Migration trends in Western Sahara

Africa

Population

5.4K

Immigrants

202.1K

Emigrants

−196.7K

Outflow

Every 1st person born in Western Sahara now lives abroad

The #132 largest source of emigrants worldwide

Top corridors

The largest migration routes in Western Sahara

Where people move to

168.9K83.6%

32.9K16.3%

2580.1%

Where people come from

1.9K35.2%

1.1K20.2%

1K19.2%

Key moments

How migration has changed since 1990

1990

2.6K immigrants · 168.1K emigrants

2005

The exodus eased — the diaspora abroad shrank by 21%

Today

Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and roughly the same number of citizens living abroad

Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)

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Western Sahara Diaspora

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