1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Boundary disputes
none; claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved
Climate
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline
1,110 km
Comparative area
about the size of Utah
Environment
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility; sparse water and arable land
Land boundaries
2,086 km total
Land use
NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 19% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 81% other
Maritime claims
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Special notes
none
Terrain
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total area
- 200km North Atlantic a
- 266,000 km?: land area: 266,000 km?
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
Arab and Berber
Labor force
12,000; 50% animal husbandry and subsistence farming
Language
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy
about 20% among Moroccans, 5% among Saharans
Nationality
noun—Saharan(s), Moroccan(s); adjective—Saharan, Moroccan
Population
93,859 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.78%
Religion
Muslim
Government
Government leader
Mohamed ABDELAZIZ, President, Sahara Democratic Arab Republic (since October 1982), and secretary general, Polisario (since August 1976)
Official name
Western Sahara
Type
legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco, an insurgent group (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra), and Polisario (Rio de Oro); 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 continue to the present
Economy
Agriculture
practically none; some barley is grown in nondrought years; fruit and vegetables in the few oases; food imports are essential; camels, sheep, and goats are kept by the nomadic natives; cash economy exists largely for the garrison forces
Aid
previously received small amounts from Spain; Morocco is now the major source of support
Electric power
60,000 kW capacity; 78 million kWh produced, 850 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
up to $5 million in phosphates, all other exports valued at under $3 million (1982)
Imports
up to $30 million (1982); fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Major industries
phosphate, fishing, and handicrafts
Major trade partners
Morocco claims administrative control over Western Sahara and controls all trade with the country; Western Sahara trade figures are included in overall] Moroccan accounts
Monetary conversion rate
uses Moroccan dirham; 10.06 dirham=US$1 (1984)
Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore
Shortages
water
Communications
Airfields
16 total, 15 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways, 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 6 with runways ],220-2,439 m
Highways
6,100 km total; 1,850 km surfaced, 4,750 km improved and unimproved earth roads and tracks
Ports
2 secondary (El Aaiin, Ad Dakhla)
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
| AM, 0 FM, and 1 TV stations