Western Sahara: Changes in Elderly and Working-Age Populations Since 1950 - Essay Sample

Introduction

Western Sahara is a sparsely populated region situated in the Northwest Coast of Africa. This region was a Spanish territory, and it has experienced a lot of demographic changes since the 1950s. Specifically, there have been changes in the proportion of the elderly and the working-age populations. The elderly population refers to individuals in the age bracket of 60 years and above, while the working-age population refers to individuals in the age bracket of 18-64 years. Since 1950, there have been a lot of variations in the specified populations, which has led to a lot of consequences such as increased survival rates as both males and females age, among many other implications about the population density, and increased workforce. The paper, therefore, focuses on the various changes in population proportions of the working population and the elderly population in Western Sahara, as well as its history in regards to its demographic environment.

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History of Western Sahara Region

Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory on the Northwestern Coast bordered by Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania. This region acquired its independence in 1976 after Spain withdrew from the territory. However, Morocco immediately annexed two-thirds of the territory and claimed the whole territory in 1979. All along since Morocco took charge, there has been guerilla war with the Polisario Front. This war took place for almost 16 years, and it ended in 1991 when the UN brokered a truce and promised a referendum, which up to date has not taken place. Besides, ethnic tensions between the Moroccan immigrants and the Sahrawi population have increased continuously, which acts as a reason for population density in the region between the 1950s to 1990s. However, Morocco built a long defensive sand berm separating the opposing forces leading to peace within the region. In fact, since the completion of the sand berm, a robust increase in the population was experienced. It is also expected that the population will continue increasing by up to 1.2 million by 2050.

Economic Overview of the Western Sahara Region

The Western Sahara region has a small based economy with the main activities economic activities being fishing, tourism, pastoral nomadism, and mining. Agriculture in this region is extremely difficult due to the arid desert climate, which means the part mainly depends on food imports. Besides, the Moroccan government administers the Western Sahara economy by offering jobs to the people in this region, as well as social spending and infrastructure development. Such moves have improved the wellbeing of people in the area leading to population increase.

The General Population Density of the Western Sahara Region

The population in the Western Sahara Region has been increasing all along since 1950 up to date. As of 1950, the population density was 0.1, and for the next few years up to 1962, the population density increased up to 0.2. Later on, in 1968, the population density increased up to 0.3. The same trend continued, and recently in 2010, the population density was estimated to be at 1.9. Besides, in terms of male and female populations from 1950 to 2010, the population has been increasing steadily, with 2010 having the highest population for both males and females. The male population in 1950 from July was estimated to be 7000, in 1951 it was estimated to be 8000, and as of 2010, the population of males in thousands was estimated to be 271,000. The same scenario applies to the females’ population because, as of 1950, the population of females was estimated to be at 7000, and in 2010 it was estimated to be at 244000. In terms of the total population density, the same case applies, as shown in figure 1. Therefore, one can conclude that the general population of the Western Sahara region has been increasing, and the same trend is expected to continue in the coming years.

A General Line-Graph Showing the Population Density of Western Sahara Region

Figure 1: Line Graph showing the population density of the Western Sahara Region

Specific Demographic Changes in the Western Sahara Region for the Working Population

According to life tables survivors for both and females, there have been a lot of changes in the population proportions. For instance, the male survivors in the period of 1950-1955, was lower in comparison to the other years from 1955-2010. Ideally, the curve in terms of survival chances moves upwards as the years move forward. The same case applies to the females’ survival in the Western Sahara region. The higher the survival rate, the higher population. Besides, with higher survival rates for both males and females, the lower the crude death rates, and the higher life expectancy while also taking into consideration the working population, which refers to individuals in the age bracket of 18-64 years. As of 1950, then their male population in the working-age bracket was less than 3000. In 1951, the same case was experienced since the number of working males was estimated to be less than 4000. In the following year, the working-age population increased by 1000, but as of 1960, the male working population was estimated to be 12,000.

Further in 1970, the working male population had increased up to 26,000. Finally, in 2010, the male working population increased up to 201,000. The working-age population is expected to increase more in the coming years.

The females in the working-age also increased over the years. As of 1950, females in the working-age were estimated to be less than 3000. The same case applies in 1951 and the next few years. However, in 1960 the females in the working-age had increased to 9000. In 1970, the number had doubled twice to 18,000. Finally, in 2010, the females in the working-age population were estimated to be at 174,000 (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2013). The working-age population for both males and females is expected to continue rising since the trend has been moving upwards all along. Another critical fact to note about the working-age is that it increases with the increase in the survival rates.

Demographic Changes for the Elderly Population

The elderly population is described as a group of people who are aged above 60 years and above. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that people are now living longer in comparison to previous years. The same case applies to the Western Sahara region since, in the late 1950s, the male population in thousands who were more 60 years old was zero. Most of the males at the time were in the age bracket of 0-30 years. The same case replicated itself in 1951, but the age bracket of males living during that period increased up to 34 years. It is worth noting that from 1950 to 1965, there were less than one thousand males annually who had reached the elderly age. However, in 1965, the first 1000 males were recorded. The number of elderly males since then increased continuously, and in 2010, the number of males in the elderly age was estimated to be 21,000. The same case scenario applies to the female population. As of 1950, the number of females who had reached the elderly age of 60 years and above was estimated to be zero. This trend of having less than 1000 females in the age bracket of 60 years and above ended in 1976 when the first 1000 females were recorded in the age bracket of 60-65 years. Since 1976, females of the elderly age continue to increase. In 2010, the population of the elderly females was estimated to be 10,000 (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2013). These statistics show that males had higher survival rates in comparison to females. More so, the population of males all along has been higher than that of females.

Forecast on the Elderly and the Working Age Population

All along since 1950, the population in the Western Sahara region seems to increase annually. This trend simply means that the elderly population is likely to increase. More so, the working-age population is expected to increase in the coming years. It can be assumed that the low population in decades between 1950 to 1980 was mainly attributed to harsh colonial rule and guerilla war conditions in the region. As such, the population is the Western Sahara region is expected to continue increasing.

Reference

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2013). World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision, DVD Edition. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/database/index.asp