Population
580k persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Population on 1 July. UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024; past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Western Sahara
All indicators of the Macroscope base for Western Sahara, with sources. Below: what past UN and IMF releases projected and what actually happened.
What the data shows
Computed with the same code as the observations under the main chart and in the API (get_insights). Moving together in time does not prove a cause.
How the indicators changed
- Fertility (TFR): 6.01 in 1950 → 2.16 in 2023 (−64%). Peak: 6.53 in 1966; the latest value is 67% lower. The trend broke around 1974 and 2006: +0.01 → −0.12 → −0.04 a year.
- Births: 0.56k in 1950 → 8.99k in 2023 (×16). The trend broke around 1976 and 1982: +0.11k → +0.42k → +0.08k a year.
- Population: 13k in 1950 → 580k in 2023 (×45). The trend broke around 1997: change sped up (+6.98k → +13.9k a year).
- Net migration: on average 1.16k a year in the 1950s, 2.26k a year in the 1960s, 3.11k a year in the 1970s, 2.27k a year in the 1980s, 4.46k a year in the 1990s, 8.49k a year in the 2000s, 8.08k a year in the 2010s, 4.56k a year in the 2020s.
- Life expectancy, men: 33.4 years in 1950 → 69.7 years in 2023 (+36 years). Low: 30.5 years in 1975; +39 years since then. The trend broke around 1984 and 1992: +0.07 → +2.4 → +0.42 a year.
What changed at the same time
- The fastest decline of "Fertility (TFR)" was in 1985–1995: 5.36 → 4.05. Over the same years: births 7.02k → 5.87k; population 152k → 210k; net migration 1.19k a year → 6.44k a year; life expectancy, men 42 years → 58.6 years.
- Over the last 10 years (2013–2023): fertility (TFR) 2.50 → 2.16; births 9.1k → 8.99k; population 457k → 580k; net migration 10.3k a year → 5.61k a year; life expectancy, men 67 years → 69.7 years.
Forecasts vs actual
- Fertility (TFR): past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 7 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 4; median gap −2.1%.
- The UN 2000 projection expected today's level (2.16, 2023) only by 2025–2030: reality is at least 2 years ahead of it.
- The UN 2022 projection expected today's level (2.16, 2023) only by 2027: reality is at least 4 years ahead of it.
- Fertility (TFR): UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 1.85 (−15% vs 2023), 2100 — 1.72 (−21% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 1.22.
- Births: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 9 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 2; median gap −18%.
- The UN 1998 projection did not expect today's level (8.99k, 2023) before its horizon ended (2050).
- Births: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 9.63k (+7% vs 2023), 2100 — 8.22k (−8% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 3.5k.
- Population: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 9 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 3; median gap −11%.
- The UN 1998 projection did not expect today's level (580k, 2023) before its horizon ended (2030).
- The UN 2022 projection expected this level (580k) already around 2022: reality is 1 year behind it.
- Population: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 777k (+34% vs 2023), 2100 — 831k (+43% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 581k.
- Why the UN missed the population. The 1998 projection for 2023: 459k; the UN's 2024 estimate: 580k (+26%). Parts of the gap (plus means more people than projected): the starting population −37.9k, births −13.3k, deaths −3.8k (more deaths than expected), migration +176k; the largest: migration.
- Why the UN missed the population. The 2010 projection for 2023: 750k; the UN's 2024 estimate: 580k (−23%). Parts of the gap (plus means more people than projected): the starting population −121k, births −44.6k, deaths +5.1k (fewer deaths than expected), migration −6.4k; the largest: the starting population.
- Net migration: past UN projections. The outcome was above the projection in 9 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and below in 3; median difference +3.71k a year. The biggest miss: the 1998 revision expected 0 a year for 2020–2025; the outcome was 4.71k a year (for the years of the period so far).
- Net migration: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2030 — 4.53k a year, 2050 — 2.21k a year, 2100 — 0.5k a year.
- Life expectancy, men: past UN projections. The outcome was above the projection in 12 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and below in none; median difference +0.3 years. The biggest miss: the 2012 revision expected 68.1 years for 2020–2025; the outcome was 69.4 years (for the years of the period so far).
- Life expectancy, men: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2030 — 70.9 years, 2050 — 74 years, 2100 — 81.8 years.
Wars and births
- War of 1979–1980 on the country's territory (UCDP/PRIO; about 1,300 battle deaths). Against peace-time countries whose fertility was close the year before the war (Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and 5 more), net of each country's pre-war trend: births during the war +78%, 1–5 years after it +131%, 6–10 years after +145%; fertility (children per woman) during the war −0.04, 1–5 years after it −0.11, 6–10 years after −0.14.
- All wars together: of 101 wars on countries' territory since 1955, births 1–5 years after the end were above comparable peace-time countries in 42% of cases (median −1.6%). No significant post-war rise shows up.
UN projections vs actual
Solid line: actual data, UN WPP 2024 estimates; births and fertility from national statistics from the last year they matched the UN estimate (the UN's figures for the latest years are partly its own projection). Dashed: medium variants of past UN revisions. The table shows what each revision expected for the latest year (or five-year period) with actual data.
Population
persons, 1 July
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2023 | 25 years | 459k | 580k | +26.4% |
| UN 2000 | 2023 | 23 years | 425k | 580k | +36.5% |
| UN 2002 | 2023 | 21 years | 464k | 580k | +25% |
| UN 2004 | 2023 | 19 years | 662k | 580k | −12.5% |
| UN 2006 | 2023 | 17 years | 757k | 580k | −23.4% |
| UN 2008 | 2023 | 15 years | 757k | 580k | −23.4% |
| UN 2010 | 2023 | 13 years | 750k | 580k | −22.7% |
| UN 2012 | 2023 | 11 years | 723k | 580k | −19.8% |
| UN 2015 | 2023 | 8 years | 665k | 580k | −12.8% |
| UN 2017 | 2023 | 6 years | 640k | 580k | −9.4% |
| UN 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | 640k | 580k | −9.5% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 587k | 580k | −1.3% |
Births
births per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 7.67k | 9.32k | +21.6% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 8.43k | 9.32k | +10.6% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 9.35k | 9.32k | −0.3% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 13.8k | 9.32k | −32.3% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 13.6k | 9.32k | −31.3% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 13.6k | 9.32k | −31.3% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 12.9k | 9.32k | −27.7% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 12.1k | 9.32k | −23% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 10.3k | 9.32k | −9.9% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 11.4k | 9.32k | −18.3% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 9.32k | 8.99k | −3.6% |
Total fertility rate
children per woman
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 2.10 | 2.33 | +11.1% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 2.67 | 2.33 | −12.6% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 2.79 | 2.33 | −16.3% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 2.84 | 2.33 | −17.8% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 2.38 | 2.33 | −2.1% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 2.38 | 2.33 | −2.1% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 2.27 | 2.33 | +3% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 2.22 | 2.33 | +5% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 2.06 | 2.33 | +13% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 2.42 | 2.33 | −3.4% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 2.25 | 2.16 | −3.7% |
Deaths
thousand deaths per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 3 | 3 | +26.1% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 2 | 3 | +27.9% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 3 | 3 | +13.7% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 4 | 3 | −10.1% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 4 | 3 | −11% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 4 | 3 | −11% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 4 | 3 | −10.3% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 4 | 3 | −12.7% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 3 | 3 | −4.7% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 3 | 3 | +15.6% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 4 | 4 | −1.1% |
Infant mortality
deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 29.1 | 28.4 | −2.2% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 29.1 | 28.4 | −2.2% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 29.1 | 28.4 | −2.2% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 30 | 28.4 | −5.5% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 29.8 | 28.4 | −4.8% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 29.8 | 28.4 | −4.8% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 30 | 28.4 | −5.3% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 32.3 | 28.4 | −12% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 30.7 | 28.4 | −7.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 28.8 | 28.4 | −1.3% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 22.7 | 23.8 | +4.8% |
Net migration
persons per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2020–2025* | 24 years | 0 | 4.71k | +5k a year |
| UN 2000 | 2020–2025* | 22 years | 1k | 4.71k | +4k a year |
| UN 2002 | 2020–2025* | 20 years | 1k | 4.71k | +4k a year |
| UN 2004 | 2020–2025* | 18 years | 1k | 4.71k | +4k a year |
| UN 2006 | 2020–2025* | 16 years | 1k | 4.71k | +4k a year |
| UN 2008 | 2020–2025* | 14 years | 1k | 4.71k | +4k a year |
| UN 2010 | 2020–2025* | 12 years | 1k | 4.71k | +4k a year |
| UN 2012 | 2020–2025* | 10 years | 1k | 4.71k | +4k a year |
| UN 2015 | 2020–2025* | 8 years | 4.75k | 4.71k | 0k a year |
| UN 2017 | 2020–2025* | 6 years | 5.58k | 4.71k | −1k a year |
| UN 2019 | 2020–2025* | 4 years | 5.58k | 4.71k | −1k a year |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 5.6k | 5.61k | 0k a year |
Life expectancy at birth, women
years
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2020–2025* | 24 years | 73.4 | 73.1 | −0.2 yrs |
| UN 2000 | 2020–2025* | 22 years | 73.4 | 73.1 | −0.2 yrs |
| UN 2002 | 2020–2025* | 20 years | 73.4 | 73.1 | −0.2 yrs |
| UN 2004 | 2020–2025* | 18 years | 73.4 | 73.1 | −0.3 yrs |
| UN 2006 | 2020–2025* | 16 years | 73.4 | 73.1 | −0.3 yrs |
| UN 2008 | 2020–2025* | 14 years | 73.4 | 73.1 | −0.3 yrs |
| UN 2010 | 2020–2025* | 12 years | 73.5 | 73.1 | −0.3 yrs |
| UN 2012 | 2020–2025* | 10 years | 72.2 | 73.1 | +0.9 yrs |
| UN 2015 | 2020–2025* | 8 years | 73.2 | 73.1 | 0 yrs |
| UN 2017 | 2020–2025* | 6 years | 73.2 | 73.1 | −0.1 yrs |
| UN 2019 | 2020–2025* | 4 years | 73.2 | 73.1 | −0.1 yrs |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 73.3 | 73.5 | +0.2 yrs |
Life expectancy at birth, men
years
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2020–2025* | 24 years | 69.3 | 69.4 | +0.2 yrs |
| UN 2000 | 2020–2025* | 22 years | 69.3 | 69.4 | +0.2 yrs |
| UN 2002 | 2020–2025* | 20 years | 69.3 | 69.4 | +0.2 yrs |
| UN 2004 | 2020–2025* | 18 years | 69 | 69.4 | +0.5 yrs |
| UN 2006 | 2020–2025* | 16 years | 69 | 69.4 | +0.4 yrs |
| UN 2008 | 2020–2025* | 14 years | 69 | 69.4 | +0.4 yrs |
| UN 2010 | 2020–2025* | 12 years | 69 | 69.4 | +0.4 yrs |
| UN 2012 | 2020–2025* | 10 years | 68.1 | 69.4 | +1.3 yrs |
| UN 2015 | 2020–2025* | 8 years | 69 | 69.4 | +0.5 yrs |
| UN 2017 | 2020–2025* | 6 years | 69.3 | 69.4 | +0.1 yrs |
| UN 2019 | 2020–2025* | 4 years | 69.4 | 69.4 | +0.1 yrs |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 69.5 | 69.7 | +0.2 yrs |
* The five-year period is not over: the projection is compared with the mean of its years so far (UN facts end in 2023).
All indicators
Demography
Births
8.99k births per year latest value, 2023
Live births per calendar year. UN WPP 2024 and national statistics (64 countries, 2015-2025).
Deaths
4 thousand deaths per year latest value, 2023
Deaths per calendar year (UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024); past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Natural change
5.3 thousand persons per year latest value, 2023
Births minus deaths in the year (UN). Negative: natural decrease, more deaths than births.
Rate of natural change
9.2 per 1,000 population per year latest value, 2023
Births minus deaths in the year per 1,000 people (UN). With the net migration rate it makes up population growth.
Life expectancy at 65
14.3 years latest value, 2023
Years a person aged 65 would still live at the mortality rates of the year; both sexes (UN).
Infant mortality
23.8 deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births latest value, 2023
Children per 1,000 live births who die before their first birthday (UN); past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Total fertility rate
2.16 children per woman latest value, 2023
Average number of children a woman would have at the age-specific fertility rates of the year.
Life expectancy at birth, women
73.5 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn girl would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Life expectancy at birth, men
69.7 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn boy would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Median age
32 years latest value, 2023
Age that divides the population in two halves (UN).
Mean age of mothers at childbirth
30 years latest value, 2023
Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children of any order (UN).
Sex ratio at birth
105.1 boys per 100 girls latest value, 2023
Boys born per 100 girls born (UN).
Crude marriage rate
5.87 marriages per 1,000 people latest value, 1972
Marriages in the year per 1,000 people: marriages from national offices (Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, the USA, the UK, Russia, Brazil and others, where they publish more than the international databases), Eurostat and the UN, divided by the UN WPP 2024 population. Where most births are within marriage, marriages come before births.
Source: UN Demographic Statistics Database (UNdata) and Demographic Yearbook
Marriages
0.46k marriages a year latest value, 1972
Marriages in the year (couples). National offices (Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, the USA, the UK, Russia, Brazil and others), Eurostat for Europe, the UN for the rest; by year of registration or of occurrence, as each country counts.
Source: UN Demographic Statistics Database (UNdata) and Demographic Yearbook
Old-age dependency
8.9 persons 65+ per 100 aged 20-64 latest value, 2020
Persons aged 65+ per 100 aged 20-64, every five years (UN).
Children under 15
136 thousand persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Children aged 0-14 on 1 July: the sum of the five-year groups 0-4, 5-9 and 10-14 (UN; estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024).
Children under 5
45 thousand persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Children aged 0-4 on 1 July (UN; estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024).
People aged 65 and over
37 thousand persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
People aged 65 and over on 1 July: the sum of the five-year groups from 65-69 to 100+ (UN; estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024).
People aged 80 and over
4 thousand persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
People aged 80 and over on 1 July: the sum of the five-year groups from 80-84 to 100+ (UN; estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024).
Migration
Net migration
5.61k persons per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year (UN estimate and projection). Past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Net migration rate
9.68 per 1,000 population per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year per 1,000 people: UN net migration divided by the population on 1 July. Comparable across countries of any size.
International migrants, share
1 % of population latest value, 2024
People born in another country (foreign citizens where birthplace is not recorded) as a share of the population at mid-year (UN, every five years and 2024).
International migrant stock
5.63k persons latest value, 2024
Number of people born in another country (or foreign citizens) living in the country at mid-year (UN).
Emigrants, share
34.2 % of home population latest value, 2024
People from the country (born there or its citizens) living in other countries, as a percentage of the population living in the country (UN, International Migrant Stock 2024).
Emigrant stock
202k persons latest value, 2024
Number of people from the country (born there or its citizens) living in other countries at mid-year (UN).
Refugees from the country
175k persons, end of year latest value, 2025
Refugees and other people in need of international protection from the country living abroad (UNHCR). Palestine refugees under UNRWA's mandate are not included, so the figure for Palestine is far too low.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder
Refugees from the country per 1,000 people
290.6 per 1,000 population of the country latest value, 2025
Refugees and other people in need of international protection from the country per 1,000 people living in it (UNHCR; population: UN WPP 2024). UNRWA refugees not included.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder
Citizens under temporary protection in Europe
0 thousand persons, end of year latest value, 2026
Citizens of the country under temporary protection in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (all 31 report from 2022), end of December. For the running year: the latest month all have published. Granted from March 2022 to people fleeing the war in Ukraine: almost all are Ukrainians; for other countries, their citizens who lived in Ukraine. Eurostat, migr_asytpsm.
Security
Deaths in organised violence
0 persons a year latest value, 2025
Deaths in state-based conflict, non-state conflict and one-sided violence against civilians, by where the events took place (UCDP GED, best estimate). 0 means no organised violence above UCDP thresholds (25 deaths a year in one conflict). Events in Gaza and the West Bank are counted for Palestine.
Deaths in organised violence per 100,000
0 per 100,000 people a year latest value, 2025
Deaths in organised violence (UCDP GED) per 100,000 people (population: UN WPP 2024).
Armed conflict in the country
0 0 none, 1 minor, 2 war latest value, 2025
Strongest armed conflict of the year in which the government or territory of the country is disputed (UCDP/PRIO ACD): 1 = 25-999 battle-related deaths, 2 = war, 1,000 or more. In interstate conflicts every primary party is marked even if the fighting was elsewhere (the USA in Iraq, 2003). Historical states are mapped to present-day countries by territory (USSR, Yugoslavia, South Vietnam and others).
Battle deaths
4 persons a year latest value, 2025
Soldiers and civilians killed in combat in state-based armed conflicts on the territory of the country. 1946-1988: PRIO Battle Deaths (best estimate, else the low one; a conflict of several countries split equally); from 1989: UCDP GED by place of the events. For the same conflicts in 1989-2008 PRIO is 1.6 times UCDP, so the drop in 1989 is partly a change of source. One-sided violence against civilians is not included.
Battle deaths per 100,000
0.7 per 100,000 people a year latest value, 2025
Battle deaths on the territory of the country (PRIO to 1988, UCDP GED from 1989) per 100,000 people (population: UN WPP 2024), from 1950.
Land and housing
Primary forest
0 1000 ha latest value, 2025
FAOSTAT RL, Primary Forest. Published exact annual central values only; missing/suppressed values and inequality bounds are excluded from the annual series. Source flags, units, period and release retained in typed tables. Food supply is availability, not actual intake; land areas are not prices; diet cost uses source PPP definitions; land temperature is relative to 1951–1980.
Source: FAO: FAOSTAT
Everyday environment
Land temperature anomaly
1.89 °C latest value, 2025
FAOSTAT ET, Meteorological year. Published exact annual central values only; missing/suppressed values and inequality bounds are excluded from the annual series. Source flags, units, period and release retained in typed tables. Food supply is availability, not actual intake; land areas are not prices; diet cost uses source PPP definitions; land temperature is relative to 1951–1980.
Source: FAO: FAOSTAT
Religion and beliefs
Christians — population share
0.2 % of population latest value, 2020
Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Muslims — population share
99.6 % of population latest value, 2020
Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Muslims — population
550 thousand persons latest value, 2020
Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Religiously unaffiliated — population share
0.3 % of population latest value, 2020
Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Religious diversity — country rank
196 rank among 201 latest value, 2020
Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Religious diversity index
0.1 index points (0–10) latest value, 2020
Pew index, 0–10, based on seven broad groups. 10 means seven equal groups; 0 means everyone belongs to one group. Does not measure religious freedom, intensity of belief or conflict. Values below 0.1 are retained as bounds in the table. Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Religious composition: balance between two groups
0.2 index points (0–10) latest value, 2020
Pew index, 0–10, based on seven broad groups. 10 means two equal groups, which may be any two religions. It is not an affiliated/unaffiliated index. Does not measure religious freedom, intensity of belief or conflict. Values below 0.1 are retained as bounds in the table. Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Religiously affiliated — population share
99.7 % of population latest value, 2020
Macroscope calculation: total population minus Unaffiliated. A subtotal of six religious groups, not an eighth group or a count of believers in God. Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Religiously affiliated — population
550 thousand persons latest value, 2020
Macroscope calculation: total population minus Unaffiliated. A subtotal of six religious groups, not an eighth group or a count of believers in God. Pew estimates for all ages in 2010 and 2020 from the same revised 2025 release. Harmonised census/survey religious identification, not practising believers. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist or without beliefs. Other religions include folk traditions, Sikhs, Jains, Baha’is and others. The 2026 appendix displays shares below 0.1% as <0.1%; the interactive table displays populations below 10,000 as <10,000; these are retained as bounds in dimensions.operator and omitted from exact chart points. Other counts are rounded to 10,000 and shares to 0.1 percentage point. No intervening years are filled. Affiliated is a derived subtotal of the six religious groups and must not be added to them. Regions/world overlap with countries and must not be summed. Diversity ranks describe only the seven broad groups; a larger rank means less diversity, not less freedom.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious composition, 2010 and 2020
Government restrictions on religion
6.1 index points (0–10) latest value, 2023
Pew coding of published materials for 2023, 198 countries and territories. Scores from 0 to 10, not population percentages. GRI covers government restrictions; SHI covers hostile acts by private individuals and groups. They measure different things and must not be summed. North Korea is not scored due to insufficient reliable observations; missing is not no restrictions. Released June 15, 2026.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious restrictions and social hostilities
Social hostilities involving religion
0 index points (0–10) latest value, 2023
Pew coding of published materials for 2023, 198 countries and territories. Scores from 0 to 10, not population percentages. GRI covers government restrictions; SHI covers hostile acts by private individuals and groups. They measure different things and must not be summed. North Korea is not scored due to insufficient reliable observations; missing is not no restrictions. Released June 15, 2026.
Source: Pew Research Center: religious restrictions and social hostilities
Christians among immigrants — share
25.4 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Muslims among immigrants — share
74 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Religiously unaffiliated among immigrants — share
0.5 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Buddhists among immigrants — share
0 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Hindus among immigrants — share
0 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Jews among immigrants — share
0.1 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Other religions among immigrants — share
0 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Christians among emigrants — share
3.9 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Muslims among emigrants — share
96 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Muslims among emigrants — population
190 thousand persons latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Religiously unaffiliated among emigrants — share
0.1 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Buddhists among emigrants — share
0 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Hindus among emigrants — share
0 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Jews among emigrants — share
0 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Other religions among emigrants — share
0 % of migrants latest value, 2020
Pew 2024 estimates of international migrant stocks at seven dates, 1990–2020. Incoming means migrants living in a country; Outgoing means people from that country living abroad. These are not annual flows or shares of all residents. Based on international migrant data and estimates of religious composition, not a census of practising believers. Incoming and Outgoing overlap; world totals must not be added to countries. Counts are rounded to 10,000; smaller counts remain <10,000 bounds and are omitted from exact chart points. Shares use migrants in the same direction as denominator, rounded to 0.1 percentage point; 0.0% does not establish absence. Shares for 22 Incoming records with zero total are undefined and omitted. Vatican City Incoming is missing. Unaffiliated does not mean atheist. This release is not spliced with the revised 2025 all-population estimates.
Source: Pew Research Center: religion of international migrants
Same region: Africa
AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCameroonCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadComorosCôte d'IvoireDR CongoDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRepublic of the CongoRwandaRéunionSaint HelenaSao Tome and PrincipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe