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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,539,189 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.72 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 123rd 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 +2.98% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.54M (83.8% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Mauritania vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Rwanda
2100 17,302,938 33,113,283
2099 17,195,692 33,008,545
2098 17,083,078 32,927,982
2097 16,968,365 32,853,307
2096 16,850,394 32,768,037
2095 16,732,430 32,635,508
2094 16,610,512 32,550,001
2093 16,485,880 32,416,870
2092 16,359,440 32,294,333
2091 16,229,167 32,191,262
2090 16,097,149 32,088,747
2089 15,962,562 31,892,591
2088 15,824,899 31,746,789
2087 15,683,760 31,553,150
2086 15,541,281 31,399,004
2085 15,397,701 31,254,597
2084 15,251,533 31,112,448
2083 15,102,125 30,937,106
2082 14,952,194 30,752,861
2081 14,799,309 30,576,992
2080 14,645,548 30,386,351
2079 14,490,500 30,195,560
2078 14,331,284 30,016,688
2077 14,170,045 29,819,259
2076 14,007,555 29,645,610
2075 13,843,393 29,441,964
2074 13,678,579 29,243,980
2073 13,512,182 29,025,977
2072 13,343,946 28,798,822
2071 13,172,876 28,578,302
2070 13,002,521 28,334,300
2069 12,830,090 28,121,174
2068 12,657,711 27,872,383
2067 12,482,299 27,609,059
2066 12,306,495 27,372,823
2065 12,131,679 27,101,698
2064 11,954,090 26,838,144
2063 11,778,351 26,559,838
2062 11,601,323 26,312,631
2061 11,424,089 26,001,660
2060 11,246,850 25,729,037
2059 11,067,732 25,453,407
2058 10,887,645 25,121,995
2057 10,709,500 24,853,512
2056 10,532,648 24,582,198
2055 10,354,318 24,281,895
2054 10,175,517 23,991,958
2053 9,995,645 23,705,290
2052 9,815,104 23,421,032
2051 9,635,288 23,113,700
2050 9,457,400 22,814,556
2049 9,279,576 22,498,806
2048 9,100,595 22,171,841
2047 8,923,220 21,848,486
2046 8,745,286 21,554,082
2045 8,568,910 21,228,573
2044 8,393,773 20,915,810
2043 8,218,850 20,548,490
2042 8,044,865 20,214,283
2041 7,873,599 19,845,021
2040 7,703,561 19,475,227
2039 7,534,623 19,108,842
2038 7,366,187 18,773,398
2037 7,199,542 18,433,422
2036 7,033,866 18,128,058
2035 6,869,186 17,765,049
2034 6,705,635 17,432,165
2033 6,543,505 17,100,072
2032 6,383,229 16,822,053
2031 6,225,030 16,495,903
2030 6,068,395 16,178,061
2029 5,914,109 15,868,812
2028 5,761,715 15,554,713
2027 5,611,635 15,217,275
2026 5,462,675 14,898,118
2025 5,315,065 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd 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 70.7% to 9,457,400 people with a rank change from 123rd to 103rd. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 2.82% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.82%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Rwanda
Current population
5539189
15062056
Population rank 123/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.18%
One net population change
3.62 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
2.99 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
18.8 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +399 +857
Annual growth/decline +145,670 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +2.82% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 40/197
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 147,927 -2,185 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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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