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Population in Mauritania compared to Nigeria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 44.3 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.01% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Mauritania vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Nigeria
2100 17,309,980 481,678,166
2099 17,202,690 481,494,914
2098 17,090,030 481,219,866
2097 16,975,270 480,876,108
2096 16,857,252 480,460,381
2095 16,739,240 479,976,454
2094 16,617,272 479,432,855
2093 16,492,589 478,807,152
2092 16,366,098 478,097,591
2091 16,235,771 477,274,569
2090 16,103,700 476,367,086
2089 15,969,059 475,363,859
2088 15,831,339 474,268,867
2087 15,690,143 473,072,894
2086 15,547,605 471,769,229
2085 15,403,967 470,365,292
2084 15,257,740 468,843,169
2083 15,108,271 467,224,322
2082 14,958,279 465,509,151
2081 14,805,332 463,679,779
2080 14,651,508 461,741,930
2079 14,496,397 459,680,797
2078 14,337,117 457,513,367
2077 14,175,812 455,254,796
2076 14,013,255 452,885,729
2075 13,849,027 450,402,898
2074 13,684,146 447,825,224
2073 13,517,681 445,152,156
2072 13,349,376 442,375,349
2071 13,178,237 439,499,004
2070 13,007,812 436,539,777
2069 12,835,311 433,472,204
2068 12,662,862 430,320,190
2067 12,487,379 427,066,199
2066 12,311,503 423,736,078
2065 12,136,616 420,318,527
2064 11,958,955 416,811,285
2063 11,783,144 413,231,409
2062 11,606,044 409,583,480
2061 11,428,738 405,859,509
2060 11,251,427 402,073,494
2059 11,072,236 398,228,736
2058 10,892,076 394,315,883
2057 10,713,858 390,341,867
2056 10,536,935 386,298,064
2055 10,358,532 382,193,151
2054 10,179,658 378,030,342
2053 9,999,712 373,799,276
2052 9,819,098 369,501,634
2051 9,639,209 365,149,555
2050 9,461,249 360,734,783
2049 9,283,353 356,271,401
2048 9,104,299 351,752,501
2047 8,926,851 347,169,674
2046 8,748,845 342,532,578
2045 8,572,397 337,834,528
2044 8,397,189 333,076,416
2043 8,222,194 328,256,555
2042 8,048,139 323,388,886
2041 7,876,803 318,469,120
2040 7,706,696 313,492,800
2039 7,537,689 308,474,350
2038 7,369,184 303,423,786
2037 7,202,472 298,351,344
2036 7,036,729 293,250,795
2035 6,871,981 288,138,368
2034 6,708,364 283,018,151
2033 6,546,168 277,897,810
2032 6,385,827 272,769,123
2031 6,227,564 267,666,779
2030 6,070,865 262,583,487
2029 5,916,516 257,504,936
2028 5,764,060 252,465,743
2027 5,613,919 247,457,208
2026 5,464,898 242,477,499
2025 5,317,228 237,546,527
2024 5,169,395 232,679,478
2023 5,022,441 227,882,945
2022 4,875,637 223,150,896
2021 4,734,874 218,529,286
2020 4,600,131 213,996,181
2019 4,467,708 209,485,641
2018 4,337,685 204,938,755
2017 4,210,600 200,254,579
2016 4,086,657 195,443,700
2015 3,965,959 190,671,878
2014 3,848,514 185,896,915
2013 3,734,318 181,049,443
2012 3,619,034 176,200,625
2011 3,502,811 171,379,598
2010 3,390,965 166,642,886
2009 3,284,448 162,049,464
2008 3,183,269 157,595,014
2007 3,093,059 153,267,261
2006 3,013,660 149,077,334
2005 2,939,059 145,017,253
2004 2,868,664 141,057,045
2003 2,802,046 137,202,644
2002 2,738,655 133,471,989
2001 2,678,760 129,862,595
2000 2,613,441 126,382,494
1999 2,541,698 123,047,320
1998 2,474,651 119,846,254
1997 2,411,306 116,754,792
1996 2,358,188 113,754,779
1995 2,312,017 110,819,428
1994 2,249,454 107,935,714
1993 2,174,328 105,122,069
1992 2,088,135 102,372,770
1991 2,009,738 99,720,162
1990 1,951,878 97,120,925
1989 1,903,048 94,531,014
1988 1,855,859 92,020,090
1987 1,803,014 89,591,716
1986 1,751,835 87,235,953
1985 1,702,107 84,897,973
1984 1,653,693 82,526,443
1983 1,606,746 80,438,260
1982 1,561,176 78,378,701
1981 1,516,877 76,068,103
1980 1,474,043 73,764,641
1979 1,432,758 71,498,242
1978 1,392,713 69,326,532
1977 1,353,768 67,234,590
1976 1,315,336 65,258,009
1975 1,277,330 63,410,815
1974 1,240,188 61,679,144
1973 1,203,838 60,082,139
1972 1,168,355 58,601,748
1971 1,133,702 57,214,684
1970 1,099,806 55,893,838
1969 1,066,754 54,631,914
1968 1,034,739 53,432,783
1967 1,003,843 52,293,065
1966 974,157 51,188,234
1965 945,838 50,086,764
1964 918,955 49,012,016
1963 893,423 47,973,575
1962 869,184 46,965,292
1961 846,167 45,989,310
1960 824,298 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Mauritania's population will grow by 71.9% to 9,461,249 people with a rank change from 122nd to 102nd. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Nigeria
2100 0.62% 0.04%
2099 0.66% 0.06%
2098 0.68% 0.07%
2097 0.7% 0.09%
2096 0.7% 0.1%
2095 0.73% 0.11%
2094 0.76% 0.13%
2093 0.77% 0.15%
2092 0.8% 0.17%
2091 0.82% 0.19%
2090 0.84% 0.21%
2089 0.87% 0.23%
2088 0.9% 0.25%
2087 0.92% 0.28%
2086 0.93% 0.3%
2085 0.96% 0.32%
2084 0.99% 0.35%
2083 1% 0.37%
2082 1.03% 0.39%
2081 1.05% 0.42%
2080 1.07% 0.45%
2079 1.11% 0.47%
2078 1.14% 0.5%
2077 1.16% 0.52%
2076 1.19% 0.55%
2075 1.2% 0.58%
2074 1.23% 0.6%
2073 1.26% 0.63%
2072 1.3% 0.65%
2071 1.31% 0.68%
2070 1.34% 0.71%
2069 1.36% 0.73%
2068 1.41% 0.76%
2067 1.43% 0.79%
2066 1.44% 0.81%
2065 1.49% 0.84%
2064 1.49% 0.87%
2063 1.53% 0.89%
2062 1.55% 0.92%
2061 1.58% 0.94%
2060 1.62% 0.97%
2059 1.65% 0.99%
2058 1.66% 1.02%
2057 1.68% 1.05%
2056 1.72% 1.07%
2055 1.76% 1.1%
2054 1.8% 1.13%
2053 1.84% 1.16%
2052 1.87% 1.19%
2051 1.88% 1.22%
2050 1.92% 1.25%
2049 1.97% 1.28%
2048 1.99% 1.32%
2047 2.03% 1.35%
2046 2.06% 1.39%
2045 2.09% 1.43%
2044 2.13% 1.47%
2043 2.16% 1.51%
2042 2.18% 1.54%
2041 2.21% 1.59%
2040 2.24% 1.63%
2039 2.29% 1.66%
2038 2.31% 1.7%
2037 2.36% 1.74%
2036 2.4% 1.77%
2035 2.44% 1.81%
2034 2.48% 1.84%
2033 2.51% 1.88%
2032 2.54% 1.91%
2031 2.58% 1.94%
2030 2.61% 1.97%
2029 2.64% 2%
2028 2.67% 2.02%
2027 2.73% 2.05%
2026 2.78% 2.08%
2025 2.86% 2.09%
2024 2.93% 2.1%
2023 3.01% 2.12%
2022 2.97% 2.11%
2021 2.93% 2.12%
2020 2.96% 2.15%
2019 3% 2.22%
2018 3.02% 2.34%
2017 3.03% 2.46%
2016 3.04% 2.5%
2015 3.05% 2.57%
2014 3.06% 2.68%
2013 3.19% 2.75%
2012 3.32% 2.81%
2011 3.3% 2.84%
2010 3.24% 2.83%
2009 3.18% 2.83%
2008 2.92% 2.82%
2007 2.63% 2.81%
2006 2.54% 2.8%
2005 2.45% 2.81%
2004 2.38% 2.81%
2003 2.31% 2.8%
2002 2.24% 2.78%
2001 2.5% 2.75%
2000 2.82% 2.71%
1999 2.71% 2.67%
1998 2.63% 2.65%
1997 2.25% 2.64%
1996 2% 2.65%
1995 2.78% 2.67%
1994 3.46% 2.68%
1993 4.13% 2.69%
1992 3.9% 2.66%
1991 2.96% 2.68%
1990 2.57% 2.74%
1989 2.54% 2.73%
1988 2.93% 2.71%
1987 2.92% 2.7%
1986 2.92% 2.75%
1985 2.93% 2.87%
1984 2.92% 2.6%
1983 2.92% 2.63%
1982 2.92% 3.04%
1981 2.91% 3.12%
1980 2.88% 3.17%
1979 2.88% 3.13%
1978 2.88% 3.11%
1977 2.92% 3.03%
1976 2.98% 2.91%
1975 2.99% 2.81%
1974 3.02% 2.66%
1973 3.04% 2.53%
1972 3.06% 2.42%
1971 3.08% 2.36%
1970 3.1% 2.31%
1969 3.09% 2.24%
1968 3.08% 2.18%
1967 3.05% 2.16%
1966 2.99% 2.2%
1965 2.93% 2.19%
1964 2.86% 2.16%
1963 2.79% 2.15%
1962 2.72% 2.12%
1961 2.65% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Nigeria
Current population
5505206
243824469
Population rank 122/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 2.94%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
3.04 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
19 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +403 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 -15,258
Net migration rank 115/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - -15,258
2024 - -2,185 - -35,202
2023 145,164 2,999 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 142,451 2,999 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 137,557 -1,483 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 134,899 -1,483 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 134,460 -3,019 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 131,584 -2,987 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 128,562 -3,001 4,706,183 78,685
2016 125,342 -3,008 4,761,594 75,265
2015 122,092 -3,019 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 118,792 -2,980 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 115,558 -2,987 4,811,751 40,201
2012 113,489 4,515 4,774,508 71,138
2011 111,165 3,272 4,728,363 67,808
2010 108,121 1,128 4,629,173 47,966
2009 105,273 -1,481 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 102,432 -3,860 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 98,895 -17,048 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 94,991 -18,033 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 90,940 -18,693 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 87,578 -19,042 3,877,376 46,370
2003 83,804 -19,104 3,751,120 33,857
2002 80,993 -18,903 3,606,814 69,594
2001 78,769 -21,067 3,478,370 64,163
2000 75,929 -2,997 3,343,196 74,535
1999 73,554 -2,999 3,155,425 97,195
1998 72,045 -8,504 3,003,946 145,575
1997 71,327 -8,187 2,936,500 96,885
1996 71,939 -28,840 2,882,205 84,448
1995 72,244 -22,997 2,830,771 73,243
1994 70,570 5,304 2,735,198 128,134
1993 68,167 6,217 2,673,675 90,200
1992 63,501 34,505 2,596,173 138,412
1991 61,782 -2,997 2,527,807 42,760
1990 59,934 -3,000 2,491,928 135,959
1989 58,666 -17,941 2,452,324 99,588
1988 56,654 -2,997 2,376,419 93,510
1987 55,037 -2,998 2,322,397 64,418
1986 53,313 -2,998 2,295,003 29,682
1985 52,125 -2,998 2,289,784 61,514
1984 50,705 -2,998 2,278,060 113,758
1983 49,187 -2,998 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 47,947 -2,998 2,233,401 101,116
1981 46,641 -2,998 2,179,884 106,723
1980 45,026 -2,997 2,121,618 198,672
1979 43,537 -2,997 2,074,807 137,721
1978 42,539 -2,998 2,019,621 111,258
1977 41,352 -2,999 1,923,917 129,075
1976 40,149 -1,645 1,827,289 72,889
1975 38,975 -1,472 1,718,623 75,603
1974 38,106 -1,321 1,624,813 44,281
1973 37,122 -1,201 1,525,485 -618
1972 36,184 -1,139 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 35,279 -1,014 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 34,382 -855 1,295,507 7,953
1969 33,252 -688 1,213,484 6,912
1968 32,029 -565 1,168,254 9,615
1967 30,853 -514 1,082,884 18,683
1966 29,502 -466 1,095,582 12,513
1965 28,028 -434 1,061,840 32,988
1964 26,565 -390 1,028,272 26,411
1963 25,250 -362 995,116 27,115
1962 23,927 -342 966,452 27,906
1961 22,781 -332 932,111 25,515
1960 21,604 -318 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/nigeria | 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). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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