Western Sahara:
Economy

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Other pages in this profile of Western Sahara:
Geography, People, Government, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Economy - overview	Definition 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 EU 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)	Definition - World rank and map $NA
GDP (official exchange rate)	Definition $NA
GDP - real growth rate	Definition - World rank and map NA%
GDP - per capita	Definition - World rank and map $NA
GDP - composition by sector	Definition agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%
Labor force	Definition 12,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	Definition agriculture: 50% industry and services: 50% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	Definition - World rank and map NA%
Population below poverty line	Definition NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share	Definition lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	Definition - World rank and map NA%
Budget	Definition revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products	Definition fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish
Industries	Definition phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate	Definition - World rank and map NA%
Electricity - production	Definition - World rank and map 85 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 79.05 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 200.8 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	Definition 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	Definition 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production	Definition - World rank and map 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 1,750 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption per 1,000 people	Definition - World rank and map 4.4 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports	Definition - World rank and map 0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports	Definition - World rank and map 1,698 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports	Definition - World rank and map $NA
Exports - commodities	Definition phosphates 62%
Exports - partners	Definition Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
Imports	Definition - World rank and map $NA
Imports - commodities	Definition fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners	Definition Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
Debt - external	Definition - World rank and map $NA
Economic aid - recipient	Definition $NA
Currency (code)	Definition Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Exchange rates	Definition Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003)
Fiscal year	Definition calendar year

Western Sahara: Economy

Western Sahara:
Economy