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Population in Mauritania compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,539,189 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.99 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 123rd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +2.98% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.54M (83.8% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Mauritania vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Papua New Guinea
2100 17,302,938 18,798,240
2099 17,195,692 18,786,145
2098 17,083,078 18,772,372
2097 16,968,365 18,755,008
2096 16,850,394 18,733,822
2095 16,732,430 18,710,340
2094 16,610,512 18,683,383
2093 16,485,880 18,654,365
2092 16,359,440 18,621,911
2091 16,229,167 18,586,147
2090 16,097,149 18,545,656
2089 15,962,562 18,506,626
2088 15,824,899 18,464,999
2087 15,683,760 18,420,558
2086 15,541,281 18,372,233
2085 15,397,701 18,321,842
2084 15,251,533 18,270,605
2083 15,102,125 18,214,932
2082 14,952,194 18,159,412
2081 14,799,309 18,100,531
2080 14,645,548 18,035,268
2079 14,490,500 17,972,052
2078 14,331,284 17,904,957
2077 14,170,045 17,837,082
2076 14,007,555 17,768,107
2075 13,843,393 17,695,759
2074 13,678,579 17,621,390
2073 13,512,182 17,544,490
2072 13,343,946 17,463,028
2071 13,172,876 17,377,995
2070 13,002,521 17,291,519
2069 12,830,090 17,201,936
2068 12,657,711 17,108,606
2067 12,482,299 17,011,562
2066 12,306,495 16,911,929
2065 12,131,679 16,809,460
2064 11,954,090 16,705,205
2063 11,778,351 16,600,853
2062 11,601,323 16,493,872
2061 11,424,089 16,383,508
2060 11,246,850 16,267,162
2059 11,067,732 16,149,265
2058 10,887,645 16,029,360
2057 10,709,500 15,906,350
2056 10,532,648 15,781,247
2055 10,354,318 15,653,296
2054 10,175,517 15,519,925
2053 9,995,645 15,386,054
2052 9,815,104 15,247,553
2051 9,635,288 15,107,257
2050 9,457,400 14,965,427
2049 9,279,576 14,818,793
2048 9,100,595 14,670,417
2047 8,923,220 14,519,915
2046 8,745,286 14,367,141
2045 8,568,910 14,210,639
2044 8,393,773 14,053,122
2043 8,218,850 13,894,884
2042 8,044,865 13,735,841
2041 7,873,599 13,574,567
2040 7,703,561 13,410,615
2039 7,534,623 13,244,740
2038 7,366,187 13,076,640
2037 7,199,542 12,907,059
2036 7,033,866 12,735,582
2035 6,869,186 12,563,938
2034 6,705,635 12,389,907
2033 6,543,505 12,215,713
2032 6,383,229 12,039,848
2031 6,225,030 11,862,856
2030 6,068,395 11,683,177
2029 5,914,109 11,502,504
2028 5,761,715 11,320,226
2027 5,611,635 11,136,100
2026 5,462,675 10,950,183
2025 5,315,065 10,762,817
2024 5,169,395 10,576,502
2023 5,022,441 10,389,635
2022 4,875,637 10,203,169
2021 4,734,874 10,012,896
2020 4,600,131 9,815,746
2019 4,467,708 9,609,010
2018 4,337,685 9,394,513
2017 4,210,600 9,178,714
2016 4,086,657 8,961,718
2015 3,965,959 8,743,246
2014 3,848,514 8,523,441
2013 3,734,318 8,302,698
2012 3,619,034 8,081,390
2011 3,502,811 7,859,346
2010 3,390,965 7,633,523
2009 3,284,448 7,406,438
2008 3,183,269 7,183,002
2007 3,093,059 6,963,345
2006 3,013,660 6,747,720
2005 2,939,059 6,535,905
2004 2,868,664 6,328,041
2003 2,802,046 6,123,997
2002 2,738,655 5,924,003
2001 2,678,760 5,728,435
2000 2,613,441 5,537,064
1999 2,541,698 5,349,333
1998 2,474,651 5,166,390
1997 2,411,306 4,987,883
1996 2,358,188 4,813,361
1995 2,312,017 4,644,278
1994 2,249,454 4,480,208
1993 2,174,328 4,320,872
1992 2,088,135 4,166,699
1991 2,009,738 4,021,837
1990 1,951,878 3,896,481
1989 1,903,048 3,796,078
1988 1,855,859 3,711,880
1987 1,803,014 3,632,543
1986 1,751,835 3,554,793
1985 1,702,107 3,478,936
1984 1,653,693 3,405,198
1983 1,606,746 3,333,633
1982 1,561,176 3,264,291
1981 1,516,877 3,197,019
1980 1,474,043 3,131,512
1979 1,432,758 3,067,341
1978 1,392,713 3,003,714
1977 1,353,768 2,940,327
1976 1,315,336 2,877,327
1975 1,277,330 2,814,820
1974 1,240,188 2,752,671
1973 1,203,838 2,690,629
1972 1,168,355 2,628,432
1971 1,133,702 2,566,421
1970 1,099,806 2,505,628
1969 1,066,754 2,446,927
1968 1,034,739 2,390,803
1967 1,003,843 2,337,532
1966 974,157 2,285,774
1965 945,838 2,235,820
1964 918,955 2,188,325
1963 893,423 2,141,376
1962 869,184 2,093,919
1961 846,167 2,046,127
1960 824,298 1,995,110

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Mauritania's population will grow by 70.7% to 9,457,400 people with a rank change from 123rd to 103rd. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Papua New Guinea
2100 0.62% 0.06%
2099 0.66% 0.07%
2098 0.68% 0.09%
2097 0.7% 0.11%
2096 0.7% 0.13%
2095 0.73% 0.14%
2094 0.76% 0.16%
2093 0.77% 0.17%
2092 0.8% 0.19%
2091 0.82% 0.22%
2090 0.84% 0.21%
2089 0.87% 0.23%
2088 0.9% 0.24%
2087 0.92% 0.26%
2086 0.93% 0.28%
2085 0.96% 0.28%
2084 0.99% 0.31%
2083 1% 0.31%
2082 1.03% 0.33%
2081 1.05% 0.36%
2080 1.07% 0.35%
2079 1.11% 0.37%
2078 1.14% 0.38%
2077 1.16% 0.39%
2076 1.19% 0.41%
2075 1.2% 0.42%
2074 1.23% 0.44%
2073 1.26% 0.47%
2072 1.3% 0.49%
2071 1.31% 0.5%
2070 1.34% 0.52%
2069 1.36% 0.55%
2068 1.41% 0.57%
2067 1.43% 0.59%
2066 1.44% 0.61%
2065 1.49% 0.62%
2064 1.49% 0.63%
2063 1.53% 0.65%
2062 1.55% 0.67%
2061 1.58% 0.72%
2060 1.62% 0.73%
2059 1.65% 0.75%
2058 1.66% 0.77%
2057 1.68% 0.79%
2056 1.72% 0.82%
2055 1.76% 0.86%
2054 1.8% 0.87%
2053 1.84% 0.91%
2052 1.87% 0.93%
2051 1.88% 0.95%
2050 1.92% 0.99%
2049 1.97% 1.01%
2048 1.99% 1.04%
2047 2.03% 1.06%
2046 2.06% 1.1%
2045 2.09% 1.12%
2044 2.13% 1.14%
2043 2.16% 1.16%
2042 2.18% 1.19%
2041 2.21% 1.22%
2040 2.24% 1.25%
2039 2.29% 1.29%
2038 2.31% 1.31%
2037 2.36% 1.35%
2036 2.4% 1.37%
2035 2.44% 1.4%
2034 2.48% 1.43%
2033 2.51% 1.46%
2032 2.54% 1.49%
2031 2.58% 1.54%
2030 2.61% 1.57%
2029 2.64% 1.61%
2028 2.67% 1.65%
2027 2.73% 1.7%
2026 2.78% 1.74%
2025 2.82% 1.76%
2024 2.93% 1.8%
2023 3.01% 1.83%
2022 2.97% 1.9%
2021 2.93% 2.01%
2020 2.96% 2.15%
2019 3% 2.28%
2018 3.02% 2.35%
2017 3.03% 2.42%
2016 3.04% 2.5%
2015 3.05% 2.58%
2014 3.06% 2.66%
2013 3.19% 2.74%
2012 3.32% 2.83%
2011 3.3% 2.96%
2010 3.24% 3.07%
2009 3.18% 3.11%
2008 2.92% 3.15%
2007 2.63% 3.2%
2006 2.54% 3.24%
2005 2.45% 3.28%
2004 2.38% 3.33%
2003 2.31% 3.38%
2002 2.24% 3.41%
2001 2.5% 3.46%
2000 2.82% 3.51%
1999 2.71% 3.54%
1998 2.63% 3.58%
1997 2.25% 3.63%
1996 2% 3.64%
1995 2.78% 3.66%
1994 3.46% 3.69%
1993 4.13% 3.7%
1992 3.9% 3.6%
1991 2.96% 3.22%
1990 2.57% 2.64%
1989 2.54% 2.27%
1988 2.93% 2.18%
1987 2.92% 2.19%
1986 2.92% 2.18%
1985 2.93% 2.17%
1984 2.92% 2.15%
1983 2.92% 2.12%
1982 2.92% 2.1%
1981 2.91% 2.09%
1980 2.88% 2.09%
1979 2.88% 2.12%
1978 2.88% 2.16%
1977 2.92% 2.19%
1976 2.98% 2.22%
1975 2.99% 2.26%
1974 3.02% 2.31%
1973 3.04% 2.37%
1972 3.06% 2.42%
1971 3.08% 2.43%
1970 3.1% 2.4%
1969 3.09% 2.35%
1968 3.08% 2.28%
1967 3.05% 2.26%
1966 2.99% 2.23%
1965 2.93% 2.17%
1964 2.86% 2.19%
1963 2.79% 2.27%
1962 2.72% 2.34%
1961 2.65% 2.56%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.82%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Papua New Guinea
Current population
5539189
11045681
Population rank 123/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
3.62 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
2.99 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
18.8 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +399 +510
Annual growth/decline +145,670 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +2.82% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -5,044 -284
Net migration rank 115/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - -284
2024 147,927 -2,185 187,595 -707
2023 145,164 2,999 187,637 -787
2022 142,451 2,999 186,861 -787
2021 137,557 -1,483 183,766 10,703
2020 134,899 -1,483 189,130 10,703
2019 134,460 -3,019 190,662 22,978
2018 131,584 -2,987 190,662 24,684
2017 128,562 -3,001 189,715 26,513
2016 125,342 -3,008 189,281 28,473
2015 122,092 -3,019 188,600 30,580
2014 118,792 -2,980 187,592 32,840
2013 115,558 -2,987 185,790 35,280
2012 113,489 4,515 183,658 37,893
2011 111,165 3,272 181,842 40,690
2010 108,121 1,128 178,998 50,106
2009 105,273 -1,481 175,421 49,647
2008 102,432 -3,860 172,823 48,985
2007 98,895 -17,048 169,306 48,203
2006 94,991 -18,033 166,540 47,191
2005 90,940 -18,693 163,888 46,014
2004 87,578 -19,042 161,023 44,811
2003 83,804 -19,104 158,611 43,639
2002 80,993 -18,903 155,091 42,657
2001 78,769 -21,067 151,431 41,962
2000 75,929 -2,997 147,496 41,855
1999 73,554 -2,999 143,592 42,519
1998 72,045 -8,504 136,677 43,091
1997 71,327 -8,187 134,458 42,787
1996 71,939 -28,840 129,802 41,994
1995 72,244 -22,997 125,410 40,962
1994 70,570 5,304 122,113 39,669
1993 68,167 6,217 118,668 38,220
1992 63,501 34,505 114,818 36,622
1991 61,782 -2,997 111,453 26,830
1990 59,934 -3,000 110,033 2,398
1989 58,666 -17,941 108,199 -19,824
1988 56,654 -2,997 106,256 -26,232
1987 55,037 -2,998 104,367 -25,720
1986 53,313 -2,998 102,346 -25,495
1985 52,125 -2,998 100,333 -25,470
1984 50,705 -2,998 98,103 -25,487
1983 49,187 -2,998 95,982 -25,465
1982 47,947 -2,998 93,522 -25,355
1981 46,641 -2,998 91,767 -25,383
1980 45,026 -2,997 90,266 -25,638
1979 43,537 -2,997 89,330 -25,618
1978 42,539 -2,998 88,747 -25,208
1977 41,352 -2,999 87,954 -24,722
1976 40,149 -1,645 86,965 -24,198
1975 38,975 -1,472 85,809 -23,562
1974 38,106 -1,321 84,829 -22,771
1973 37,122 -1,201 83,821 -21,803
1972 36,184 -1,139 82,672 -20,303
1971 35,279 -1,014 80,599 -18,945
1970 34,382 -855 78,712 -18,773
1969 33,252 -688 76,454 -18,994
1968 32,029 -565 73,983 -19,188
1967 30,853 -514 71,519 -19,767
1966 29,502 -466 69,206 -17,454
1965 28,028 -434 66,693 -18,532
1964 26,565 -390 64,558 -17,730
1963 25,250 -362 62,260 -15,189
1962 23,927 -342 59,974 -12,141
1961 22,781 -332 58,151 -10,409
1960 21,604 -318 56,326 -2,034

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99% of the population change in Mauritania is from natural causes (a gain of 1,350,038 people) and 1.04% is from migration (a loss of 14,187 people). In Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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