Mauritania is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 5.17M people. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, with 1.45M residents. Mauritania shares land borders with Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Algeria.
Mauritania ranks 153/197 by GDP ($10.9B) and 156/197 by GDP per capita ($2,110). The top export category is precious metals & jewellery, while the top import is raw materials & minerals.
Main facts and rankings
Mauritania
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
5505206
|
122/197 |
| GDP |
$10.9B
2024 |
153/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$2,110
2024 |
156/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$7,369
2024 |
147/197 |
| Government debt |
$4.67B
2024 |
145/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
42.8%
2024 |
126/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$904
2024 |
145/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$2,078
2026 |
164/197 |
| Land area | 397,955 sq mi | 28/197 |
| Population density | 13.7 ppl/mi² | 188/197 |
| Fertility rate | 4.7 | 11/196 |
| Median age | 18.4 years | 185/196 |
| Life expectancy | 69.2 years | 144/197 |
Mauritania trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,908,045,687 |
| 2023 | $10,726,838,461 |
| 2022 | $9,557,966,698 |
| 2021 | $9,222,536,364 |
| 2020 | $8,260,752,385 |
| 2019 | $7,894,764,886 |
| 2018 | $7,473,550,557 |
| 2017 | $6,800,135,898 |
| 2016 | $6,398,747,592 |
| 2015 | $6,166,863,897 |
| 2014 | $6,592,537,782 |
| 2013 | $7,223,071,097 |
| 2012 | $6,728,208,836 |
| 2011 | $6,764,627,746 |
| 2010 | $5,628,878,798 |
| 2009 | $4,714,595,548 |
| 2008 | $5,206,437,194 |
| 2007 | $4,346,212,355 |
| 2006 | $3,919,577,286 |
| 2005 | $2,936,019,526 |
| 2004 | $2,362,501,023 |
| 2003 | $2,051,147,607 |
| 2002 | $1,777,057,481 |
| 2001 | $1,746,063,558 |
| 2000 | $1,779,520,886 |
| 1999 | $1,985,922,776 |
| 1998 | $2,032,347,665 |
| 1997 | $2,071,996,564 |
| 1996 | $2,132,087,009 |
| 1995 | $2,091,726,101 |
| 1994 | $1,944,876,755 |
| 1993 | $1,847,353,211 |
| 1992 | $2,164,298,425 |
| 1991 | $2,133,692,697 |
| 1990 | $1,506,914,408 |
| 1989 | $1,450,647,019 |
| 1988 | $1,414,951,290 |
| 1987 | $1,344,664,725 |
| 1986 | $1,186,628,778 |
| 1985 | $1,009,723,326 |
| 1984 | $1,074,373,230 |
| 1983 | $1,165,171,263 |
| 1982 | $1,108,776,653 |
| 1981 | $1,105,494,682 |
| 1980 | $1,047,925,106 |
| 1979 | $951,900,945 |
| 1978 | $804,629,877 |
| 1977 | $799,030,017 |
| 1976 | $775,045,517 |
| 1975 | $703,377,837 |
| 1974 | $613,010,553 |
| 1973 | $493,237,876 |
| 1972 | $391,669,449 |
| 1971 | $335,568,907 |
| 1970 | $309,405,316 |
| 1969 | $295,062,308 |
| 1968 | $311,395,937 |
| 1967 | $282,615,310 |
| 1966 | $266,533,605 |
| 1965 | $255,340,475 |
| 1964 | $224,495,744 |
| 1963 | $168,186,297 |
| 1962 | $164,271,558 |
| 1961 | $159,213,430 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/mauritania | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,110 |
| 2023 | $2,136 |
| 2022 | $1,960 |
| 2021 | $1,948 |
| 2020 | $1,796 |
| 2019 | $1,767 |
| 2018 | $1,723 |
| 2017 | $1,615 |
| 2016 | $1,566 |
| 2015 | $1,555 |
| 2014 | $1,713 |
| 2013 | $1,934 |
| 2012 | $1,859 |
| 2011 | $1,931 |
| 2010 | $1,660 |
| 2009 | $1,435 |
| 2008 | $1,636 |
| 2007 | $1,405 |
| 2006 | $1,301 |
| 2005 | $999 |
| 2004 | $824 |
| 2003 | $732 |
| 2002 | $649 |
| 2001 | $652 |
| 2000 | $681 |
| 1999 | $781 |
| 1998 | $821 |
| 1997 | $859 |
| 1996 | $904 |
| 1995 | $905 |
| 1994 | $865 |
| 1993 | $850 |
| 1992 | $1,036 |
| 1991 | $1,062 |
| 1990 | $772 |
| 1989 | $762 |
| 1988 | $762 |
| 1987 | $746 |
| 1986 | $677 |
| 1985 | $593 |
| 1984 | $650 |
| 1983 | $725 |
| 1982 | $710 |
| 1981 | $729 |
| 1980 | $711 |
| 1979 | $664 |
| 1978 | $578 |
| 1977 | $590 |
| 1976 | $589 |
| 1975 | $551 |
| 1974 | $494 |
| 1973 | $410 |
| 1972 | $335 |
| 1971 | $296 |
| 1970 | $281.3 |
| 1969 | $276.6 |
| 1968 | $301 |
| 1967 | $281.5 |
| 1966 | $273.6 |
| 1965 | $270 |
| 1964 | $244.3 |
| 1963 | $188.2 |
| 1962 | $189 |
| 1961 | $188.2 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/mauritania | CC BY
Mauritania's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 69.2 |
| 2025 | 68.9 |
| 2024 | 68.7 |
| 2023 | 68.5 |
| 2022 | 68.3 |
| 2021 | 66.8 |
| 2020 | 66.8 |
| 2019 | 67.6 |
| 2018 | 67.4 |
| 2017 | 67.1 |
| 2016 | 66.8 |
| 2015 | 66.5 |
| 2014 | 66.2 |
| 2013 | 65.9 |
| 2012 | 65.8 |
| 2011 | 65.8 |
| 2010 | 65.7 |
| 2009 | 65.5 |
| 2008 | 65.2 |
| 2007 | 64.9 |
| 2006 | 64.5 |
| 2005 | 63.9 |
| 2004 | 63.4 |
| 2003 | 62.8 |
| 2002 | 62.2 |
| 2001 | 61.7 |
| 2000 | 61 |
| 1999 | 60.4 |
| 1998 | 59.9 |
| 1997 | 59.4 |
| 1996 | 58.9 |
| 1995 | 58.9 |
| 1994 | 58.8 |
| 1993 | 58.7 |
| 1992 | 58.6 |
| 1991 | 58.3 |
| 1990 | 58.1 |
| 1989 | 57.7 |
| 1988 | 57.5 |
| 1987 | 57 |
| 1986 | 56.3 |
| 1985 | 55.8 |
| 1984 | 55.2 |
| 1983 | 54.6 |
| 1982 | 54.2 |
| 1981 | 53.7 |
| 1980 | 53.2 |
| 1979 | 52.8 |
| 1978 | 52.3 |
| 1977 | 52 |
| 1976 | 51.8 |
| 1975 | 51.6 |
| 1974 | 51.4 |
| 1973 | 51.2 |
| 1972 | 51 |
| 1971 | 50.8 |
| 1970 | 50.5 |
| 1969 | 50.1 |
| 1968 | 49.5 |
| 1967 | 48.9 |
| 1966 | 48.1 |
| 1965 | 47.4 |
| 1964 | 46.6 |
| 1963 | 45.8 |
| 1962 | 45 |
| 1961 | 44.3 |
| 1960 | 43.6 |
| 1959 | 42.9 |
| 1958 | 42.3 |
| 1957 | 41.7 |
| 1956 | 41.1 |
| 1955 | 40.6 |
| 1954 | 40.1 |
| 1953 | 39.6 |
| 1952 | 39.2 |
| 1951 | 38.8 |
| 1950 | 38.4 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/mauritania | CC BY
Mauritania's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,169,395 |
| 2023 | 5,022,441 |
| 2022 | 4,875,637 |
| 2021 | 4,734,874 |
| 2020 | 4,600,131 |
| 2019 | 4,467,708 |
| 2018 | 4,337,685 |
| 2017 | 4,210,600 |
| 2016 | 4,086,657 |
| 2015 | 3,965,959 |
| 2014 | 3,848,514 |
| 2013 | 3,734,318 |
| 2012 | 3,619,034 |
| 2011 | 3,502,811 |
| 2010 | 3,390,965 |
| 2009 | 3,284,448 |
| 2008 | 3,183,269 |
| 2007 | 3,093,059 |
| 2006 | 3,013,660 |
| 2005 | 2,939,059 |
| 2004 | 2,868,664 |
| 2003 | 2,802,046 |
| 2002 | 2,738,655 |
| 2001 | 2,678,760 |
| 2000 | 2,613,441 |
| 1999 | 2,541,698 |
| 1998 | 2,474,651 |
| 1997 | 2,411,306 |
| 1996 | 2,358,188 |
| 1995 | 2,312,017 |
| 1994 | 2,249,454 |
| 1993 | 2,174,328 |
| 1992 | 2,088,135 |
| 1991 | 2,009,738 |
| 1990 | 1,951,878 |
| 1989 | 1,903,048 |
| 1988 | 1,855,859 |
| 1987 | 1,803,014 |
| 1986 | 1,751,835 |
| 1985 | 1,702,107 |
| 1984 | 1,653,693 |
| 1983 | 1,606,746 |
| 1982 | 1,561,176 |
| 1981 | 1,516,877 |
| 1980 | 1,474,043 |
| 1979 | 1,432,758 |
| 1978 | 1,392,713 |
| 1977 | 1,353,768 |
| 1976 | 1,315,336 |
| 1975 | 1,277,330 |
| 1974 | 1,240,188 |
| 1973 | 1,203,838 |
| 1972 | 1,168,355 |
| 1971 | 1,133,702 |
| 1970 | 1,099,806 |
| 1969 | 1,066,754 |
| 1968 | 1,034,739 |
| 1967 | 1,003,843 |
| 1966 | 974,157 |
| 1965 | 945,838 |
| 1964 | 918,955 |
| 1963 | 893,423 |
| 1962 | 869,184 |
| 1961 | 846,167 |
| 1960 | 824,298 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/mauritania | CC BY
Mauritania's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.7 |
| 2022 | 4.77 |
| 2021 | 4.85 |
| 2020 | 4.91 |
| 2019 | 4.98 |
| 2018 | 5.04 |
| 2017 | 5.11 |
| 2016 | 5.16 |
| 2015 | 5.21 |
| 2014 | 5.26 |
| 2013 | 5.32 |
| 2012 | 5.35 |
| 2011 | 5.38 |
| 2010 | 5.38 |
| 2009 | 5.41 |
| 2008 | 5.44 |
| 2007 | 5.43 |
| 2006 | 5.4 |
| 2005 | 5.38 |
| 2004 | 5.37 |
| 2003 | 5.36 |
| 2002 | 5.37 |
| 2001 | 5.41 |
| 2000 | 5.46 |
| 1999 | 5.52 |
| 1998 | 5.62 |
| 1997 | 5.74 |
| 1996 | 5.86 |
| 1995 | 5.96 |
| 1994 | 6.06 |
| 1993 | 6.09 |
| 1992 | 6.13 |
| 1991 | 6.16 |
| 1990 | 6.18 |
| 1989 | 6.2 |
| 1988 | 6.21 |
| 1987 | 6.27 |
| 1986 | 6.34 |
| 1985 | 6.42 |
| 1984 | 6.48 |
| 1983 | 6.54 |
| 1982 | 6.59 |
| 1981 | 6.64 |
| 1980 | 6.67 |
| 1979 | 6.7 |
| 1978 | 6.73 |
| 1977 | 6.74 |
| 1976 | 6.73 |
| 1975 | 6.71 |
| 1974 | 6.73 |
| 1973 | 6.72 |
| 1972 | 6.71 |
| 1971 | 6.7 |
| 1970 | 6.68 |
| 1969 | 6.64 |
| 1968 | 6.6 |
| 1967 | 6.57 |
| 1966 | 6.52 |
| 1965 | 6.44 |
| 1964 | 6.37 |
| 1963 | 6.31 |
| 1962 | 6.24 |
| 1961 | 6.2 |
| 1960 | 6.15 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/mauritania | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 18.4 |
| 2023 | 18.2 |
| 2022 | 18.1 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2020 | 17.9 |
| 2019 | 17.9 |
| 2018 | 17.8 |
| 2017 | 17.8 |
| 2016 | 17.8 |
| 2015 | 17.8 |
| 2014 | 17.8 |
| 2013 | 17.8 |
| 2012 | 17.8 |
| 2011 | 17.9 |
| 2010 | 17.8 |
| 2009 | 17.8 |
| 2008 | 17.7 |
| 2007 | 17.6 |
| 2006 | 17.6 |
| 2005 | 17.7 |
| 2004 | 17.7 |
| 2003 | 17.7 |
| 2002 | 17.7 |
| 2001 | 17.7 |
| 2000 | 17.7 |
| 1999 | 17.6 |
| 1998 | 17.5 |
| 1997 | 17.5 |
| 1996 | 17.5 |
| 1995 | 17.6 |
| 1994 | 17.6 |
| 1993 | 17.6 |
| 1992 | 17.3 |
| 1991 | 17.2 |
| 1990 | 17.1 |
| 1989 | 17.1 |
| 1988 | 17.1 |
| 1987 | 17.1 |
| 1986 | 17 |
| 1985 | 17 |
| 1984 | 17 |
| 1983 | 17 |
| 1982 | 17 |
| 1981 | 17 |
| 1980 | 17 |
| 1979 | 17 |
| 1978 | 17.1 |
| 1977 | 17.1 |
| 1976 | 17.2 |
| 1975 | 17.3 |
| 1974 | 17.4 |
| 1973 | 17.6 |
| 1972 | 17.7 |
| 1971 | 17.9 |
| 1970 | 18.1 |
| 1969 | 18.3 |
| 1968 | 18.4 |
| 1967 | 18.5 |
| 1966 | 18.6 |
| 1965 | 18.7 |
| 1964 | 18.8 |
| 1963 | 18.8 |
| 1962 | 18.8 |
| 1961 | 18.8 |
| 1960 | 18.8 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/mauritania | CC BY
Mauritania vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Mauritania with other countries.
Mauritania: National Statistics
Finance
|
Mauritania
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$11B
2024 |
150/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
23.6%
2024 |
129/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
4.72%
2023 |
72/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
2.16%
2024 |
57/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
21,000
2020 |
105/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-1.35%
2024 |
59/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
10.4%
2019 |
37/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
42.4%
2024 |
168/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
30.5%
2024 |
56/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
53.9
2026 |
136/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
24.6%
2019 |
126/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3.1%
2019 |
53/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$2.04B
2021 |
126/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$94.5M
2024 |
154/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
30,000
2000 |
178/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
0.23%
2020 |
180/184 |
| Banked people share |
27.3%
2024 |
144/158 |
Energy
|
Mauritania
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
5.01 megatons
2024 |
134/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.97 tons
2024 |
131/187 |
| Renewable energy use share |
19.6%
2022 |
108/193 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
19.4%
2021 |
115/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0%
2021 |
173/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
126/192 |
| Electricity access |
50.3%
2023 |
179/195 |
Society
|
Mauritania
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.06%
2024 |
125/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-5,044
2025 |
115/196 |
| Urban population |
60.6%
2024 |
108/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.1:50.9
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.43 ft
2025 |
177/190 |
| Average female height |
5.25 ft
2025 |
105/190 |
| Quality of life index |
28.7
2026 |
160/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
30
2025 |
147/197 |
| Higher education index |
15
2026 |
158/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
1.02
2020 |
152/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
25.6
2019 |
47/197 |
| Visa free countries |
63
2025 |
156/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
67%
2021 |
173/196 |
| English speaking |
4%
2025 |
153/197 |
| People using the Internet |
37.4%
2023 |
159/195 |
Health
|
Mauritania
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$92.1
2023 |
145/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$40.3
2023 |
135/192 |
| Life expectancy |
69.2 years
2026 |
144/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
19.5%
2023 |
36/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.26
2022 |
153/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
21.8 years
2025 |
88/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
381
2023 |
15/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
37.8
2023 |
51/192 |
| Obesity rate |
23%
2022 |
92/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
5.2%
2024 |
163/195 |
| Air quality index |
26
2026 |
148/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
9.5%
2022 |
136/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
0 liters
2020 |
184/186 |
Territory
|
Mauritania
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.69%
2026 |
28/197 |
| Land area per capita |
76,983 sq mi
2024 |
10/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
153,321 sq mi
2026 |
28/194 |
| Forest area |
1,145 sq mi
2026 |
149/196 |
| Roads length |
7,614 mi
2018 |
115/176 |
Compare Mauritania with other countries
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Wikidata (2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.