Western Sahara flag

The Economy of Western Sahara

Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian Economy

Western Sahara's map

Economy - overview: Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006 the Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.

GDP:

GDP - real growth rate: NA%

GDP - per capita:

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

Labor force: 12,000 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50% industry and services: 50% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: 90 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

Electricity - consumption: 83.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption: 1,760 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports: 1,925 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Agriculture - products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish

Exports: $NA

Exports - commodities: phosphates 62%

Exports - partners:

Imports: $NA

Imports - commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Debt - external: $NA

Economic aid - recipient:

Currency:

Currency code:

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 7.526 (2008 est.), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004)

Fiscal year: