Languages spoken in Western Sahara
Africa · Capital: El Aaiún · Population 587,259
The official language of Western Sahara is Arabic. An estimated 95% of the population speaks it as a first or additional language, or roughly 557,896 people. The only other recorded language is Spanish, at 10% of the population. Arabic belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family. Arabic is also spoken in all three of its neighbours. In total, two languages are recorded in Western Sahara, and their shares add up to 105% of the population, which implies the average resident speaks about 1.1 of them.
What languages are spoken in Western Sahara?
| Language | Share of population | Status | Estimated speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArabicAfro-Asiatic | 95% | Official | 557,896 |
| SpanishIndo-European | 10% | Spoken | 58,726 |
Percentages are the share of the population that speaks each language, including as a second language, so they add up to well over 100% in multilingual countries. Speaker counts are estimates derived from the percentage and the country's population, not counted figures.
What is the official language of Western Sahara?
The official language of Western Sahara is Arabic. Arabic is spoken by an estimated 95% of the population, or roughly 557,896 people, counting both first-language and additional speakers.
Official status comes from Unicode CLDR. It distinguishes languages that are official nationwide, those used as de facto official without being named in law, and those official only in particular regions or territories.
How many people speak Arabic in Western Sahara?
An estimated 95% of Western Sahara's 587,259 people speak Arabic, which works out at roughly 557,896 speakers. That figure is derived from the population and the reported share, and it counts second-language speakers, so it is an estimate rather than a census count.
Key facts about Western Sahara
- Capital
- El Aaiún
- Population
- 587,259
- Continent
- Africa
- Area
- 266,000 km²
- Currency
- DZD, MAD, and MRU
- Languages recorded
- 2
- Land borders
- 3
- ISO codes
- EH / ESH / 732
Which countries border Western Sahara?
Western Sahara shares a land border with three countries: Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania. Arabic, the most widely spoken language in Western Sahara, is also spoken in Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania.
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Language shares, population, and official status: Unicode CLDR. Capital, area, borders, and currency: mledoze/countries (ODbL 1.0). Flag image: flagcdn.com. Speaker counts are estimates derived from population and reported share.