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Western Sahara
Background: Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease fire; a referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed and is not expected to occur until at least 2002.
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W Map references: Africa Area:
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado Land boundaries:
Coastline: 1,110 km Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore Land use:
Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility Environment - current issues: sparse water and lack of arable land Environment - international agreements:
Population: 244,943 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 2.29% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 45.07 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 16.11 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -6.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 133.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 6.64 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: Arab, Berber Religions: Muslim Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: WI Government type: legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991 Capital: none Administrative divisions: none (under de facto control of Morocco) Suffrage: none; a UN sponsored voter identification campaign has yet to be completed Executive branch: none International organization participation: none Diplomatic representation in the US: none Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Economy - overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and lacking sufficient rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level. GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Labor force: 12,000 Labor force - by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget:
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 85 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 79 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) Exports: $NA Exports - commodities: phosphates 62% Exports - partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts Imports: $NA Imports - commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs Imports - partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: $NA Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 10.051 (January 2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: about 2,000 (1999 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999) Telephone system:
sparse and limited system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 56,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: NA Televisions: 6,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) Airports: 12 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
Military branches: NA Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Disputes - international: claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991 Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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