Urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Urban area over the long-term was 526.56 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
526.56 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
122nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
526.56 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara is 526.56 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara peaked at 526.56 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Western Sahara ranks 122nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0 km² per grid cell | +350.0% |
| 1200 | 0 km² per grid cell | +350.0% |
| 1300 | 0 km² per grid cell | +350.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | +350.0% |
| 1500 | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | +350.0% |
| 1600 | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | +350.0% |
| 1700 | 0.007 km² per grid cell | +350.0% |
| 1710 | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | +46.9% |
| 1720 | 0.0129 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1730 | 0.0162 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1740 | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1750 | 0.0255 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1760 | 0.032 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1770 | 0.0402 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1780 | 0.0504 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1790 | 0.0632 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1800 | 0.0793 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1810 | 0.0994 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1820 | 0.1253 km² per grid cell | +26.0% |
| 1830 | 0.1579 km² per grid cell | +26.0% |
| 1840 | 0.1991 km² per grid cell | +26.0% |
| 1850 | 0.2507 km² per grid cell | +26.0% |
| 1860 | 0.3151 km² per grid cell | +25.7% |
| 1870 | 0.3976 km² per grid cell | +26.2% |
| 1880 | 0.4914 km² per grid cell | +23.6% |
| 1890 | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | +18.3% |
| 1900 | 0.6413 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1910 | 0.6595 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1920 | 1.28 km² per grid cell | +94.6% |
| 1930 | 2.55 km² per grid cell | +98.4% |
| 1940 | 5.39 km² per grid cell | +111.8% |
| 1950 | 12.54 km² per grid cell | +132.5% |
| 1951 | 12.54 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 14.64 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1953 | 16.03 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1954 | 17.11 km² per grid cell | +6.7% |
| 1955 | 18.15 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 1956 | 19.38 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1957 | 20.92 km² per grid cell | +8.0% |
| 1958 | 22.83 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1959 | 25.06 km² per grid cell | +9.8% |
| 1960 | 27.58 km² per grid cell | +10.0% |
| 1961 | 30.77 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1962 | 34.76 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1963 | 39.13 km² per grid cell | +12.6% |
| 1964 | 44.11 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1965 | 49.94 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1966 | 56.84 km² per grid cell | +13.8% |
| 1967 | 65.27 km² per grid cell | +14.8% |
| 1968 | 75.19 km² per grid cell | +15.2% |
| 1969 | 85.48 km² per grid cell | +13.7% |
| 1970 | 94.46 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1971 | 103.92 km² per grid cell | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 109.38 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 113.9 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 122.64 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 140.43 km² per grid cell | +14.5% |
| 1976 | 141.43 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 169.6 km² per grid cell | +19.9% |
| 1978 | 194.7 km² per grid cell | +14.8% |
| 1979 | 209.82 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1980 | 219.34 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 276 km² per grid cell | +25.8% |
| 1982 | 292.82 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 1983 | 303.08 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 312.12 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 322.37 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 330.61 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 335.71 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 341.13 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 346.64 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 352.08 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 357.38 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 362.95 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 368.69 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 374.62 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 378.45 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 380.05 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 306.35 km² per grid cell | -19.4% |
| 1998 | 309.83 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 314.32 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 320.15 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 324.94 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 334.92 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 344.99 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 355.16 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 365.43 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 375.78 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 383.54 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 391.35 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 399.12 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 414.16 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 422.48 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 430.85 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 439.27 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 447.75 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 456.28 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 464.85 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 473.47 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 482.12 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 490.82 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 499.55 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 504.91 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 510.29 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 515.7 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 521.12 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 526.56 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +350.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +350.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +350.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +350.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +350.0% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +350.0% | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.007 km² per grid cell | 0.007 km² per grid cell | 0.007 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.0129 km² per grid cell | 0.0129 km² per grid cell | 0.0129 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.0162 km² per grid cell | 0.0162 km² per grid cell | 0.0162 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.0255 km² per grid cell | 0.0255 km² per grid cell | 0.0255 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.032 km² per grid cell | 0.032 km² per grid cell | 0.032 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.0402 km² per grid cell | 0.0402 km² per grid cell | 0.0402 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.0504 km² per grid cell | 0.0504 km² per grid cell | 0.0504 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.0632 km² per grid cell | 0.0632 km² per grid cell | 0.0632 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.0793 km² per grid cell | 0.0793 km² per grid cell | 0.0793 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.0994 km² per grid cell | 0.0994 km² per grid cell | 0.0994 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.1253 km² per grid cell | 0.1253 km² per grid cell | 0.1253 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.1579 km² per grid cell | 0.1579 km² per grid cell | 0.1579 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.1991 km² per grid cell | 0.1991 km² per grid cell | 0.1991 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.2507 km² per grid cell | 0.2507 km² per grid cell | 0.2507 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.3151 km² per grid cell | 0.3151 km² per grid cell | 0.3151 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.3976 km² per grid cell | 0.3976 km² per grid cell | 0.3976 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.4914 km² per grid cell | 0.4914 km² per grid cell | 0.4914 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.6413 km² per grid cell | 0.6413 km² per grid cell | 0.6413 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.6595 km² per grid cell | 0.6595 km² per grid cell | 0.6595 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.28 km² per grid cell | 1.28 km² per grid cell | 1.28 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 2.55 km² per grid cell | 2.55 km² per grid cell | 2.55 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 5.39 km² per grid cell | 5.39 km² per grid cell | 5.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 17.92 km² per grid cell | 12.54 km² per grid cell | 25.06 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 50.91 km² per grid cell | 27.58 km² per grid cell | 85.48 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 140.03 km² per grid cell | 94.46 km² per grid cell | 209.82 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 307.98 km² per grid cell | 219.34 km² per grid cell | 346.64 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 350.47 km² per grid cell | 306.35 km² per grid cell | 380.05 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 359.54 km² per grid cell | 320.15 km² per grid cell | 399.12 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 452.2 km² per grid cell | 414.16 km² per grid cell | 490.82 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 513.02 km² per grid cell | 499.55 km² per grid cell | 526.56 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More reference data data for Western Sahara
- Free country 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 7 (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exposure to extreme temperature — Annual temperature change 1.35 Degrees celsius (2023)
- Land area in hectares 26.60 million hectares (2023)
- Area of permanent meadows and pastures 5.00 million hectares (2023)
- Average age of mothers at childbirth 29.99 years (2023)
- Area of permanent meadows and pastures, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara?
- Urban area over the long-term in Western Sahara was 526.56 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 526.56 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Western Sahara rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Western Sahara ranks 122nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Western Sahara data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.