The current population of Mauritania is 5,505,206 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 5,169,395 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth in 20 years).
- For the last 20 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of 4.13% per year.
- Mauritania is projected to reach 17.3M people in 2100.
- Mauritania is ranked 122/197 by population and was ranked 132nd in 2006.
- Mauritania accounts for 0.07% of the world's population.
Mauritania population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 17,309,980 | 0.62% |
| 2099 | 17,202,690 | 0.66% |
| 2098 | 17,090,030 | 0.68% |
| 2097 | 16,975,270 | 0.7% |
| 2096 | 16,857,252 | 0.7% |
| 2095 | 16,739,240 | 0.73% |
| 2094 | 16,617,272 | 0.76% |
| 2093 | 16,492,589 | 0.77% |
| 2092 | 16,366,098 | 0.8% |
| 2091 | 16,235,771 | 0.82% |
| 2090 | 16,103,700 | 0.84% |
| 2089 | 15,969,059 | 0.87% |
| 2088 | 15,831,339 | 0.9% |
| 2087 | 15,690,143 | 0.92% |
| 2086 | 15,547,605 | 0.93% |
| 2085 | 15,403,967 | 0.96% |
| 2084 | 15,257,740 | 0.99% |
| 2083 | 15,108,271 | 1% |
| 2082 | 14,958,279 | 1.03% |
| 2081 | 14,805,332 | 1.05% |
| 2080 | 14,651,508 | 1.07% |
| 2079 | 14,496,397 | 1.11% |
| 2078 | 14,337,117 | 1.14% |
| 2077 | 14,175,812 | 1.16% |
| 2076 | 14,013,255 | 1.19% |
| 2075 | 13,849,027 | 1.2% |
| 2074 | 13,684,146 | 1.23% |
| 2073 | 13,517,681 | 1.26% |
| 2072 | 13,349,376 | 1.3% |
| 2071 | 13,178,237 | 1.31% |
| 2070 | 13,007,812 | 1.34% |
| 2069 | 12,835,311 | 1.36% |
| 2068 | 12,662,862 | 1.41% |
| 2067 | 12,487,379 | 1.43% |
| 2066 | 12,311,503 | 1.44% |
| 2065 | 12,136,616 | 1.49% |
| 2064 | 11,958,955 | 1.49% |
| 2063 | 11,783,144 | 1.53% |
| 2062 | 11,606,044 | 1.55% |
| 2061 | 11,428,738 | 1.58% |
| 2060 | 11,251,427 | 1.62% |
| 2059 | 11,072,236 | 1.65% |
| 2058 | 10,892,076 | 1.66% |
| 2057 | 10,713,858 | 1.68% |
| 2056 | 10,536,935 | 1.72% |
| 2055 | 10,358,532 | 1.76% |
| 2054 | 10,179,658 | 1.8% |
| 2053 | 9,999,712 | 1.84% |
| 2052 | 9,819,098 | 1.87% |
| 2051 | 9,639,209 | 1.88% |
| 2050 | 9,461,249 | 1.92% |
| 2049 | 9,283,353 | 1.97% |
| 2048 | 9,104,299 | 1.99% |
| 2047 | 8,926,851 | 2.03% |
| 2046 | 8,748,845 | 2.06% |
| 2045 | 8,572,397 | 2.09% |
| 2044 | 8,397,189 | 2.13% |
| 2043 | 8,222,194 | 2.16% |
| 2042 | 8,048,139 | 2.18% |
| 2041 | 7,876,803 | 2.21% |
| 2040 | 7,706,696 | 2.24% |
| 2039 | 7,537,689 | 2.29% |
| 2038 | 7,369,184 | 2.31% |
| 2037 | 7,202,472 | 2.36% |
| 2036 | 7,036,729 | 2.4% |
| 2035 | 6,871,981 | 2.44% |
| 2034 | 6,708,364 | 2.48% |
| 2033 | 6,546,168 | 2.51% |
| 2032 | 6,385,827 | 2.54% |
| 2031 | 6,227,564 | 2.58% |
| 2030 | 6,070,865 | 2.61% |
| 2029 | 5,916,516 | 2.64% |
| 2028 | 5,764,060 | 2.67% |
| 2027 | 5,613,919 | 2.73% |
| 2026 | 5,464,898 | 2.78% |
| 2025 | 5,317,228 | 2.86% |
| 2024 | 5,169,395 | 2.93% |
| 2023 | 5,022,441 | 3.01% |
| 2022 | 4,875,637 | 2.97% |
| 2021 | 4,734,874 | 2.93% |
| 2020 | 4,600,131 | 2.96% |
| 2019 | 4,467,708 | 3% |
| 2018 | 4,337,685 | 3.02% |
| 2017 | 4,210,600 | 3.03% |
| 2016 | 4,086,657 | 3.04% |
| 2015 | 3,965,959 | 3.05% |
| 2014 | 3,848,514 | 3.06% |
| 2013 | 3,734,318 | 3.19% |
| 2012 | 3,619,034 | 3.32% |
| 2011 | 3,502,811 | 3.3% |
| 2010 | 3,390,965 | 3.24% |
| 2009 | 3,284,448 | 3.18% |
| 2008 | 3,183,269 | 2.92% |
| 2007 | 3,093,059 | 2.63% |
| 2006 | 3,013,660 | 2.54% |
| 2005 | 2,939,059 | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 2,868,664 | 2.38% |
| 2003 | 2,802,046 | 2.31% |
| 2002 | 2,738,655 | 2.24% |
| 2001 | 2,678,760 | 2.5% |
| 2000 | 2,613,441 | 2.82% |
| 1999 | 2,541,698 | 2.71% |
| 1998 | 2,474,651 | 2.63% |
| 1997 | 2,411,306 | 2.25% |
| 1996 | 2,358,188 | 2% |
| 1995 | 2,312,017 | 2.78% |
| 1994 | 2,249,454 | 3.46% |
| 1993 | 2,174,328 | 4.13% |
| 1992 | 2,088,135 | 3.9% |
| 1991 | 2,009,738 | 2.96% |
| 1990 | 1,951,878 | 2.57% |
| 1989 | 1,903,048 | 2.54% |
| 1988 | 1,855,859 | 2.93% |
| 1987 | 1,803,014 | 2.92% |
| 1986 | 1,751,835 | 2.92% |
| 1985 | 1,702,107 | 2.93% |
| 1984 | 1,653,693 | 2.92% |
| 1983 | 1,606,746 | 2.92% |
| 1982 | 1,561,176 | 2.92% |
| 1981 | 1,516,877 | 2.91% |
| 1980 | 1,474,043 | 2.88% |
| 1979 | 1,432,758 | 2.88% |
| 1978 | 1,392,713 | 2.88% |
| 1977 | 1,353,768 | 2.92% |
| 1976 | 1,315,336 | 2.98% |
| 1975 | 1,277,330 | 2.99% |
| 1974 | 1,240,188 | 3.02% |
| 1973 | 1,203,838 | 3.04% |
| 1972 | 1,168,355 | 3.06% |
| 1971 | 1,133,702 | 3.08% |
| 1970 | 1,099,806 | 3.1% |
| 1969 | 1,066,754 | 3.09% |
| 1968 | 1,034,739 | 3.08% |
| 1967 | 1,003,843 | 3.05% |
| 1966 | 974,157 | 2.99% |
| 1965 | 945,838 | 2.93% |
| 1964 | 918,955 | 2.86% |
| 1963 | 893,423 | 2.79% |
| 1962 | 869,184 | 2.72% |
| 1961 | 846,167 | 2.65% |
| 1960 | 824,298 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/mauritania | CC BY 
Mauritania has a population of 5.51M as of 2026, compared to 4.09M in 2016, 3.01M in 2006, and 2.36M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 3.47% per year. Mauritania is ranked 11th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Mauritania will have 8,748,845 people (58.9% growth) with a rank change from 122nd to 108th.
By the year 2100, Mauritania's population is projected to grow by 214.4% from its current level to 17.3M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -5,044 |
| 2024 | - | - | -2,185 |
| 2023 | 148,163 | 145,164 | 2,999 |
| 2022 | 145,450 | 142,451 | 2,999 |
| 2021 | 136,074 | 137,557 | -1,483 |
| 2020 | 133,416 | 134,899 | -1,483 |
| 2019 | 131,441 | 134,460 | -3,019 |
| 2018 | 128,597 | 131,584 | -2,987 |
| 2017 | 125,561 | 128,562 | -3,001 |
| 2016 | 122,334 | 125,342 | -3,008 |
| 2015 | 119,073 | 122,092 | -3,019 |
| 2014 | 115,812 | 118,792 | -2,980 |
| 2013 | 112,571 | 115,558 | -2,987 |
| 2012 | 118,004 | 113,489 | 4,515 |
| 2011 | 114,437 | 111,165 | 3,272 |
| 2010 | 109,249 | 108,121 | 1,128 |
| 2009 | 103,792 | 105,273 | -1,481 |
| 2008 | 98,572 | 102,432 | -3,860 |
| 2007 | 81,847 | 98,895 | -17,048 |
| 2006 | 76,958 | 94,991 | -18,033 |
| 2005 | 72,247 | 90,940 | -18,693 |
| 2004 | 68,536 | 87,578 | -19,042 |
| 2003 | 64,700 | 83,804 | -19,104 |
| 2002 | 62,090 | 80,993 | -18,903 |
| 2001 | 57,702 | 78,769 | -21,067 |
| 2000 | 72,932 | 75,929 | -2,997 |
| 1999 | 70,555 | 73,554 | -2,999 |
| 1998 | 63,541 | 72,045 | -8,504 |
| 1997 | 63,140 | 71,327 | -8,187 |
| 1996 | 43,099 | 71,939 | -28,840 |
| 1995 | 49,247 | 72,244 | -22,997 |
| 1994 | 75,874 | 70,570 | 5,304 |
| 1993 | 74,384 | 68,167 | 6,217 |
| 1992 | 98,006 | 63,501 | 34,505 |
| 1991 | 58,785 | 61,782 | -2,997 |
| 1990 | 56,934 | 59,934 | -3,000 |
| 1989 | 40,725 | 58,666 | -17,941 |
| 1988 | 53,657 | 56,654 | -2,997 |
| 1987 | 52,039 | 55,037 | -2,998 |
| 1986 | 50,315 | 53,313 | -2,998 |
| 1985 | 49,127 | 52,125 | -2,998 |
| 1984 | 47,707 | 50,705 | -2,998 |
| 1983 | 46,189 | 49,187 | -2,998 |
| 1982 | 44,949 | 47,947 | -2,998 |
| 1981 | 43,643 | 46,641 | -2,998 |
| 1980 | 42,029 | 45,026 | -2,997 |
| 1979 | 40,540 | 43,537 | -2,997 |
| 1978 | 39,541 | 42,539 | -2,998 |
| 1977 | 38,353 | 41,352 | -2,999 |
| 1976 | 38,504 | 40,149 | -1,645 |
| 1975 | 37,503 | 38,975 | -1,472 |
| 1974 | 36,785 | 38,106 | -1,321 |
| 1973 | 35,921 | 37,122 | -1,201 |
| 1972 | 35,045 | 36,184 | -1,139 |
| 1971 | 34,265 | 35,279 | -1,014 |
| 1970 | 33,527 | 34,382 | -855 |
| 1969 | 32,564 | 33,252 | -688 |
| 1968 | 31,464 | 32,029 | -565 |
| 1967 | 30,339 | 30,853 | -514 |
| 1966 | 29,036 | 29,502 | -466 |
| 1965 | 27,594 | 28,028 | -434 |
| 1964 | 26,175 | 26,565 | -390 |
| 1963 | 24,888 | 25,250 | -362 |
| 1962 | 23,585 | 23,927 | -342 |
| 1961 | 22,449 | 22,781 | -332 |
| 1960 | 21,286 | 21,604 | -318 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/mauritania | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 98.9% of the population change in Mauritania is from natural causes (a gain of 1,320,903 people) and 1.12% is from migration (a loss of 14,982 people).
As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 84,920 and 2.5% in 2010.
Mauritania population clock
Mauritania
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5505206
|
122/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.07% | 122/197 |
| One net population change |
3.58 minutes
|
75/197 |
| One birth every |
3.04 minutes
|
89/196 |
| One death every |
19 minutes
|
131/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +403 | 75/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +146,954 | 75/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.93% | 17/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.74 hours
|
115/196 |
| Annual migration change | -5,044 | 115/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 195,937 | 113/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.8% | 107/195 |
Largest cities by population
|
Mauritania
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Nouakchott | 1.45M |
| Rosso | 61.2K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Mauritania population statistics
|
Mauritania
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.2 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 23 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 18.4 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.1:50.9 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 4.7 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 13.7 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/mauritania | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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.