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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,539,189 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 1.95 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 123rd most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
  • 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 +2.98% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.54M (83.8% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).

Mauritania vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Portugal
2100 17,302,938 9,079,610
2099 17,195,692 9,084,930
2098 17,083,078 9,089,064
2097 16,968,365 9,094,546
2096 16,850,394 9,100,755
2095 16,732,430 9,108,548
2094 16,610,512 9,113,366
2093 16,485,880 9,118,286
2092 16,359,440 9,123,579
2091 16,229,167 9,127,714
2090 16,097,149 9,132,140
2089 15,962,562 9,136,870
2088 15,824,899 9,141,647
2087 15,683,760 9,147,996
2086 15,541,281 9,152,804
2085 15,397,701 9,158,263
2084 15,251,533 9,165,158
2083 15,102,125 9,171,574
2082 14,952,194 9,179,958
2081 14,799,309 9,190,466
2080 14,645,548 9,201,621
2079 14,490,500 9,214,398
2078 14,331,284 9,228,555
2077 14,170,045 9,243,708
2076 14,007,555 9,262,542
2075 13,843,393 9,282,392
2074 13,678,579 9,305,608
2073 13,512,182 9,330,117
2072 13,343,946 9,353,771
2071 13,172,876 9,380,991
2070 13,002,521 9,409,668
2069 12,830,090 9,440,299
2068 12,657,711 9,473,457
2067 12,482,299 9,506,001
2066 12,306,495 9,539,597
2065 12,131,679 9,574,237
2064 11,954,090 9,611,738
2063 11,778,351 9,649,045
2062 11,601,323 9,686,737
2061 11,424,089 9,723,601
2060 11,246,850 9,762,379
2059 11,067,732 9,801,072
2058 10,887,645 9,841,936
2057 10,709,500 9,880,092
2056 10,532,648 9,918,643
2055 10,354,318 9,958,971
2054 10,175,517 9,997,570
2053 9,995,645 10,037,385
2052 9,815,104 10,076,095
2051 9,635,288 10,112,788
2050 9,457,400 10,149,626
2049 9,279,576 10,187,172
2048 9,100,595 10,221,034
2047 8,923,220 10,255,340
2046 8,745,286 10,289,266
2045 8,568,910 10,321,807
2044 8,393,773 10,353,338
2043 8,218,850 10,384,554
2042 8,044,865 10,412,950
2041 7,873,599 10,440,054
2040 7,703,561 10,469,380
2039 7,534,623 10,497,556
2038 7,366,187 10,523,869
2037 7,199,542 10,548,445
2036 7,033,866 10,573,361
2035 6,869,186 10,597,352
2034 6,705,635 10,621,955
2033 6,543,505 10,645,024
2032 6,383,229 10,668,384
2031 6,225,030 10,689,372
2030 6,068,395 10,708,819
2029 5,914,109 10,729,893
2028 5,761,715 10,752,023
2027 5,611,635 10,770,712
2026 5,462,675 10,788,071
2025 5,315,065 10,804,871
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2025 at 10.8M people and is projected to decrease to 9.08M 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 2.82% 1.03%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.82%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Portugal
Current population
5539189
10788071
Population rank 123/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
3.62 minutes
4.78 minutes
One birth every
2.99 minutes
6.22 minutes
One death every
18.8 minutes
4.43 minutes
Daily growth/decline +399 +302
Annual growth/decline +145,670 +110,190
Annual growth/decline rate +2.82% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 99/197
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 147,927 -2,185 -34,223 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/portugal | 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 Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 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 (1960–2025, 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/portugal | 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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