Economy of Western Sahara

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Economy of Western Sahara
Currency Moroccan Dirham (MAD) de facto
Fiscal year calendar year
Trade organisations Morocco claims and administers most of Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic laying claim to the territory has ratified AEC treaty, but is not active;
Statistics
GDP ranking N/a
GDP N/a
GDP growth N/a
GDP per capita N/a
GDP by sector services (40.0%)
Inflation N/a
Pop below poverty line N/a
Labour force 12,000 (2006)
Labour force by occupation agriculture (50%), services (50%)
Unemployment N/a
Main industries Phosphates, fishing
Trading Partners
Exports N/a
Export - Commodities phosphates 62%
Main export partners N/a
Imports N/a
Import - Commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Main import partners N/a
Public finances
Public debt N/a
Revenues N/a
Expenses N/a
Economic aid N/a

The majority of the territory of Western Sahara is currently administered by the Kingdom of Morocco. As such, the economical activity of Western Sahara happens in the framework of the economy of Morocco.

In the Moroccan-administered territory, fishing and phosphate mining are 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. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government. Morocco has signed a fishing treaty with the EU including Western Sahara as part of Morocco. Moroccan Energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara.

The area east of the Moroccan defensive wall is mainly uninhabited. There is practically no economical infrastructure and the main activity is camel herding nomadism. The government-in-exile of the Polisario front has signed oil contracts of its own [1], but there is no practical exploration.

Fishing and oil exploration contracts concerning Western Sahara are sometimes sources of political tension.

Key agricultural products include fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads.)

[edit] Energy consumption

  • Electricity - production: 85 GWh (2003)
  • Electricity - production by source:
    • fossil fuel: 100%
    • hydro: 0%
    • nuclear: 0%
    • other: 0%
  • Electricity - consumption: 83.7 GWh (2003)
  • Electricity - exports: 0 kWh
  • Electricity - imports: 0 kWh
  • Oil - production: 0.5 barrel/day
  • Oil - consumption: 1,750 barrel/day (278 m³/d) (2003)

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