Economy - overview:
Western Sahara has a small market-based economy whose main industries are fishing, phosphate mining, tourism, and pastoral nomadism. The territory's arid desert climate makes sedentary agriculture difficult, and much of its food is imported. The Moroccan Government administers Western Sahara's economy and is a key source of employment, infrastructure development, and social spending in the territory.

Western Sahara's unresolved legal status makes the exploitation of its natural resources a contentious issue between Morocco and the Polisario. Morocco and the EU in December 2013 finalized a four-year agreement allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. As of April 2018, Moroccan and EU authorities were negotiating an amendment to renew the agreement.

Oil has never been found in Western Sahara in commercially significant quantities, but Morocco and the Polisario have quarreled over rights to authorize and benefit from oil exploration in the territory. Western Sahara's main long-term economic challenge is the development of a more diverse set of industries capable of providing greater employment and income to the territory. However, following King MOHAMMED VI’s November 2015 visit to Western Sahara, the Government of Morocco announced a series of investments aimed at spurring economic activity in the region, while the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises announced a $609 million investment initiative in the region in March 2015.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$906.5 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 205
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
NA
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 198
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: NA (2007 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: NA (2007 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 40% (2007 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish

Industries:
phosphate mining, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:
NA
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
144,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 178
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 50%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
industry and services: 50% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
NA
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: NA
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: NA
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
NA
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
NA
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Exports:
NA
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
phosphates 62% (2012 est.)

Imports:
NA
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs

Debt - external:
NA
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -
9.639 (2017 est.)
9.7351 (2016 est.)
9.7351 (2015)
9.7351 (2014 est.)
8.3798 (2013 est.)