Western Sahara

disputed

Internationally disputed; claimed by Morocco.

AfricaCapital metro: Laayoune
2026 population
601K
Rank #176 globally
Area
266k km² (103k sq mi)
Metros tracked
2
71% of population in metros
Composite score
0.6
Rank #198 globally
At a glance
Official language
Arabic
Currency
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+212
Internet TLD
.ma
ISO 3166
EH

Facts via Wikidata.

Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
Today
Minor#191 · 0.0%
3%5%8%10%2000
Power (headline share)Latent (material mass)Recognised (standing)
Western Sahara · share of world power, 1991–2026

The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.

Provinces

6 entries listed under Western Sahara. Click any to see its metros and footprint.

Laâyoune1Oued Ed-Dahab1AousserdBoujdourEs SemaraTarfaya

Western Sahara metro footprint

2 metros
Loading map…
2 polygons

Polygons shaded by composite tier. Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.

2 tracked metros
#2164Laayoune★ Capital▲ Largest
0.3
260KLocal Metro
Laâyoune
#2300Dakhla
0.3
164KLocal Metro
Oued Ed-Dahab