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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 1.94 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Mauritania vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Portugal
2100 17,309,980 8,977,781
2099 17,202,690 8,983,042
2098 17,090,030 8,987,129
2097 16,975,270 8,992,549
2096 16,857,252 8,998,689
2095 16,739,240 9,006,394
2094 16,617,272 9,011,158
2093 16,492,589 9,016,023
2092 16,366,098 9,021,257
2091 16,235,771 9,025,345
2090 16,103,700 9,029,722
2089 15,969,059 9,034,399
2088 15,831,339 9,039,122
2087 15,690,143 9,045,400
2086 15,547,605 9,050,153
2085 15,403,967 9,055,552
2084 15,257,740 9,062,369
2083 15,108,271 9,068,714
2082 14,958,279 9,077,003
2081 14,805,332 9,087,394
2080 14,651,508 9,098,423
2079 14,496,397 9,111,057
2078 14,337,117 9,125,056
2077 14,175,812 9,140,039
2076 14,013,255 9,158,661
2075 13,849,027 9,178,289
2074 13,684,146 9,201,245
2073 13,517,681 9,225,478
2072 13,349,376 9,248,867
2071 13,178,237 9,275,782
2070 13,007,812 9,304,137
2069 12,835,311 9,334,425
2068 12,662,862 9,367,211
2067 12,487,379 9,399,389
2066 12,311,503 9,432,609
2065 12,136,616 9,466,860
2064 11,958,955 9,503,941
2063 11,783,144 9,540,829
2062 11,606,044 9,578,098
2061 11,428,738 9,614,549
2060 11,251,427 9,652,893
2059 11,072,236 9,691,151
2058 10,892,076 9,731,557
2057 10,713,858 9,769,285
2056 10,536,935 9,807,403
2055 10,358,532 9,847,280
2054 10,179,658 9,885,446
2053 9,999,712 9,924,814
2052 9,819,098 9,963,090
2051 9,639,209 9,999,372
2050 9,461,249 10,035,796
2049 9,283,353 10,072,922
2048 9,104,299 10,106,403
2047 8,926,851 10,140,325
2046 8,748,845 10,173,871
2045 8,572,397 10,206,046
2044 8,397,189 10,237,224
2043 8,222,194 10,268,090
2042 8,048,139 10,296,167
2041 7,876,803 10,322,968
2040 7,706,696 10,351,965
2039 7,537,689 10,379,824
2038 7,369,184 10,405,843
2037 7,202,472 10,430,143
2036 7,036,729 10,454,779
2035 6,871,981 10,478,501
2034 6,708,364 10,502,828
2033 6,546,168 10,525,638
2032 6,385,827 10,548,736
2031 6,227,564 10,569,489
2030 6,070,865 10,588,717
2029 5,916,516 10,609,556
2028 5,764,060 10,631,437
2027 5,613,919 10,649,916
2026 5,464,898 10,667,081
2025 5,317,228 10,683,692
2024 5,169,395 10,694,681
2023 5,022,441 10,578,174
2022 4,875,637 10,434,332
2021 4,734,874 10,361,831
2020 4,600,131 10,297,081
2019 4,467,708 10,286,263
2018 4,337,685 10,283,822
2017 4,210,600 10,300,300
2016 4,086,657 10,325,452
2015 3,965,959 10,358,076
2014 3,848,514 10,401,062
2013 3,734,318 10,457,295
2012 3,619,034 10,514,844
2011 3,502,811 10,557,560
2010 3,390,965 10,573,100
2009 3,284,448 10,568,247
2008 3,183,269 10,558,177
2007 3,093,059 10,542,964
2006 3,013,660 10,522,288
2005 2,939,059 10,503,330
2004 2,868,664 10,483,861
2003 2,802,046 10,458,821
2002 2,738,655 10,419,631
2001 2,678,760 10,362,722
2000 2,613,441 10,289,898
1999 2,541,698 10,217,828
1998 2,474,651 10,160,196
1997 2,411,306 10,108,977
1996 2,358,188 10,063,945
1995 2,312,017 10,026,176
1994 2,249,454 9,991,525
1993 2,174,328 9,964,675
1992 2,088,135 9,952,494
1991 2,009,738 9,960,235
1990 1,951,878 9,983,218
1989 1,903,048 10,005,000
1988 1,855,859 10,019,610
1987 1,803,014 10,030,031
1986 1,751,835 10,032,734
1985 1,702,107 10,023,613
1984 1,653,693 9,996,232
1983 1,606,746 9,957,865
1982 1,561,176 9,911,771
1981 1,516,877 9,851,362
1980 1,474,043 9,766,312
1979 1,432,758 9,661,265
1978 1,392,713 9,558,250
1977 1,353,768 9,455,675
1976 1,315,336 9,355,810
1975 1,277,330 9,093,470
1974 1,240,188 8,754,365
1973 1,203,838 8,633,100
1972 1,168,355 8,630,430
1971 1,133,702 8,643,756
1970 1,099,806 8,680,431
1969 1,066,754 8,757,705
1968 1,034,739 8,836,650
1967 1,003,843 8,874,520
1966 974,157 8,930,990
1965 945,838 8,998,595
1964 918,955 9,035,365
1963 893,423 9,030,355
1962 869,184 8,993,985
1961 846,167 8,929,316
1960 824,298 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Portugal
2100 0.62% -0.06%
2099 0.66% -0.05%
2098 0.68% -0.06%
2097 0.7% -0.07%
2096 0.7% -0.09%
2095 0.73% -0.05%
2094 0.76% -0.05%
2093 0.77% -0.06%
2092 0.8% -0.05%
2091 0.82% -0.05%
2090 0.84% -0.05%
2089 0.87% -0.05%
2088 0.9% -0.07%
2087 0.92% -0.05%
2086 0.93% -0.06%
2085 0.96% -0.08%
2084 0.99% -0.07%
2083 1% -0.09%
2082 1.03% -0.11%
2081 1.05% -0.12%
2080 1.07% -0.14%
2079 1.11% -0.15%
2078 1.14% -0.16%
2077 1.16% -0.2%
2076 1.19% -0.21%
2075 1.2% -0.25%
2074 1.23% -0.26%
2073 1.26% -0.25%
2072 1.3% -0.29%
2071 1.31% -0.3%
2070 1.34% -0.32%
2069 1.36% -0.35%
2068 1.41% -0.34%
2067 1.43% -0.35%
2066 1.44% -0.36%
2065 1.49% -0.39%
2064 1.49% -0.39%
2063 1.53% -0.39%
2062 1.55% -0.38%
2061 1.58% -0.4%
2060 1.62% -0.39%
2059 1.65% -0.42%
2058 1.66% -0.39%
2057 1.68% -0.39%
2056 1.72% -0.4%
2055 1.76% -0.39%
2054 1.8% -0.4%
2053 1.84% -0.38%
2052 1.87% -0.36%
2051 1.88% -0.36%
2050 1.92% -0.37%
2049 1.97% -0.33%
2048 1.99% -0.33%
2047 2.03% -0.33%
2046 2.06% -0.32%
2045 2.09% -0.3%
2044 2.13% -0.3%
2043 2.16% -0.27%
2042 2.18% -0.26%
2041 2.21% -0.28%
2040 2.24% -0.27%
2039 2.29% -0.25%
2038 2.31% -0.23%
2037 2.36% -0.24%
2036 2.4% -0.23%
2035 2.44% -0.23%
2034 2.48% -0.22%
2033 2.51% -0.22%
2032 2.54% -0.2%
2031 2.58% -0.18%
2030 2.61% -0.2%
2029 2.64% -0.21%
2028 2.67% -0.17%
2027 2.73% -0.16%
2026 2.78% -0.16%
2025 2.86% -0.1%
2024 2.93% 1.1%
2023 3.01% 1.38%
2022 2.97% 0.7%
2021 2.93% 0.63%
2020 2.96% 0.11%
2019 3% 0.02%
2018 3.02% -0.16%
2017 3.03% -0.24%
2016 3.04% -0.31%
2015 3.05% -0.41%
2014 3.06% -0.54%
2013 3.19% -0.55%
2012 3.32% -0.4%
2011 3.3% -0.15%
2010 3.24% 0.05%
2009 3.18% 0.1%
2008 2.92% 0.14%
2007 2.63% 0.2%
2006 2.54% 0.18%
2005 2.45% 0.19%
2004 2.38% 0.24%
2003 2.31% 0.38%
2002 2.24% 0.55%
2001 2.5% 0.71%
2000 2.82% 0.71%
1999 2.71% 0.57%
1998 2.63% 0.51%
1997 2.25% 0.45%
1996 2% 0.38%
1995 2.78% 0.35%
1994 3.46% 0.27%
1993 4.13% 0.12%
1992 3.9% -0.08%
1991 2.96% -0.23%
1990 2.57% -0.22%
1989 2.54% -0.15%
1988 2.93% -0.1%
1987 2.92% -0.03%
1986 2.92% 0.09%
1985 2.93% 0.27%
1984 2.92% 0.39%
1983 2.92% 0.47%
1982 2.92% 0.61%
1981 2.91% 0.87%
1980 2.88% 1.09%
1979 2.88% 1.08%
1978 2.88% 1.08%
1977 2.92% 1.07%
1976 2.98% 2.88%
1975 2.99% 3.87%
1974 3.02% 1.4%
1973 3.04% 0.03%
1972 3.06% -0.15%
1971 3.08% -0.42%
1970 3.1% -0.88%
1969 3.09% -0.89%
1968 3.08% -0.43%
1967 3.05% -0.63%
1966 2.99% -0.75%
1965 2.93% -0.41%
1964 2.86% 0.06%
1963 2.79% 0.4%
1962 2.72% 0.72%
1961 2.65% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Portugal
Current population
5505206
10667081
Population rank 122/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
3.04 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
19 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +319
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 94/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 +16,472
Net migration rank 115/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - 16,472
2024 - -2,185 - 20,648
2023 145,164 2,999 -32,792 29,102
2022 142,451 2,999 -40,694 68,696
2021 137,557 -1,483 -45,592 69,606
2020 134,899 -1,483 -39,129 54,076
2019 134,460 -3,019 -24,687 63,031
2018 131,584 -2,987 -25,709 22,495
2017 128,562 -3,001 -23,691 13,979
2016 125,342 -3,008 -23,749 -775
2015 122,092 -3,019 -23,823 -3,209
2014 118,792 -2,980 -22,882 -26,447
2013 115,558 -2,987 -24,052 -36,342
2012 113,489 4,515 -17,875 -37,083
2011 111,165 3,272 -5,279 -31,513
2010 108,121 1,128 -4,230 -5,627
2009 105,273 -1,481 -5,284 14,532
2008 102,432 -3,860 0 9,478
2007 98,895 -17,048 -1,055 21,064
2006 94,991 -18,033 3,156 16,754
2005 90,940 -18,693 2,101 15,537
2004 87,578 -19,042 7,339 13,928
2003 83,804 -19,104 4,184 24,740
2002 80,993 -18,903 8,335 42,169
2001 78,769 -21,067 8,290 55,565
2000 75,929 -2,997 15,435 60,586
1999 73,554 -2,999 8,175 49,572
1998 72,045 -8,504 7,112 40,931
1997 71,327 -8,187 8,087 36,922
1996 71,939 -28,840 4,026 32,640
1995 72,244 -22,997 4,011 26,971
1994 70,570 5,304 9,991 20,761
1993 68,167 6,217 7,972 8,561
1992 63,501 34,505 13,933 -11,847
1991 61,782 -2,997 12,948 -37,914
1990 59,934 -3,000 13,976 -34,855
1989 58,666 -17,941 22,011 -30,615
1988 56,654 -2,997 24,047 -26,595
1987 55,037 -2,998 28,084 -23,142
1986 53,313 -2,998 31,102 -20,000
1985 52,125 -2,998 33,077 -19,183
1984 50,705 -2,998 45,983 -16,658
1983 49,187 -2,998 47,798 -16,568
1982 47,947 -2,998 58,479 -15,006
1981 46,641 -2,998 56,152 -7,938
1980 45,026 -2,997 63,481 29,881
1979 43,537 -2,997 67,628 32,434
1978 42,539 -2,998 70,731 34,345
1977 41,352 -2,999 84,156 37,779
1976 40,149 -1,645 85,138 40,490
1975 38,975 -1,472 81,841 42,262
1974 38,106 -1,321 74,412 41,254
1973 37,122 -1,201 76,835 39,748
1972 36,184 -1,139 83,715 39,058
1971 35,279 -1,014 82,980 48,944
1970 34,382 -855 87,672 -191,862
1969 33,252 -688 89,329 -161,114
1968 32,029 -565 100,737 -145,200
1967 30,853 -514 106,495 -136,232
1966 29,502 -466 107,171 -129,233
1965 28,028 -434 115,182 -123,855
1964 26,565 -390 120,170 -118,763
1963 25,250 -362 113,783 -116,874
1962 23,927 -342 123,217 -113,947
1961 22,781 -332 117,867 -112,768
1960 21,604 -318 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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