Agriculture > products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Currency	Moroccan dirham
Economy > Overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006 the Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.6256 (2000)
Exchange rates > 2003	9.5744		[96th of 213]
Exchange rates > 2005	8.865		[97th of 212]
Exchange rates > Recent years Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002), 11.303 (2001)
Exchange rates to USD > 2003	9.5744
Exchange rates to USD > 2005	8.865
Exchange rates to USD > 2006	8.7722
Exports > Commodities	phosphates 62%
Exports > Partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Exports to US	$0.00		[218th of 224]
Fiscal year	calendar year
Imports > Commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports > Partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports from US	$100,000.00		[211st of 224]
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts
Trade balance with US	$100,000.00		[99th of 224]
Trade with US > US exports of furniture, household goods, etc	0		[185th of 202]

Related links:

• Forum discussion > Economy
• Looking for Information on the U.S. Economy? Check out StateMaster
• Stay updated with current stat feeds! Subscribe to the Economy RSS / Atom feeds
•  Subscribe to our popular Economy factoids RSS / Atom feeds
• Save this page on  del.icio.us / furl / your bookmarks

More facts and figures on Western Sahara