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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 2 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd 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 +3% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% 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 17,309,980 18,802,138
2099 17,202,690 18,790,040
2098 17,090,030 18,776,265
2097 16,975,270 18,758,897
2096 16,857,252 18,737,707
2095 16,739,240 18,714,219
2094 16,617,272 18,687,257
2093 16,492,589 18,658,233
2092 16,366,098 18,625,772
2091 16,235,771 18,590,001
2090 16,103,700 18,549,501
2089 15,969,059 18,510,463
2088 15,831,339 18,468,827
2087 15,690,143 18,424,378
2086 15,547,605 18,376,043
2085 15,403,967 18,325,641
2084 15,257,740 18,274,394
2083 15,108,271 18,218,709
2082 14,958,279 18,163,177
2081 14,805,332 18,104,285
2080 14,651,508 18,039,008
2079 14,496,397 17,975,778
2078 14,337,117 17,908,670
2077 14,175,812 17,840,781
2076 14,013,255 17,771,791
2075 13,849,027 17,699,428
2074 13,684,146 17,625,044
2073 13,517,681 17,548,128
2072 13,349,376 17,466,649
2071 13,178,237 17,381,598
2070 13,007,812 17,295,105
2069 12,835,311 17,205,503
2068 12,662,862 17,112,154
2067 12,487,379 17,015,090
2066 12,311,503 16,915,436
2065 12,136,616 16,812,946
2064 11,958,955 16,708,669
2063 11,783,144 16,604,296
2062 11,606,044 16,497,292
2061 11,428,738 16,386,905
2060 11,251,427 16,270,535
2059 11,072,236 16,152,614
2058 10,892,076 16,032,684
2057 10,713,858 15,909,649
2056 10,536,935 15,784,519
2055 10,358,532 15,656,542
2054 10,179,658 15,523,143
2053 9,999,712 15,389,244
2052 9,819,098 15,250,715
2051 9,639,209 15,110,389
2050 9,461,249 14,968,530
2049 9,283,353 14,821,865
2048 9,104,299 14,673,459
2047 8,926,851 14,522,926
2046 8,748,845 14,370,120
2045 8,572,397 14,213,585
2044 8,397,189 14,056,036
2043 8,222,194 13,897,765
2042 8,048,139 13,738,690
2041 7,876,803 13,577,382
2040 7,706,696 13,413,396
2039 7,537,689 13,247,486
2038 7,369,184 13,079,352
2037 7,202,472 12,909,735
2036 7,036,729 12,738,223
2035 6,871,981 12,566,543
2034 6,708,364 12,392,476
2033 6,546,168 12,218,246
2032 6,385,827 12,042,345
2031 6,227,564 11,865,316
2030 6,070,865 11,685,599
2029 5,916,516 11,504,890
2028 5,764,060 11,322,573
2027 5,613,919 11,138,409
2026 5,464,898 10,952,454
2025 5,317,228 10,765,048
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 71.9% to 9,461,249 people with a rank change from 122nd to 102nd. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

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 2.86% 1.78%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Papua New Guinea
Current population
5505206
11002753
Population rank 122/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
3.04 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
19 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +512
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 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 - -2,185 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 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 (1960–2024, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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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