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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.72 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Mauritania vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Rwanda
2100 17,309,980 33,092,520
2099 17,202,690 32,987,847
2098 17,090,030 32,907,335
2097 16,975,270 32,832,706
2096 16,857,252 32,747,490
2095 16,739,240 32,615,044
2094 16,617,272 32,529,590
2093 16,492,589 32,396,544
2092 16,366,098 32,274,083
2091 16,235,771 32,171,077
2090 16,103,700 32,068,626
2089 15,969,059 31,872,593
2088 15,831,339 31,726,882
2087 15,690,143 31,533,364
2086 15,547,605 31,379,315
2085 15,403,967 31,235,000
2084 15,257,740 31,092,940
2083 15,108,271 30,917,707
2082 14,958,279 30,733,578
2081 14,805,332 30,557,819
2080 14,651,508 30,367,298
2079 14,496,397 30,176,627
2078 14,337,117 29,997,866
2077 14,175,812 29,800,561
2076 14,013,255 29,627,021
2075 13,849,027 29,423,503
2074 13,684,146 29,225,643
2073 13,517,681 29,007,777
2072 13,349,376 28,780,763
2071 13,178,237 28,560,382
2070 13,007,812 28,316,533
2069 12,835,311 28,103,541
2068 12,662,862 27,854,906
2067 12,487,379 27,591,747
2066 12,311,503 27,355,659
2065 12,136,616 27,084,704
2064 11,958,955 26,821,315
2063 11,783,144 26,543,184
2062 11,606,044 26,296,132
2061 11,428,738 25,985,356
2060 11,251,427 25,712,904
2059 11,072,236 25,437,446
2058 10,892,076 25,106,242
2057 10,713,858 24,837,928
2056 10,536,935 24,566,784
2055 10,358,532 24,266,669
2054 10,179,658 23,976,914
2053 9,999,712 23,690,426
2052 9,819,098 23,406,346
2051 9,639,209 23,099,207
2050 9,461,249 22,800,250
2049 9,283,353 22,484,698
2048 9,104,299 22,157,938
2047 8,926,851 21,834,786
2046 8,748,845 21,540,566
2045 8,572,397 21,215,262
2044 8,397,189 20,902,695
2043 8,222,194 20,535,605
2042 8,048,139 20,201,608
2041 7,876,803 19,832,577
2040 7,706,696 19,463,015
2039 7,537,689 19,096,860
2038 7,369,184 18,761,626
2037 7,202,472 18,421,864
2036 7,036,729 18,116,691
2035 6,871,981 17,753,910
2034 6,708,364 17,421,234
2033 6,546,168 17,089,349
2032 6,385,827 16,811,505
2031 6,227,564 16,485,559
2030 6,070,865 16,167,916
2029 5,916,516 15,858,862
2028 5,764,060 15,544,959
2027 5,613,919 15,207,733
2026 5,464,898 14,888,776
2025 5,317,228 14,560,205
2024 5,169,395 14,256,567
2023 5,022,441 13,954,471
2022 4,875,637 13,651,030
2021 4,734,874 13,355,260
2020 4,600,131 13,065,837
2019 4,467,708 12,776,103
2018 4,337,685 12,487,996
2017 4,210,600 12,202,060
2016 4,086,657 11,919,183
2015 3,965,959 11,640,022
2014 3,848,514 11,364,757
2013 3,734,318 11,093,340
2012 3,619,034 10,829,901
2011 3,502,811 10,573,733
2010 3,390,965 10,317,553
2009 3,284,448 10,060,432
2008 3,183,269 9,804,269
2007 3,093,059 9,549,933
2006 3,013,660 9,299,246
2005 2,939,059 9,054,528
2004 2,868,664 8,816,844
2003 2,802,046 8,586,875
2002 2,738,655 8,400,180
2001 2,678,760 8,287,094
2000 2,613,441 8,213,931
1999 2,541,698 8,147,912
1998 2,474,651 8,081,681
1997 2,411,306 7,755,238
1996 2,358,188 6,708,764
1995 2,312,017 5,674,118
1994 2,249,454 6,792,352
1993 2,174,328 7,981,132
1992 2,088,135 7,683,266
1991 2,009,738 7,526,966
1990 1,951,878 7,375,307
1989 1,903,048 7,184,706
1988 1,855,859 6,968,071
1987 1,803,014 6,749,493
1986 1,751,835 6,531,881
1985 1,702,107 6,317,228
1984 1,653,693 6,107,627
1983 1,606,746 5,905,311
1982 1,561,176 5,711,549
1981 1,516,877 5,527,230
1980 1,474,043 5,353,259
1979 1,432,758 5,189,541
1978 1,392,713 5,035,171
1977 1,353,768 4,888,240
1976 1,315,336 4,745,954
1975 1,277,330 4,607,728
1974 1,240,188 4,474,228
1973 1,203,838 4,345,047
1972 1,168,355 4,220,335
1971 1,133,702 4,100,044
1970 1,099,806 3,980,669
1969 1,066,754 3,861,271
1968 1,034,739 3,744,010
1967 1,003,843 3,629,577
1966 974,157 3,521,626
1965 945,838 3,423,210
1964 918,955 3,334,834
1963 893,423 3,258,890
1962 869,184 3,186,025
1961 846,167 3,106,779
1960 824,298 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Rwanda
2100 0.62% 0.32%
2099 0.66% 0.24%
2098 0.68% 0.23%
2097 0.7% 0.26%
2096 0.7% 0.41%
2095 0.73% 0.26%
2094 0.76% 0.41%
2093 0.77% 0.38%
2092 0.8% 0.32%
2091 0.82% 0.32%
2090 0.84% 0.62%
2089 0.87% 0.46%
2088 0.9% 0.61%
2087 0.92% 0.49%
2086 0.93% 0.46%
2085 0.96% 0.46%
2084 0.99% 0.57%
2083 1% 0.6%
2082 1.03% 0.58%
2081 1.05% 0.63%
2080 1.07% 0.63%
2079 1.11% 0.6%
2078 1.14% 0.66%
2077 1.16% 0.59%
2076 1.19% 0.69%
2075 1.2% 0.68%
2074 1.23% 0.75%
2073 1.26% 0.79%
2072 1.3% 0.77%
2071 1.31% 0.86%
2070 1.34% 0.76%
2069 1.36% 0.89%
2068 1.41% 0.95%
2067 1.43% 0.86%
2066 1.44% 1%
2065 1.49% 0.98%
2064 1.49% 1.05%
2063 1.53% 0.94%
2062 1.55% 1.2%
2061 1.58% 1.06%
2060 1.62% 1.08%
2059 1.65% 1.32%
2058 1.66% 1.08%
2057 1.68% 1.1%
2056 1.72% 1.24%
2055 1.76% 1.21%
2054 1.8% 1.21%
2053 1.84% 1.21%
2052 1.87% 1.33%
2051 1.88% 1.31%
2050 1.92% 1.4%
2049 1.97% 1.47%
2048 1.99% 1.48%
2047 2.03% 1.37%
2046 2.06% 1.53%
2045 2.09% 1.5%
2044 2.13% 1.79%
2043 2.16% 1.65%
2042 2.18% 1.86%
2041 2.21% 1.9%
2040 2.24% 1.92%
2039 2.29% 1.79%
2038 2.31% 1.84%
2037 2.36% 1.68%
2036 2.4% 2.04%
2035 2.44% 1.91%
2034 2.48% 1.94%
2033 2.51% 1.65%
2032 2.54% 1.98%
2031 2.58% 1.96%
2030 2.61% 1.95%
2029 2.64% 2.02%
2028 2.67% 2.22%
2027 2.73% 2.14%
2026 2.78% 2.26%
2025 2.86% 2.13%
2024 2.93% 2.16%
2023 3.01% 2.22%
2022 2.97% 2.21%
2021 2.93% 2.22%
2020 2.96% 2.27%
2019 3% 2.31%
2018 3.02% 2.34%
2017 3.03% 2.37%
2016 3.04% 2.4%
2015 3.05% 2.42%
2014 3.06% 2.45%
2013 3.19% 2.43%
2012 3.32% 2.42%
2011 3.3% 2.48%
2010 3.24% 2.56%
2009 3.18% 2.61%
2008 2.92% 2.66%
2007 2.63% 2.7%
2006 2.54% 2.7%
2005 2.45% 2.7%
2004 2.38% 2.68%
2003 2.31% 2.22%
2002 2.24% 1.36%
2001 2.5% 0.89%
2000 2.82% 0.81%
1999 2.71% 0.82%
1998 2.63% 4.21%
1997 2.25% 15.6%
1996 2% 18.2%
1995 2.78% -16.5%
1994 3.46% -14.9%
1993 4.13% 3.88%
1992 3.9% 2.08%
1991 2.96% 2.06%
1990 2.57% 2.65%
1989 2.54% 3.11%
1988 2.93% 3.24%
1987 2.92% 3.33%
1986 2.92% 3.4%
1985 2.93% 3.43%
1984 2.92% 3.43%
1983 2.92% 3.39%
1982 2.92% 3.33%
1981 2.91% 3.25%
1980 2.88% 3.15%
1979 2.88% 3.07%
1978 2.88% 3.01%
1977 2.92% 3%
1976 2.98% 3%
1975 2.99% 2.98%
1974 3.02% 2.97%
1973 3.04% 2.96%
1972 3.06% 2.93%
1971 3.08% 3%
1970 3.1% 3.09%
1969 3.09% 3.13%
1968 3.08% 3.15%
1967 3.05% 3.07%
1966 2.99% 2.87%
1965 2.93% 2.65%
1964 2.86% 2.33%
1963 2.79% 2.29%
1962 2.72% 2.55%
1961 2.65% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Rwanda
Current population
5505206
14975051
Population rank 122/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.18%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
3.04 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
19 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +828
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -5,044 +6,282
Net migration rank 115/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - 6,282
2024 - -2,185 - -15,582
2023 145,164 2,999 312,762 -9,001
2022 142,451 2,999 312,145 -9,001
2021 137,557 -1,483 309,895 -21,492
2020 134,899 -1,483 312,692 -22,251
2019 134,460 -3,019 313,525 -24,492
2018 131,584 -2,987 312,512 -25,323
2017 128,562 -3,001 310,323 -25,634
2016 125,342 -3,008 305,549 -24,474
2015 122,092 -3,019 299,114 -21,862
2014 118,792 -2,980 292,779 -19,505
2013 115,558 -2,987 286,331 -16,779
2012 113,489 4,515 282,584 -25,260
2011 111,165 3,272 282,922 -27,915
2010 108,121 1,128 286,848 -29,501
2009 105,273 -1,481 287,034 -30,128
2008 102,432 -3,860 287,334 -31,913
2007 98,895 -17,048 285,791 -32,537
2006 94,991 -18,033 282,149 -34,008
2005 90,940 -18,693 275,121 -33,830
2004 87,578 -19,042 265,273 -31,214
2003 83,804 -19,104 251,243 -25,355
2002 80,993 -18,903 239,036 -91,518
2001 78,769 -21,067 230,845 -152,197
2000 75,929 -2,997 221,276 -153,588
1999 73,554 -2,999 210,518 -146,162
1998 72,045 -8,504 197,185 -129,089
1997 71,327 -8,187 174,687 410,106
1996 71,939 -28,840 140,455 1,367,700
1995 72,244 -22,997 121,137 439,995
1994 70,570 5,304 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 68,167 6,217 183,926 236,110
1992 63,501 34,505 188,025 -12,334
1991 61,782 -2,997 196,431 -59,519
1990 59,934 -3,000 207,895 -41,483
1989 58,666 -17,941 217,632 -2,826
1988 56,654 -2,997 223,759 -5,285
1987 55,037 -2,998 225,744 -7,062
1986 53,313 -2,998 225,526 -8,982
1985 52,125 -2,998 223,794 -11,031
1984 50,705 -2,998 219,337 -12,899
1983 49,187 -2,998 212,750 -14,560
1982 47,947 -2,998 205,147 -15,818
1981 46,641 -2,998 195,769 -16,453
1980 45,026 -2,997 184,988 -16,359
1979 43,537 -2,997 174,477 -15,669
1978 42,539 -2,998 163,779 -13,838
1977 41,352 -2,999 155,011 -11,084
1976 40,149 -1,645 147,665 -7,027
1975 38,975 -1,472 140,596 -4,791
1974 38,106 -1,321 135,743 -4,535
1973 37,122 -1,201 131,021 -3,862
1972 36,184 -1,139 126,403 -4,156
1971 35,279 -1,014 122,567 -4,230
1970 34,382 -855 119,273 1,149
1969 33,252 -688 115,394 2,983
1968 32,029 -565 111,422 4,728
1967 30,853 -514 108,053 4,655
1966 29,502 -466 105,128 -1,930
1965 28,028 -434 103,422 -9,774
1964 26,565 -390 102,562 -19,458
1963 25,250 -362 94,296 -25,524
1962 23,927 -342 102,548 -25,594
1961 22,781 -332 102,051 -20,508
1960 21,604 -318 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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