page_title: Economy of Western Sahara
hierarchical_section_title: Economy of Western Sahara
caption_attribution_description: English: Bou Craa phosphate mine, phosphate mine, 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) from the coastal city of El Aaiún, Western Sahara. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using Landsat data provided by the United States Geological Survey.
context_page_description: The majority of the territory of Western Sahara – the Southern Provinces – is currently administered by the Kingdom of Morocco. As such, the majority of the economic activity of Western Sahara happens in the framework of the economy of Morocco.
  In the Moroccan-administered territory, fishing and phosphate mining are the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production; hence, most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government.
  The Free Zone is mainly uninhabited. There is practically no economical infrastructure and the main activity is camel herding nomadism. The government-in-exile of the Polisario Front had also signed contracts for oil exploration, but there is no practical work, due to the fact that the zones given are in the Moroccan-controlled part of the territory.
  Key agricultural products from Western Sahara include fruits and vegetables as well as camels, sheep, goats and kept by nomads.
  Fishing and oil exploration contracts concerning Western Sahara are sources of political tension.
context_section_description: The majority of the territory of Western Sahara – the Southern Provinces – is currently administered by the Kingdom of Morocco. As such, the majority of the economic activity of Western Sahara happens in the framework of the economy of Morocco.
  In the Moroccan-administered territory, fishing and phosphate mining are the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production; hence, most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government. 
  The Free Zone (POLISARIO-administered territory) is mainly uninhabited. There is practically no economical infrastructure and the main activity is camel herding nomadism. The government-in-exile of the Polisario Front had also signed contracts for oil exploration, but there is no practical work, due to the fact that the zones given are in the Moroccan-controlled part of the territory.
  Key agricultural products from Western Sahara include fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases) as well as camels, sheep, goats and kept by nomads.
  Fishing and oil exploration contracts concerning Western Sahara are sources of political tension.
caption: Bou Craa phosphate mine 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) from the coastal city of El Aaiún, Western Sahara. Two Landsat images show growth of the mine between 1987 and 2000.
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