MigrantoWestern Sahara Diaspora
202.1K Western Sahara live abroad — the #132 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 100% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Algeria | 168862 |
| Mauritania | 32947 |
| South Africa | 258 |
| Norway | 33 |
| Greece | 6 |
| Slovenia | 1 |
| Hungary | 0 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 100%
202.1K
40
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Western Sahara.
Algeria is the primary destination for emigrants
Algeria attracts 84% of all emigrants from Western Sahara, while the second-largest destination receives just 16%.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 100% to 84%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 168120 |
| 1995 | 167018 |
| 2000 | 165927 |
| 2005 | 131181 |
| 2010 | 170154 |
| 2015 | 184784 |
| 2020 | 193812 |
| 2024 | 202107 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | Algeria | Mauritania | South Africa | Norway | Greece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 167905 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 203 |
| 1995 | 166903 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 103 |
| 2000 | 165911 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| 2005 | 131163 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| 2010 | 144125 | 26001 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 156658 | 28007 | 69 | 42 | 3 |
| 2020 | 162952 | 30652 | 171 | 30 | 6 |
| 2024 | 168862 | 32947 | 258 | 33 | 6 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Western Sahara as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Western Sahara
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Western Sahara move to?
Most Western Sahara have moved to Algeria, Mauritania and South Africa — these three countries account for about 100% of all Western Sahara living abroad.
How many Western Sahara live abroad?
Around 202.1K Western Sahara live abroad, making it the #132-largest emigrant population in the world.
How has emigration from Western Sahara changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Western Sahara has grown from 184.8K to 202.1K people, a growth of about 9%.
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