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Fertility & birth rates in Mauritania and Mauritius

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritania has an annual birth rate of 34.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.2 for Mauritius. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.7 in Mauritania and 1.39 in Mauritius — 70.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 23.6% in Mauritania and by 76.4% in Mauritius — in 1960, it was 6.15 and 5.9, respectively.

  • Mauritania is ranked 13/196 by birth rate compared to 144/196 for Mauritius.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.2 in Mauritania — it's 29.5 in Mauritius.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 88.9 in Mauritania vs 19.8 in Mauritius.
  • In Mauritania, 24.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.5% in Mauritius.

Fertility rate in Mauritania vs Mauritius by year

Mauritania
Mauritius
1x
Year Fertility rate
Mauritania Mauritius
2023 4.7 1.39
2022 4.77 1.32
2021 4.85 1.41
2020 4.91 1.44
2019 4.98 1.4
2018 5.04 1.41
2017 5.11 1.44
2016 5.16 1.4
2015 5.21 1.36
2014 5.26 1.43
2013 5.32 1.44
2012 5.35 1.54
2011 5.38 1.55
2010 5.38 1.57
2009 5.41 1.59
2008 5.44 1.67
2007 5.43 1.74
2006 5.4 1.77
2005 5.38 1.88
2004 5.37 1.92
2003 5.36 1.87
2002 5.37 1.94
2001 5.41 1.91
2000 5.46 1.99
1999 5.52 2.05
1998 5.62 1.97
1997 5.74 2.04
1996 5.86 2.12
1995 5.96 2.14
1994 6.06 2.25
1993 6.09 2.21
1992 6.13 2.37
1991 6.16 2.3
1990 6.18 2.32
1989 6.2 2.23
1988 6.21 2.14
1987 6.27 2.05
1986 6.34 1.99
1985 6.42 2.02
1984 6.48 2.16
1983 6.54 2.4
1982 6.59 2.53
1981 6.64 2.67
1980 6.67 2.8
1979 6.7 2.91
1978 6.73 3.01
1977 6.74 3.07
1976 6.73 3.13
1975 6.71 3.2
1974 6.73 3.45
1973 6.72 3.07
1972 6.71 3.41
1971 6.7 3.51
1970 6.68 3.82
1969 6.64 3.97
1968 6.6 4.6
1967 6.57 4.63
1966 6.52 5.46
1965 6.44 5.51
1964 6.37 5.96
1963 6.31 6.18
1962 6.24 5.88
1961 6.2 5.98
1960 6.15 5.9

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Mauritania was 4.7 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.39 in Mauritius in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Mauritania vs Mauritius population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Mauritania
Mauritius
1x
Year Natural population change
Mauritania Mauritius
2023 145,164 999
2022 142,451 -757
2021 137,557 -253
2020 134,899 2,405
2019 134,460 1,773
2018 131,584 2,151
2017 128,562 3,415
2016 125,342 2,906
2015 122,092 3,031
2014 118,792 3,657
2013 115,558 4,281
2012 113,489 5,149
2011 111,165 5,511
2010 108,121 5,877
2009 105,273 6,113
2008 102,432 7,465
2007 98,895 8,429
2006 94,991 8,515
2005 90,940 10,195
2004 87,578 10,745
2003 83,804 10,799
2002 80,993 11,685
2001 78,769 11,723
2000 75,929 12,224
1999 73,554 12,341
1998 72,045 11,489
1997 71,327 11,943
1996 71,939 13,041
1995 72,244 13,020
1994 70,570 14,355
1993 68,167 14,814
1992 63,501 15,833
1991 61,782 15,091
1990 59,934 15,564
1989 58,666 14,718
1988 56,654 14,084
1987 55,037 13,262
1986 53,313 12,340
1985 52,125 12,451
1984 50,705 13,665
1983 49,187 14,525
1982 47,947 15,880
1981 46,641 18,334
1980 45,026 19,321
1979 43,537 19,282
1978 42,539 18,670
1977 41,352 16,769
1976 40,149 16,407
1975 38,975 15,342
1974 38,106 17,561
1973 37,122 13,145
1972 36,184 14,825
1971 35,279 15,441
1970 34,382 16,190
1969 33,252 15,761
1968 32,029 17,884
1967 30,853 17,560
1966 29,502 20,758
1965 28,028 20,482
1964 26,565 22,239
1963 25,250 22,069
1962 23,927 20,660
1961 22,781 20,355
1960 21,604 19,931

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

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

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.89% in Mauritania and +0.08% in Mauritius.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3% in Mauritania and +0.15% in Mauritius.

Birth rate in Mauritania vs Mauritius by year

Mauritania
Mauritius

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Mauritania Mauritius
2023 34.4 10.2
2022 34.8 9.6
2021 35.3 10.3
2020 35.7 10.6
2019 36.2 10.2
2018 36.6 10.2
2017 37 10.7
2016 37.4 10.4
2015 37.8 10.1
2014 38.1 10.6
2013 38.5 10.9
2012 38.7 11.5
2011 38.9 11.7
2010 38.9 12
2009 39 12.3
2008 39.1 13.2
2007 39 13.7
2006 38.8 14.3
2005 38.4 15.3
2004 38.3 15.7
2003 37.9 15.9
2002 37.9 16.6
2001 38 16.5
2000 37.9 17
1999 38.1 17.3
1998 38.6 16.7
1997 39.4 17.4
1996 40.7 18.3
1995 41.5 18.3
1994 41.7 19.6
1993 41.7 20.3
1992 40.7 21.1
1991 41.3 20.7
1990 41.4 21.3
1989 41.8 20.8
1988 41.6 20.1
1987 41.9 19.3
1986 42.2 18.6
1985 42.8 19
1984 43.2 20.1
1983 43.6 21
1982 44 22.6
1981 44.4 25.5
1980 44.5 27.2
1979 44.7 27.5
1978 45.2 27.1
1977 45.4 26
1976 45.6 25.8
1975 45.8 25.3
1974 46.1 27.3
1973 46.4 23
1972 46.6 25.3
1971 47 26.1
1970 47.3 27.5
1969 47.5 27.7
1968 47.6 31.6
1967 47.8 31
1966 47.8 36
1965 47.6 36
1964 47.3 38.9
1963 47.1 40.4
1962 46.8 38.8
1961 46.6 39.7
1960 46.2 39.4

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 34.4 in Mauritania and 10.2 in Mauritius, compared with 46.2 and 39.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Mauritania Mauritius
Fertility rate 4.7 1.39
Fertility rate rank 11/196 164/196
Birth rate 34.4 10.2
Birth rate rank 13/196 144/196
Population change due to births and deaths +145,164 +999
Natural population change rank 70/196 139/196
Natural population change rate +2.89% +0.08%
Population growth +2.93% -0.23%
Population growth rank 17/197 178/197
Age at first childbirth 21.8 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 30.2 years 29.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 86.2 17.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 175.8 52.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 81.9 13.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.3% 25.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 12.8% 31.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 70.4% 99.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.38% 0.07%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.15% 0.9%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.1% 1.35%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.78% 1.52%
Life expectancy 69.2 years 75.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Mauritania
Factual

UN forecast
Mauritius
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Mauritania Mauritius
2100 21.5% 10.1%
2099 21.6% 10.1%
2098 21.8% 10.1%
2097 22% 10.1%
2096 22.1% 10%
2095 22.3% 10%
2094 22.5% 9.99%
2093 22.7% 9.98%
2092 22.9% 9.97%
2091 23.1% 9.97%
2090 23.3% 9.97%
2089 23.5% 9.98%
2088 23.7% 10%
2087 23.9% 10%
2086 24.1% 10%
2085 24.3% 10.1%
2084 24.5% 10.1%
2083 24.7% 10.1%
2082 25% 10.1%
2081 25.2% 10.2%
2080 25.4% 10.2%
2079 25.7% 10.2%
2078 25.9% 10.2%
2077 26.1% 10.2%
2076 26.4% 10.2%
2075 26.6% 10.2%
2074 26.8% 10.2%
2073 27.1% 10.2%
2072 27.3% 10.2%
2071 27.6% 10.2%
2070 27.9% 10.2%
2069 28.1% 10.2%
2068 28.4% 10.2%
2067 28.7% 10.2%
2066 29% 10.3%
2065 29.3% 10.3%
2064 29.6% 10.3%
2063 29.8% 10.3%
2062 30.1% 10.3%
2061 30.4% 10.4%
2060 30.7% 10.4%
2059 31.1% 10.5%
2058 31.4% 10.5%
2057 31.7% 10.6%
2056 32% 10.7%
2055 32.3% 10.8%
2054 32.6% 10.9%
2053 33% 11.1%
2052 33.3% 11.2%
2051 33.6% 11.3%
2050 33.9% 11.5%
2049 34.3% 11.6%
2048 34.6% 11.8%
2047 35% 11.9%
2046 35.3% 12%
2045 35.7% 12.1%
2044 36% 12.3%
2043 36.4% 12.4%
2042 36.7% 12.5%
2041 37.1% 12.6%
2040 37.4% 12.7%
2039 37.8% 12.7%
2038 38.1% 12.8%
2037 38.5% 12.9%
2036 38.8% 13.1%
2035 39.2% 13.2%
2034 39.5% 13.3%
2033 39.9% 13.4%
2032 40.2% 13.5%
2031 40.5% 13.6%
2030 40.8% 13.7%
2029 41.2% 13.9%
2028 41.5% 14%
2027 41.9% 14.2%
2026 42.2% 14.4%
2025 42.6% 14.7%
2024 42.7% 14.8%
2023 43% 15.1%
2022 43.4% 15.5%
2021 43.6% 15.9%
2020 43.8% 16.4%
2019 44% 16.9%
2018 44.1% 17.4%
2017 44.2% 17.9%
2016 44.2% 18.4%
2015 44.3% 18.9%
2014 44.2% 19.3%
2013 44.2% 19.7%
2012 44.1% 20.1%
2011 43.9% 20.6%
2010 43.9% 21.1%
2009 43.9% 21.7%
2008 44.1% 22.3%
2007 44.3% 22.9%
2006 44.2% 23.4%
2005 44.2% 23.9%
2004 44.2% 24.3%
2003 44.2% 24.7%
2002 44.2% 25%
2001 44.1% 25.3%
2000 44.2% 25.6%
1999 44.4% 25.8%
1998 44.6% 26.2%
1997 44.7% 26.6%
1996 44.6% 27%
1995 44.4% 27.5%
1994 44.3% 28%
1993 44.4% 28.5%
1992 44.9% 29%
1991 45.3% 29.4%
1990 45.4% 29.8%
1989 45.4% 30.1%
1988 45.3% 30.5%
1987 45.4% 30.8%
1986 45.5% 31.1%
1985 45.6% 31.4%
1984 45.7% 31.8%
1983 45.8% 32.2%
1982 45.8% 32.6%
1981 45.9% 33.1%
1980 45.9% 33.6%
1979 45.9% 34.2%
1978 45.8% 34.9%
1977 45.7% 35.7%
1976 45.6% 36.5%
1975 45.5% 37.3%
1974 45.4% 38.2%
1973 45.2% 39.1%
1972 44.9% 40.1%
1971 44.7% 40.9%
1970 44.4% 41.6%
1969 44% 42.3%
1968 43.6% 42.9%
1967 43.2% 43.4%
1966 42.8% 44%
1965 42.4% 44.4%
1964 42% 44.8%
1963 41.8% 45.1%
1962 41.8% 45.1%
1961 41.8% 45%
1960 41.8% 45%

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/mauritius | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 42.7% of the population in Mauritania and 14.8% in Mauritius in 2024, compared to 45.4% and 29.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Mauritania and Mauritius compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Mauritania vs Mauritius

Mauritania
Mauritius
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Mauritania Mauritius
2023 381 66
2022 385 61
2021 425 80
2020 413 58
2019 424 67
2018 437 67
2017 450 66
2016 456 62
2015 469 61
2014 484 60
2013 496 58
2012 496 55
2011 494 55
2010 499 53
2009 500 51
2008 506 48
2007 516 46
2006 521 45
2005 536 43
2004 557 43
2003 571 42
2002 590 42
2001 616 42
2000 644 43
1999 669 46
1998 698 48
1997 752 49
1996 813 52
1995 815 55
1994 809 63
1993 813 70
1992 811 73
1991 845 75
1990 858 77
1989 883 85
1988 887 93
1987 914 103
1986 961 106
1985 998 111

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

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 381 deaths per 100,000 live births in Mauritania, compared to 66 deaths in Mauritius.

Under-five mortality rates

Mauritania
Mauritius

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Mauritania Mauritius
2023 3.78% 1.52%
2022 3.91% 1.55%
2021 4.03% 1.57%
2020 4.17% 1.58%
2019 4.3% 1.57%
2018 4.45% 1.53%
2017 4.59% 1.5%
2016 4.74% 1.47%
2015 4.89% 1.47%
2014 5.04% 1.47%
2013 5.17% 1.49%
2012 5.31% 1.5%
2011 5.45% 1.49%
2010 5.61% 1.48%
2009 5.79% 1.48%
2008 6.04% 1.5%
2007 6.35% 1.52%
2006 6.73% 1.54%
2005 7.18% 1.55%
2004 7.7% 1.57%
2003 8.25% 1.6%
2002 8.81% 1.66%
2001 9.35% 1.76%
2000 9.82% 1.89%
1999 10.2% 2.03%
1998 10.6% 2.16%
1997 10.8% 2.25%
1996 11% 2.26%
1995 11.1% 2.22%
1994 11.2% 2.16%
1993 11.2% 2.12%
1992 11.3% 2.13%
1991 11.4% 2.19%
1990 11.5% 2.32%
1989 11.8% 2.5%
1988 12.1% 2.7%
1987 12.6% 2.85%
1986 13.2% 2.88%
1985 13.8% 2.85%
1984 14.5% 2.92%
1983 15.1% 3.15%
1982 15.6% 3.47%
1981 16.1% 3.77%
1980 16.6% 4.02%
1979 17.1% 4.28%
1978 17.6% 4.62%
1977 18.2% 5.08%
1976 18.6% 5.74%
1975 18.9% 6.53%
1974 19% 7.24%
1973 19% 7.71%
1972 18.9% 7.98%
1971 18.9% 8.15%
1970 19% 8.35%
1969 19.4% 8.72%
1968 19.9% 9.25%
1967 20.6% 9.55%
1966 21.3% 9.25%
1965 22% 8.66%
1964 22.7% 8.4%
1963 23.4% 8.72%
1962 24% 9.31%
1961 24.7% 9.82%
1960 25.3% 10.2%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.78% in Mauritania and 1.52% in Mauritius. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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