Population:
491,519
country comparison to the world: 171
note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2010 est.)
[see also: Population country ranks ]

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 92,428/female 89,570)
[see also: Age structure - 0-14 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 105,191/female 108,803)
[see also: Age structure - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,881/female 5,337) (2010 est.)
[see also: Age structure - 65 years and over country ranks ]

Median age:
total: 20.1 years
[see also: Median age - total country ranks ]
male: 19.7 years
[see also: Median age - male country ranks ]
female: 20.6 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Median age - female country ranks ]

Population growth rate:
3.169% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
[see also: Population growth rate country ranks ]

Birth rate:
32.56 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
[see also: Birth rate country ranks ]

Death rate:
9.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
[see also: Death rate country ranks ]

Urbanization:
urban population: 81% of total population (2008)
[see also: Urbanization - urban population country ranks ]
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
[see also: Urbanization - rate of urbanization country ranks ]

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - at birth country ranks ]
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - under 15 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 65 years and over country ranks ]
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
[see also: Sex ratio - total population country ranks ]

Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 33
[see also: Infant mortality rate - total country ranks ]
male: 67.13 deaths/1,000 live births
[see also: Infant mortality rate - male country ranks ]
female: 56.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
[see also: Infant mortality rate - female country ranks ]

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.74 years
country comparison to the world: 186
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - total population country ranks ]
male: 58.57 years
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - male country ranks ]
female: 62.99 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - female country ranks ]

Total fertility rate:
4.37 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
[see also: Total fertility rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
[see also: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
[see also: HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
[see also: HIV/AIDS - deaths country ranks ]

Nationality:
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Ethnic groups:
Arab, Berber

Religions:
Muslim

Languages:
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

Literacy:
NA