| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | EHISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | ESHISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | El-AaiunGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | AfricaGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | Western SaharaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | No authoritative open source found |
| Local name | Western SaharaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | self-descriptive name specifying the territory's western location on the African continent's vast desertCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), near Tindouf, Algeria, led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ until his death in May 2016; current President Brahim GHALI elected in July 2016; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976 when Spain withdrew, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; Morocco between 1980 and 1987 built a fortified sand berm delineating the roughly 75% of Western Sahara west of the barrier that currently is controlled by Morocco; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | No authoritative open source found |
| National holiday | No authoritative open source found |
| Head of state | No authoritative open source found |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | MADISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | Moroccan DirhamISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | No authoritative open source found |
| Subdivision names | No authoritative open source found |
| Historical overview | No authoritative open source found |
| National symbols | Not applicable to this country |
| National anthem | Not applicable to this country |
| National colors | Not applicable to this country |
| Citizenship rules | Not applicable to this country |
self-descriptive name specifying the territory's western location on the African continent's vast desert
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
