Western Sahara

Western Sahara الصحراء الغربية (Aṣ-Ṣaḥrā’ al-Ġarbiyya) Sahara Occidental

Capital (and largest city)		El Aaiún (Laâyoune) ^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]
Official language(s)		see respective claimants
Spoken languages		Berber and Hassaniya Arabic spoken locally. Spanish and French in general use.
Demonym		Western Saharan
Disputed sovereignty^a
-	Relinquished by Spain	14 November 1975
Area
-	Total	266,000 km² (76th) 103,000 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	2009 estimate	513,000^[5] (168th)
-	Density	1.9/km² (237th) 5/sq mi
Currency		Moroccan Dirham^b Algerian Dinar^c^[6] Mauritanian ouguiya^d (`MAD, DZD, MRO`)
Time zone		(UTC+0)
Drives on the		right
ISO 3166 code		EH
Internet TLD		None^e
Calling code		+212(tied to Morocco)
^a Mostly under the administration of Morocco as its Southern Provinces. The Polisario Front controls border areas behind the border wall (known as the Free Zone) on behalf of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. ^b In the Moroccan-controlled zone. ^c In the SADR-controlled zone. The Sahrawi Peseta is commemorative and not in circulation. ^d From May 6, 2012. ^e.eh is reserved but not officially assigned.

Country Comparisons

Contents