Mauritania Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
Mauritania vs World

Table

Year	Median age
	Mauritania	World
1960	18.8	22.5
1961	18.8	22.5
1962	18.8	22.4
1963	18.8	22.2
1964	18.8	22
1965	18.7	21.8
1966	18.6	21.7
1967	18.5	21.6
1968	18.4	21.5
1969	18.3	21.5
1970	18.1	21.4
1971	17.9	21.4
1972	17.7	21.5
1973	17.6	21.5
1974	17.4	21.6
1975	17.3	21.7
1976	17.2	21.9
1977	17.1	22
1978	17.1	22.2
1979	17	22.3
1980	17	22.5
1981	17	22.6
1982	17	22.7
1983	17	22.9
1984	17	23
1985	17	23.2
1986	17	23.3
1987	17.1	23.4
1988	17.1	23.6
1989	17.1	23.8
1990	17.1	23.9
1991	17.2	24.1
1992	17.3	24.3
1993	17.6	24.5
1994	17.6	24.7
1995	17.6	25
1996	17.5	25.2
1997	17.5	25.4
1998	17.5	25.7
1999	17.6	25.9
2000	17.7	26.1
2001	17.7	26.3
2002	17.7	26.5
2003	17.7	26.7
2004	17.7	27
2005	17.7	27.2
2006	17.6	27.4
2007	17.6	27.6
2008	17.7	27.8
2009	17.8	28
2010	17.8	28.2
2011	17.9	28.4
2012	17.8	28.6
2013	17.8	28.9
2014	17.8	29.1
2015	17.8	29.3
2016	17.8	29.5
2017	17.8	29.8
2018	17.8	30
2019	17.9	30.3
2020	17.9	30.6
2021	18	30.8
2022	18.1	31
2023	18.2	31.3
2024	18.4	31.6
2025	18.4	31.9
2026	18.5	32.1
2027	18.7	32.3
2028	18.8	32.6
2029	19	32.8
2030	19.2	33
2031	19.4	33.2
2032	19.5	33.4
2033	19.7	33.6
2034	19.9	33.8
2035	20.1	34
2036	20.3	34.2
2037	20.5	34.4
2038	20.7	34.6
2039	20.9	34.8
2040	21.1	35
2041	21.3	35.2
2042	21.5	35.4
2043	21.7	35.6
2044	21.9	35.8
2045	22.2	36
2046	22.4	36.2
2047	22.6	36.4
2048	22.8	36.6
2049	23.1	36.8
2050	23.3	37.1

In 1960, the median age in Mauritania was 18.8 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had decreased to 18.4 years compared to the world's average of 31.6 years. Ranked 125th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Mauritania ranks 185th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Mauritania is expected to increase to around 23.3 years by 2050. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Mauritania demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Table

Age range	Share of population
	Mauritania
	Male	Female
0-4	7.98%	7.78%
5-9	7.19%	7.02%
10-14	6.46%	6.29%
15-19	5.43%	5.42%
20-24	4.37%	4.55%
25-29	3.61%	3.89%
30-34	3.01%	3.32%
35-39	2.51%	2.82%
40-44	2.03%	2.34%
45-49	1.65%	1.93%
50-54	1.38%	1.58%
55-59	1.11%	1.26%
60-64	0.86%	0.98%
65-69	0.63%	0.72%
70-74	0.41%	0.49%
75-79	0.24%	0.3%
80+	0.19%	0.25%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Mauritania has high demographic potential with 76.3% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 17/196).

Age dependency chart

Table

Year	Age dependency ratio
	Mauritania			World
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	79%	74.9%	4.12%	73.5%	64.9%	8.62%
1961	79.1%	74.8%	4.25%	73.8%	65.1%	8.67%
1962	79.2%	74.9%	4.37%	74.1%	65.4%	8.73%
1963	79.6%	75.1%	4.5%	74.9%	66.1%	8.79%
1964	80.4%	75.8%	4.62%	75.5%	66.6%	8.85%
1965	81.7%	77%	4.75%	75.8%	66.8%	8.93%
1966	83.3%	78.4%	4.88%	75.9%	66.9%	9%
1967	84.9%	79.9%	5%	75.9%	66.8%	9.07%
1968	86.4%	81.3%	5.12%	75.8%	66.6%	9.14%
1969	87.9%	82.7%	5.22%	75.7%	66.5%	9.2%
1970	89.3%	83.9%	5.32%	75.5%	66.2%	9.26%
1971	90.5%	85.1%	5.42%	75.2%	65.9%	9.33%
1972	91.6%	86.1%	5.5%	74.9%	65.6%	9.39%
1973	92.6%	87%	5.58%	74.6%	65.1%	9.46%
1974	93.4%	87.8%	5.65%	74.4%	64.9%	9.54%
1975	94.1%	88.4%	5.72%	74.2%	64.6%	9.64%
1976	94.6%	88.8%	5.77%	74%	64.3%	9.72%
1977	95%	89.2%	5.82%	73.5%	63.7%	9.79%
1978	95.4%	89.6%	5.86%	72.4%	62.5%	9.84%
1979	95.7%	89.8%	5.89%	71.3%	61.4%	9.88%
1980	95.8%	89.8%	5.91%	70.4%	60.5%	9.89%
1981	95.7%	89.8%	5.93%	69.5%	59.6%	9.85%
1982	95.6%	89.7%	5.94%	68.7%	58.9%	9.79%
1983	95.4%	89.4%	5.94%	67.9%	58.1%	9.72%
1984	95.1%	89.2%	5.94%	67%	57.3%	9.68%
1985	94.8%	88.9%	5.94%	66.3%	56.6%	9.68%
1986	94.5%	88.5%	5.94%	65.7%	55.9%	9.71%
1987	94.1%	88.2%	5.94%	65.2%	55.4%	9.75%
1988	93.7%	87.8%	5.93%	64.8%	54.9%	9.81%
1989	93.9%	88%	5.95%	64.4%	54.5%	9.89%
1990	94.1%	88.1%	5.97%	64.2%	54.3%	9.97%
1991	93.7%	87.7%	5.96%	64%	53.9%	10.1%
1992	92.1%	86.2%	5.91%	63.7%	53.6%	10.2%
1993	90.5%	84.6%	5.84%	63.5%	53.2%	10.3%
1994	89.9%	84.1%	5.81%	63.1%	52.7%	10.4%
1995	90.1%	84.3%	5.81%	62.7%	52.2%	10.5%
1996	91.1%	85.3%	5.84%	62.1%	51.5%	10.6%
1997	91.5%	85.6%	5.87%	61.5%	50.8%	10.7%
1998	91.1%	85.3%	5.87%	60.7%	50%	10.7%
1999	90.5%	84.6%	5.86%	60%	49.2%	10.8%
2000	89.7%	83.9%	5.85%	59.3%	48.4%	10.9%
2001	89.5%	83.6%	5.86%	58.5%	47.6%	11%
2002	89.6%	83.7%	5.88%	57.8%	46.7%	11.1%
2003	89.7%	83.8%	5.91%	57%	45.9%	11.1%
2004	89.8%	83.9%	5.93%	56.3%	45.1%	11.2%
2005	89.9%	84%	5.96%	55.6%	44.3%	11.3%
2006	90%	84.1%	5.99%	55%	43.6%	11.4%
2007	90.2%	84.2%	6.02%	54.5%	43.1%	11.4%
2008	90.1%	83.9%	6.19%	54.1%	42.6%	11.5%
2009	89.9%	83.4%	6.47%	53.8%	42.2%	11.6%
2010	90.2%	83.4%	6.74%	53.5%	41.9%	11.6%
2011	90.8%	83.8%	6.99%	53.4%	41.6%	11.8%
2012	91.7%	84.4%	7.22%	53.3%	41.4%	11.9%
2013	92%	84.8%	7.2%	53.4%	41.2%	12.1%
2014	91.8%	84.8%	6.97%	53.5%	41.1%	12.4%
2015	91.5%	84.8%	6.77%	53.6%	40.9%	12.7%
2016	91.2%	84.6%	6.6%	53.7%	40.7%	13%
2017	90.8%	84.3%	6.46%	53.9%	40.6%	13.3%
2018	90.3%	83.9%	6.35%	54.1%	40.4%	13.7%
2019	89.7%	83.4%	6.26%	54.2%	40.1%	14%
2020	88.9%	82.8%	6.16%	54.2%	39.8%	14.4%
2021	88.1%	82%	6.06%	54.2%	39.5%	14.7%
2022	87.1%	81.1%	6%	54%	39%	15%
2023	86.1%	80.1%	5.98%	53.9%	38.5%	15.4%
2024	85%	79%	5.97%	53.7%	38%	15.7%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Mauritania decreased from 89.8% to 85% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Mauritania working age demographic chart

Table

Year	Working age population share
	Mauritania	World
1960	55.9%	57.6%
1961	55.8%	57.5%
1962	55.8%	57.4%
1963	55.7%	57.2%
1964	55.4%	57%
1965	55%	56.9%
1966	54.5%	56.8%
1967	54.1%	56.9%
1968	53.6%	56.9%
1969	53.2%	56.9%
1970	52.8%	57%
1971	52.5%	57.1%
1972	52.2%	57.2%
1973	51.9%	57.3%
1974	51.7%	57.3%
1975	51.5%	57.4%
1976	51.4%	57.5%
1977	51.3%	57.7%
1978	51.2%	58%
1979	51.1%	58.4%
1980	51.1%	58.7%
1981	51.1%	59%
1982	51.1%	59.3%
1983	51.2%	59.6%
1984	51.3%	59.9%
1985	51.3%	60.1%
1986	51.4%	60.4%
1987	51.5%	60.5%
1988	51.6%	60.7%
1989	51.6%	60.8%
1990	51.5%	60.9%
1991	51.6%	61%
1992	52.1%	61.1%
1993	52.5%	61.2%
1994	52.7%	61.3%
1995	52.6%	61.5%
1996	52.3%	61.7%
1997	52.2%	61.9%
1998	52.3%	62.2%
1999	52.5%	62.5%
2000	52.7%	62.8%
2001	52.8%	63.1%
2002	52.7%	63.4%
2003	52.7%	63.7%
2004	52.7%	64%
2005	52.7%	64.3%
2006	52.6%	64.5%
2007	52.6%	64.7%
2008	52.6%	64.9%
2009	52.7%	65%
2010	52.6%	65.1%
2011	52.4%	65.2%
2012	52.2%	65.2%
2013	52.1%	65.2%
2014	52.1%	65.2%
2015	52.2%	65.1%
2016	52.3%	65.1%
2017	52.4%	65%
2018	52.6%	64.9%
2019	52.7%	64.9%
2020	52.9%	64.8%
2021	53.2%	64.9%
2022	53.4%	64.9%
2023	53.7%	65%
2024	54.1%	65.1%
2025	54.4%	65.2%
2026	54.7%	65.3%
2027	55%	65.4%
2028	55.3%	65.4%
2029	55.6%	65.4%
2030	55.9%	65.4%
2031	56.2%	65.4%
2032	56.5%	65.4%
2033	56.8%	65.4%
2034	57.1%	65.3%
2035	57.4%	65.2%
2036	57.7%	65%
2037	58%	64.9%
2038	58.3%	64.7%
2039	58.6%	64.6%
2040	58.9%	64.5%
2041	59.1%	64.4%
2042	59.4%	64.3%
2043	59.7%	64.2%
2044	60%	64.1%
2045	60.3%	63.9%
2046	60.6%	63.8%
2047	60.8%	63.7%
2048	61.1%	63.6%
2049	61.3%	63.4%
2050	61.6%	63.3%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Mauritania changed from 52.7% to 54.1% between 2004 and 2024.

Share of young population (0-14 years)

Table

Year	Share of population 0-14 years old
	Mauritania	World
1960	41.8%	37.4%
1961	41.8%	37.5%
1962	41.8%	37.6%
1963	41.8%	37.8%
1964	42%	38%
1965	42.4%	38%
1966	42.8%	38%
1967	43.2%	38%
1968	43.6%	37.9%
1969	44%	37.8%
1970	44.4%	37.7%
1971	44.7%	37.6%
1972	44.9%	37.5%
1973	45.2%	37.3%
1974	45.4%	37.2%
1975	45.5%	37.1%
1976	45.6%	36.9%
1977	45.7%	36.7%
1978	45.8%	36.3%
1979	45.9%	35.9%
1980	45.9%	35.5%
1981	45.9%	35.2%
1982	45.8%	34.9%
1983	45.8%	34.6%
1984	45.7%	34.3%
1985	45.6%	34%
1986	45.5%	33.8%
1987	45.4%	33.6%
1988	45.3%	33.4%
1989	45.4%	33.2%
1990	45.4%	33%
1991	45.3%	32.9%
1992	44.9%	32.7%
1993	44.4%	32.5%
1994	44.3%	32.3%
1995	44.4%	32.1%
1996	44.6%	31.8%
1997	44.7%	31.5%
1998	44.6%	31.1%
1999	44.4%	30.8%
2000	44.2%	30.4%
2001	44.1%	30%
2002	44.2%	29.6%
2003	44.2%	29.2%
2004	44.2%	28.8%
2005	44.2%	28.5%
2006	44.2%	28.1%
2007	44.3%	27.9%
2008	44.1%	27.6%
2009	43.9%	27.5%
2010	43.9%	27.3%
2011	43.9%	27.1%
2012	44.1%	27%
2013	44.2%	26.9%
2014	44.2%	26.8%
2015	44.3%	26.6%
2016	44.2%	26.5%
2017	44.2%	26.4%
2018	44.1%	26.2%
2019	44%	26%
2020	43.8%	25.8%
2021	43.6%	25.6%
2022	43.4%	25.3%
2023	43%	25%
2024	42.7%	24.7%
2025	42.4%	24.4%
2026	42%	24.1%
2027	41.7%	23.8%
2028	41.3%	23.4%
2029	41%	23.1%
2030	40.7%	22.8%
2031	40.4%	22.6%
2032	40%	22.3%
2033	39.7%	22.1%
2034	39.3%	21.9%
2035	39%	21.7%
2036	38.6%	21.6%
2037	38.3%	21.5%
2038	37.9%	21.4%
2039	37.6%	21.3%
2040	37.3%	21.2%
2041	36.9%	21.1%
2042	36.6%	21%
2043	36.2%	21%
2044	35.9%	20.9%
2045	35.5%	20.8%
2046	35.2%	20.7%
2047	34.8%	20.7%
2048	34.5%	20.6%
2049	34.1%	20.5%
2050	33.8%	20.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Mauritania decreased from 44.2% to 42.7% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	Mauritania	World
1960	2.3%	4.97%
1961	2.37%	4.99%
1962	2.44%	5.01%
1963	2.5%	5.02%
1964	2.56%	5.04%
1965	2.62%	5.08%
1966	2.66%	5.12%
1967	2.71%	5.16%
1968	2.74%	5.2%
1969	2.78%	5.24%
1970	2.81%	5.28%
1971	2.84%	5.32%
1972	2.87%	5.37%
1973	2.9%	5.42%
1974	2.92%	5.47%
1975	2.94%	5.53%
1976	2.96%	5.59%
1977	2.98%	5.65%
1978	3%	5.71%
1979	3.01%	5.77%
1980	3.02%	5.81%
1981	3.03%	5.81%
1982	3.04%	5.8%
1983	3.04%	5.79%
1984	3.05%	5.8%
1985	3.05%	5.82%
1986	3.05%	5.86%
1987	3.06%	5.91%
1988	3.06%	5.95%
1989	3.07%	6.01%
1990	3.08%	6.07%
1991	3.08%	6.14%
1992	3.07%	6.21%
1993	3.07%	6.29%
1994	3.06%	6.37%
1995	3.05%	6.45%
1996	3.06%	6.53%
1997	3.06%	6.61%
1998	3.07%	6.68%
1999	3.08%	6.76%
2000	3.08%	6.84%
2001	3.09%	6.92%
2002	3.1%	7.01%
2003	3.11%	7.1%
2004	3.12%	7.18%
2005	3.14%	7.26%
2006	3.15%	7.34%
2007	3.17%	7.41%
2008	3.25%	7.47%
2009	3.41%	7.52%
2010	3.55%	7.58%
2011	3.67%	7.66%
2012	3.77%	7.78%
2013	3.75%	7.92%
2014	3.63%	8.08%
2015	3.53%	8.26%
2016	3.45%	8.45%
2017	3.39%	8.65%
2018	3.34%	8.88%
2019	3.3%	9.1%
2020	3.26%	9.33%
2021	3.22%	9.53%
2022	3.21%	9.74%
2023	3.22%	9.98%
2024	3.23%	10.2%
2025	3.25%	10.4%
2026	3.27%	10.6%
2027	3.3%	10.8%
2028	3.32%	11.1%
2029	3.36%	11.5%
2030	3.39%	11.7%
2031	3.43%	12%
2032	3.47%	12.3%
2033	3.51%	12.6%
2034	3.56%	12.8%
2035	3.61%	13.1%
2036	3.67%	13.4%
2037	3.72%	13.7%
2038	3.78%	13.9%
2039	3.83%	14.1%
2040	3.89%	14.3%
2041	3.95%	14.5%
2042	4.02%	14.7%
2043	4.08%	14.9%
2044	4.15%	15%
2045	4.22%	15.2%
2046	4.3%	15.4%
2047	4.38%	15.7%
2048	4.47%	15.9%
2049	4.56%	16.1%
2050	4.67%	16.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Mauritania increased from 3.12% to 3.23% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in life expectancy.