Economy Western Sahara
Economy - overview:
Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate
mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The
territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural
production, and most of the food for the urban population must be
imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the
Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other
economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the European
Union signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European
vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed
waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in
2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western
Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006, the
Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed
territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario
resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%
Labor force: 12,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50% industry and services: 50%
Unemployment rate:
NA%