Mauritania birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Mauritania has a birth rate of 34.4 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 4.7 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Mauritania was 6.15 children per woman — 1.31 times higher than in 2023.

Mauritania birth rate statistics:

Mauritania is ranked 13/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 70/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.2, a change from 30.2 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 121.9 in 1960 to 88.9 in 2023.
24.3% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 24.8% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Mauritania by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	4.7	11
2022	4.77	11
2021	4.85	11
2020	4.91	11
2019	4.98	11
2018	5.04	11
2017	5.11	14
2016	5.16	14
2015	5.21	15
2014	5.26	15
2013	5.32	16
2012	5.35	16
2011	5.38	16
2010	5.38	17
2009	5.41	22
2008	5.44	22
2007	5.43	24
2006	5.4	29
2005	5.38	32
2004	5.37	32
2003	5.36	32
2002	5.37	33
2001	5.41	33
2000	5.46	35
1999	5.52	35
1998	5.62	35
1997	5.74	33
1996	5.86	31
1995	5.96	29
1994	6.06	26
1993	6.09	28
1992	6.13	31
1991	6.16	33
1990	6.18	34
1989	6.2	35
1988	6.21	37
1987	6.27	38
1986	6.34	41
1985	6.42	40
1984	6.48	41
1983	6.54	40
1982	6.59	39
1981	6.64	36
1980	6.67	37
1979	6.7	37
1978	6.73	37
1977	6.74	40
1976	6.73	42
1975	6.71	46
1974	6.73	46
1973	6.72	46
1972	6.71	47
1971	6.7	49
1970	6.68	51
1969	6.64	54
1968	6.6	58
1967	6.57	63
1966	6.52	68
1965	6.44	75
1964	6.37	81
1963	6.31	88
1962	6.24	94
1961	6.2	99
1960	6.15	102

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Mauritania is 4.7, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 6.09 — a 22.9% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	145,164	172,887	27,723
2022	142,451	169,886	27,435
2021	137,557	167,339	29,782
2020	134,899	164,385	29,486
2019	134,460	161,780	27,320
2018	131,584	158,850	27,266
2017	128,562	155,985	27,423
2016	125,342	152,849	27,507
2015	122,092	149,825	27,733
2014	118,792	146,732	27,940
2013	115,558	143,804	28,246
2012	113,489	140,201	26,712
2011	111,165	136,402	25,237
2010	108,121	132,040	23,919
2009	105,273	128,109	22,836
2008	102,432	124,383	21,951
2007	98,895	120,756	21,861
2006	94,991	116,815	21,824
2005	90,940	112,965	22,025
2004	87,578	109,792	22,214
2003	83,804	106,231	22,427
2002	80,993	103,671	22,678
2001	78,769	101,747	22,978
2000	75,929	99,086	23,157
1999	73,554	96,886	23,332
1998	72,045	95,583	23,538
1997	71,327	95,015	23,688
1996	71,939	96,001	24,062
1995	72,244	96,036	23,792
1994	70,570	93,761	23,191
1993	68,167	90,597	22,430
1992	63,501	85,012	21,511
1991	61,782	82,994	21,212
1990	59,934	80,797	20,863
1989	58,666	79,515	20,849
1988	56,654	77,181	20,527
1987	55,037	75,567	20,530
1986	53,313	73,967	20,654
1985	52,125	72,807	20,682
1984	50,705	71,480	20,775
1983	49,187	70,039	20,852
1982	47,947	68,662	20,715
1981	46,641	67,341	20,700
1980	45,026	65,630	20,604
1979	43,537	64,024	20,487
1978	42,539	62,904	20,365
1977	41,352	61,512	20,160
1976	40,149	59,975	19,826
1975	38,975	58,441	19,466
1974	38,106	57,173	19,067
1973	37,122	55,826	18,704
1972	36,184	54,495	18,311
1971	35,279	53,271	17,992
1970	34,382	52,004	17,622
1969	33,252	50,655	17,403
1968	32,029	49,287	17,258
1967	30,853	47,980	17,127
1966	29,502	46,566	17,064
1965	28,028	45,019	16,991
1964	26,565	43,480	16,915
1963	25,250	42,097	16,847
1962	23,927	40,677	16,750
1961	22,781	39,433	16,652
1960	21,604	38,122	16,518

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Mauritania (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +3% annually. On average, 132,090 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 2.89% — 145,164 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Mauritania ranks 70/196 for absolute natural population change and 13/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Mauritania compared to other countries

	Mauritania	Rank
Fertility rate	4.7	11/196
Birth rate	34.4	13/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+145,164	70/196
Natural population change rate	+2.89%	13/196
Population growth	+2.93%	17/197
Age at first childbirth	21.8 years	88/137
Average age at childbearing	30.2 years	59/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	86.2	25/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	175.8	34/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	81.9	9/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	24.3%	105/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	12.8%	167/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	70.4%	163/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.38%	15/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.15%	42/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	3.1%	45/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	3.78%	51/192
Life expectancy	69.2 years	144/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	63.5	86.2	175.8	81.9
2025	64.4	87.7	178.7	83.5
2024	65.1	89	181.3	84.8
2023	65.8	90.4	184.2	86.3
2022	66.6	91.8	187.1	87.8
2021	67.5	93.3	190.2	89.3
2020	68.3	94.6	192.7	90.5
2019	69.2	95.9	195.5	92
2018	69.9	97.1	197.9	93.2
2017	70.7	98.3	200.3	94.3
2016	71.3	99.3	202.4	95.3
2015	72	100.3	204.6	96.2
2014	72.7	101.3	206.7	96.9
2013	73.4	102.4	208.9	97.8
2012	73.9	103.1	210.3	98.6
2011	74.4	103.5	211.5	99.3
2010	74.5	103.6	211.7	99.6
2009	74.8	104.1	212.7	100.3
2008	75.2	104.9	213.9	101.2
2007	75.3	104.5	213.4	101.2
2006	74.9	102.3	211.9	101.6
2005	74.3	100	210.2	101.7
2004	74.2	98	209.7	102.2
2003	73.7	92.7	209.5	102.8
2002	73.8	92	212.2	102.1
2001	74.3	92.4	214.4	102.2
2000	74.2	91.4	216.2	102.7
1999	74.6	91.4	218.8	103.3
1998	75.6	90.6	222.6	104.8
1997	77	97.5	226	105.6
1996	79.6	103.6	229.8	106.8
1995	81.1	103.4	234.2	108.2
1994	81.2	105.6	237.7	108.4
1993	80.9	107.8	239	107.2
1992	78.8	108.1	240.3	105.5
1991	79.7	115.6	240.4	104.5
1990	79.8	119.3	242	103.5
1989	80.6	119	242.6	104.4
1988	80.2	118.9	244.8	104.3
1987	80.7	120.6	248.8	104.6
1986	81.2	121.6	251.1	106.4
1985	82.2	125.9	254.8	107.5
1984	82.9	130.5	257.3	108.6
1983	83.6	132.9	259.3	110.2
1982	84.3	136.3	262	111.4
1981	85.2	139.8	265.1	112.6
1980	85.5	135	266.7	115.4
1979	85.9	130.3	267.4	118.2
1978	87	140.1	265.3	118.9
1977	87.7	139.9	266.9	119.4
1976	88.1	139.3	268	119.2
1975	88.5	137.2	268.9	119
1974	89.2	131.3	271.8	119.9
1973	89.8	132.9	270.4	119.8
1972	90.4	128.7	271.1	120.1
1971	91.1	127.1	270.9	120.3
1970	91.7	125.3	270.1	120.3
1969	92.2	122.9	269.6	120.1
1968	92.5	122.7	268.4	119.9
1967	92.9	123.7	267	119.8
1966	92.9	123.9	264.5	119.3
1965	92.5	122.5	261.1	118.5
1964	91.9	121	257.4	117.7
1963	91.4	122.2	254.3	117
1962	90.7	123	250.9	116.2
1961	90.3	124.2	248.4	115.8
1960	89.5	123.5	245	116

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Mauritania by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 14.3% will be to women under age 20, 45.4% to women ages 20-29, and 40.3% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 15.9%, 47.8%, and 36.3%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Mauritania	World
2100	21.5%	16.5%
2099	21.6%	16.6%
2098	21.8%	16.6%
2097	22%	16.7%
2096	22.1%	16.8%
2095	22.3%	16.8%
2094	22.5%	16.9%
2093	22.7%	17%
2092	22.9%	17%
2091	23.1%	17.1%
2090	23.3%	17.2%
2089	23.5%	17.2%
2088	23.7%	17.3%
2087	23.9%	17.4%
2086	24.1%	17.4%
2085	24.3%	17.5%
2084	24.5%	17.5%
2083	24.7%	17.6%
2082	25%	17.7%
2081	25.2%	17.7%
2080	25.4%	17.8%
2079	25.7%	17.8%
2078	25.9%	17.9%
2077	26.1%	17.9%
2076	26.4%	18%
2075	26.6%	18%
2074	26.8%	18.1%
2073	27.1%	18.2%
2072	27.3%	18.2%
2071	27.6%	18.3%
2070	27.9%	18.3%
2069	28.1%	18.4%
2068	28.4%	18.5%
2067	28.7%	18.6%
2066	29%	18.6%
2065	29.3%	18.7%
2064	29.6%	18.8%
2063	29.8%	18.9%
2062	30.1%	19.1%
2061	30.4%	19.2%
2060	30.7%	19.3%
2059	31.1%	19.4%
2058	31.4%	19.5%
2057	31.7%	19.6%
2056	32%	19.8%
2055	32.3%	19.9%
2054	32.6%	20%
2053	33%	20.1%
2052	33.3%	20.2%
2051	33.6%	20.3%
2050	33.9%	20.4%
2049	34.3%	20.5%
2048	34.6%	20.6%
2047	35%	20.7%
2046	35.3%	20.8%
2045	35.7%	20.9%
2044	36%	20.9%
2043	36.4%	21%
2042	36.7%	21.1%
2041	37.1%	21.2%
2040	37.4%	21.2%
2039	37.8%	21.3%
2038	38.1%	21.4%
2037	38.5%	21.5%
2036	38.8%	21.6%
2035	39.2%	21.8%
2034	39.5%	22%
2033	39.9%	22.2%
2032	40.2%	22.4%
2031	40.5%	22.7%
2030	40.8%	23%
2029	41.2%	23.3%
2028	41.5%	23.6%
2027	41.9%	23.9%
2026	42.2%	24.2%
2025	42.6%	24.6%
2024	42.7%	24.7%
2023	43%	25%
2022	43.4%	25.3%
2021	43.6%	25.6%
2020	43.8%	25.8%
2019	44%	26%
2018	44.1%	26.2%
2017	44.2%	26.4%
2016	44.2%	26.5%
2015	44.3%	26.6%
2014	44.2%	26.8%
2013	44.2%	26.9%
2012	44.1%	27%
2011	43.9%	27.1%
2010	43.9%	27.3%
2009	43.9%	27.5%
2008	44.1%	27.6%
2007	44.3%	27.9%
2006	44.2%	28.1%
2005	44.2%	28.5%
2004	44.2%	28.8%
2003	44.2%	29.2%
2002	44.2%	29.6%
2001	44.1%	30%
2000	44.2%	30.4%
1999	44.4%	30.8%
1998	44.6%	31.1%
1997	44.7%	31.5%
1996	44.6%	31.8%
1995	44.4%	32.1%
1994	44.3%	32.3%
1993	44.4%	32.5%
1992	44.9%	32.7%
1991	45.3%	32.9%
1990	45.4%	33%
1989	45.4%	33.2%
1988	45.3%	33.4%
1987	45.4%	33.6%
1986	45.5%	33.8%
1985	45.6%	34%
1984	45.7%	34.3%
1983	45.8%	34.6%
1982	45.8%	34.9%
1981	45.9%	35.2%
1980	45.9%	35.5%
1979	45.9%	35.9%
1978	45.8%	36.3%
1977	45.7%	36.7%
1976	45.6%	36.9%
1975	45.5%	37.1%
1974	45.4%	37.2%
1973	45.2%	37.3%
1972	44.9%	37.5%
1971	44.7%	37.6%
1970	44.4%	37.7%
1969	44%	37.8%
1968	43.6%	37.9%
1967	43.2%	38%
1966	42.8%	38%
1965	42.4%	38%
1964	42%	38%
1963	41.8%	37.8%
1962	41.8%	37.6%
1961	41.8%	37.5%
1960	41.8%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Mauritania was 41.8% in 1960, 44.9% in 1992, and 42.7% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Mauritania.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Mauritania	World
2023	381	197
2022	385	203
2021	425	242
2020	413	211
2019	424	207
2018	437	211
2017	450	215
2016	456	220
2015	469	228
2014	484	231
2013	496	235
2012	496	239
2011	494	247
2010	499	253
2009	500	258
2008	506	264
2007	516	269
2006	521	276
2005	536	283
2004	557	291
2003	571	301
2002	590	311
2001	616	321
2000	644	328
1999	669	340
1998	698	360
1997	752	358
1996	813	366
1995	815	371
1994	809	382
1993	813	389
1992	811	395
1991	845	395
1990	858	391
1989	883	401
1988	887	414
1987	914	429
1986	961	438
1985	998	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Mauritania was 381 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.38% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 40.8% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Mauritania	World
2023	3.78%	2.49%
2022	3.91%	2.59%
2021	4.03%	2.66%
2020	4.17%	2.75%
2019	4.3%	2.86%
2018	4.45%	2.97%
2017	4.59%	3.11%
2016	4.74%	3.22%
2015	4.89%	3.35%
2014	5.04%	3.48%
2013	5.17%	3.61%
2012	5.31%	3.77%
2011	5.45%	3.97%
2010	5.61%	4.11%
2009	5.79%	4.31%
2008	6.04%	4.5%
2007	6.35%	4.7%
2006	6.73%	4.92%
2005	7.18%	5.16%
2004	7.7%	5.43%
2003	8.25%	5.65%
2002	8.81%	5.94%
2001	9.35%	6.21%
2000	9.82%	6.48%
1999	10.2%	6.75%
1998	10.6%	7.05%
1997	10.8%	7.28%
1996	11%	7.52%
1995	11.1%	7.76%
1994	11.2%	7.98%
1993	11.2%	8.19%
1992	11.3%	8.46%
1991	11.4%	8.66%
1990	11.5%	8.81%
1989	11.8%	9.02%
1988	12.1%	9.31%
1987	12.6%	9.47%
1986	13.2%	9.81%
1985	13.8%	10.1%
1984	14.5%	10.4%
1983	15.1%	10.6%
1982	15.6%	10.8%
1981	16.1%	11%
1980	16.6%	11.4%
1979	17.1%	11.7%
1978	17.6%	12.2%
1977	18.2%	12.6%
1976	18.6%	13%
1975	18.9%	13.4%
1974	19%	13.8%
1973	19%	14.1%
1972	18.9%	14.5%
1971	18.9%	15.1%
1970	19%	15.2%
1969	19.4%	15.4%
1968	19.9%	15.6%
1967	20.6%	15.9%
1966	21.3%	16.1%
1965	22%	16.4%
1964	22.7%	16.6%
1963	23.4%	16.5%
1962	24%	16.7%
1961	24.7%	17%
1960	25.3%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Mauritania was 37.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 3.78% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 98.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.