara, 0.9% of the population.
| Senegal | 1,899 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 1,091 |
| Guinea | 1,036 |
| Mauritania | 587 |
| Mali | 404 |
Where emigrants live (2024)
202,107 people born in Western Sahara live in other countries.
| Algeria | 168,862 |
| Mauritania | 32,947 |
| South Africa | 258 |
| Norway | 33 |
| Greece | 6 |
Explore
Immigration statistics
Origin of migrant stocks map
Source: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024.
How Western Sahara compares with its neighbours
| Country | Population | Median age | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Sahara | 610,813 | 33.8 | |
| Libya | 7,539,852 | 29.1 | |
| Tunisia | 12,415,139 | 34.3 | |
| Morocco | 38,762,441 | 31.1 | |
| Algeria | 48,028,334 | 29.8 |
Frequently asked questions about Western Sahara's population
How many people live in Western Sahara in 2026?
Western Sahara has an estimated population of 610,813 in 2026.
Is Western Sahara's population growing or shrinking?
Yes, growing: up 22.2% from 2016, with a projected population of 777,316 in 2050.
What is the median age in Western Sahara?
Western Sahara's median age is 33.8 years.
What share of Western Sahara's population is over 65 or under 15?
In Western Sahara, 22.7% of people are under 15 and 7.0% are 65 or older.
What shape is Western Sahara's population pyramid, and what does it mean?
Western Sahara's pyramid is stationary — similar-sized cohorts through the younger ages, the signature of near-replacement fertility.
