Economy of Western Sahara

Mother Earth Travel > Country Index > Western Sahara > Map Economy
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 - composition by sector:
services: 40%-45% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 12,000
Labor force - by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Electricity - production: 85 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 79 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Exports - commodities: phosphates 62%
Exports - partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports - commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

SOURCE: The World Factbook

Mother Earth Travel > Country Index > Western Sahara > Map Economy