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Population in Mauritania compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,539,189 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 6.85 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 123rd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.52% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +2.98% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.54M (83.8% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Mauritania vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Saudi Arabia
2100 17,302,938 76,380,382
2099 17,195,692 75,896,692
2098 17,083,078 75,410,485
2097 16,968,365 74,922,342
2096 16,850,394 74,431,436
2095 16,732,430 73,939,761
2094 16,610,512 73,447,628
2093 16,485,880 72,954,272
2092 16,359,440 72,460,372
2091 16,229,167 71,966,760
2090 16,097,149 71,474,363
2089 15,962,562 70,984,330
2088 15,824,899 70,494,851
2087 15,683,760 70,006,368
2086 15,541,281 69,519,641
2085 15,397,701 69,035,093
2084 15,251,533 68,551,533
2083 15,102,125 68,068,933
2082 14,952,194 67,587,034
2081 14,799,309 67,105,252
2080 14,645,548 66,624,751
2079 14,490,500 66,144,495
2078 14,331,284 65,664,508
2077 14,170,045 65,183,768
2076 14,007,555 64,701,603
2075 13,843,393 64,217,651
2074 13,678,579 63,731,809
2073 13,512,182 63,243,084
2072 13,343,946 62,750,764
2071 13,172,876 62,255,408
2070 13,002,521 61,756,796
2069 12,830,090 61,253,878
2068 12,657,711 60,746,216
2067 12,482,299 60,235,232
2066 12,306,495 59,720,954
2065 12,131,679 59,203,814
2064 11,954,090 58,684,254
2063 11,778,351 58,161,702
2062 11,601,323 57,637,152
2061 11,424,089 57,109,207
2060 11,246,850 56,579,736
2059 11,067,732 56,047,666
2058 10,887,645 55,513,281
2057 10,709,500 54,978,393
2056 10,532,648 54,441,706
2055 10,354,318 53,904,081
2054 10,175,517 53,364,635
2053 9,995,645 52,823,422
2052 9,815,104 52,280,914
2051 9,635,288 51,737,228
2050 9,457,400 51,192,924
2049 9,279,576 50,647,663
2048 9,100,595 50,100,576
2047 8,923,220 49,552,613
2046 8,745,286 49,002,774
2045 8,568,910 48,451,215
2044 8,393,773 47,898,754
2043 8,218,850 47,346,122
2042 8,044,865 46,792,504
2041 7,873,599 46,237,820
2040 7,703,561 45,682,139
2039 7,534,623 45,126,407
2038 7,366,187 44,569,427
2037 7,199,542 44,012,415
2036 7,033,866 43,454,985
2035 6,869,186 42,897,909
2034 6,705,635 42,342,044
2033 6,543,505 41,787,423
2032 6,383,229 41,233,964
2031 6,225,030 40,680,599
2030 6,068,395 40,128,273
2029 5,914,109 39,530,306
2028 5,761,715 38,906,191
2027 5,611,635 38,267,271
2026 5,462,675 37,625,434
2025 5,315,065 36,973,555
2024 5,169,395 35,300,280
2023 5,022,441 33,702,731
2022 4,875,637 32,175,224
2021 4,734,874 30,784,383
2020 4,600,131 31,552,510
2019 4,467,708 30,063,799
2018 4,337,685 30,196,281
2017 4,210,600 30,977,355
2016 4,086,657 30,954,198
2015 3,965,959 29,816,382
2014 3,848,514 28,309,273
2013 3,734,318 27,624,004
2012 3,619,034 26,168,861
2011 3,502,811 25,091,867
2010 3,390,965 23,978,487
2009 3,284,448 24,217,654
2008 3,183,269 23,287,877
2007 3,093,059 22,368,313
2006 3,013,660 21,459,144
2005 2,939,059 20,559,890
2004 2,868,664 19,669,480
2003 2,802,046 18,786,767
2002 2,738,655 17,910,910
2001 2,678,760 17,041,397
2000 2,613,441 16,177,722
1999 2,541,698 15,472,075
1998 2,474,651 14,922,185
1997 2,411,306 14,374,943
1996 2,358,188 13,831,009
1995 2,312,017 13,289,245
1994 2,249,454 12,750,040
1993 2,174,328 12,215,862
1992 2,088,135 11,686,676
1991 2,009,738 11,160,744
1990 1,951,878 10,640,691
1989 1,903,048 10,128,394
1988 1,855,859 9,629,165
1987 1,803,014 9,130,194
1986 1,751,835 8,628,639
1985 1,702,107 8,151,779
1984 1,653,693 7,697,307
1983 1,606,746 7,252,941
1982 1,561,176 6,824,486
1981 1,516,877 6,420,551
1980 1,474,043 6,047,997
1979 1,432,758 5,703,698
1978 1,392,713 5,381,902
1977 1,353,768 5,083,048
1976 1,315,336 4,807,933
1975 1,277,330 4,556,287
1974 1,240,188 4,323,632
1973 1,203,838 4,106,344
1972 1,168,355 3,905,722
1971 1,133,702 3,724,031
1970 1,099,806 3,562,470
1969 1,066,754 3,417,114
1968 1,034,739 3,282,711
1967 1,003,843 3,157,242
1966 974,157 3,039,887
1965 945,838 2,928,771
1964 918,955 2,821,968
1963 893,423 2,719,341
1962 869,184 2,620,910
1961 846,167 2,526,347
1960 824,298 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Saudi Arabia
2100 0.62% 0.64%
2099 0.66% 0.64%
2098 0.68% 0.65%
2097 0.7% 0.66%
2096 0.7% 0.66%
2095 0.73% 0.67%
2094 0.76% 0.68%
2093 0.77% 0.68%
2092 0.8% 0.69%
2091 0.82% 0.69%
2090 0.84% 0.69%
2089 0.87% 0.69%
2088 0.9% 0.7%
2087 0.92% 0.7%
2086 0.93% 0.7%
2085 0.96% 0.71%
2084 0.99% 0.71%
2083 1% 0.71%
2082 1.03% 0.72%
2081 1.05% 0.72%
2080 1.07% 0.73%
2079 1.11% 0.73%
2078 1.14% 0.74%
2077 1.16% 0.75%
2076 1.19% 0.75%
2075 1.2% 0.76%
2074 1.23% 0.77%
2073 1.26% 0.78%
2072 1.3% 0.8%
2071 1.31% 0.81%
2070 1.34% 0.82%
2069 1.36% 0.84%
2068 1.41% 0.85%
2067 1.43% 0.86%
2066 1.44% 0.87%
2065 1.49% 0.89%
2064 1.49% 0.9%
2063 1.53% 0.91%
2062 1.55% 0.92%
2061 1.58% 0.94%
2060 1.62% 0.95%
2059 1.65% 0.96%
2058 1.66% 0.97%
2057 1.68% 0.99%
2056 1.72% 1%
2055 1.76% 1.01%
2054 1.8% 1.02%
2053 1.84% 1.04%
2052 1.87% 1.05%
2051 1.88% 1.06%
2050 1.92% 1.08%
2049 1.97% 1.09%
2048 1.99% 1.11%
2047 2.03% 1.12%
2046 2.06% 1.14%
2045 2.09% 1.15%
2044 2.13% 1.17%
2043 2.16% 1.18%
2042 2.18% 1.2%
2041 2.21% 1.22%
2040 2.24% 1.23%
2039 2.29% 1.25%
2038 2.31% 1.27%
2037 2.36% 1.28%
2036 2.4% 1.3%
2035 2.44% 1.31%
2034 2.48% 1.33%
2033 2.51% 1.34%
2032 2.54% 1.36%
2031 2.58% 1.38%
2030 2.61% 1.51%
2029 2.64% 1.6%
2028 2.67% 1.67%
2027 2.73% 1.71%
2026 2.78% 1.76%
2025 2.82% 4.74%
2024 2.93% 4.74%
2023 3.01% 4.75%
2022 2.97% 4.52%
2021 2.93% -2.43%
2020 2.96% 4.95%
2019 3% -0.44%
2018 3.02% -2.52%
2017 3.03% 0.07%
2016 3.04% 3.82%
2015 3.05% 5.32%
2014 3.06% 2.48%
2013 3.19% 5.56%
2012 3.32% 4.29%
2011 3.3% 4.64%
2010 3.24% -0.99%
2009 3.18% 3.99%
2008 2.92% 4.11%
2007 2.63% 4.24%
2006 2.54% 4.37%
2005 2.45% 4.53%
2004 2.38% 4.7%
2003 2.31% 4.89%
2002 2.24% 5.1%
2001 2.5% 5.34%
2000 2.82% 4.56%
1999 2.71% 3.69%
1998 2.63% 3.81%
1997 2.25% 3.93%
1996 2% 4.08%
1995 2.78% 4.23%
1994 3.46% 4.37%
1993 4.13% 4.53%
1992 3.9% 4.71%
1991 2.96% 4.89%
1990 2.57% 5.06%
1989 2.54% 5.18%
1988 2.93% 5.47%
1987 2.92% 5.81%
1986 2.92% 5.85%
1985 2.93% 5.9%
1984 2.92% 6.13%
1983 2.92% 6.28%
1982 2.92% 6.29%
1981 2.91% 6.16%
1980 2.88% 6.04%
1979 2.88% 5.98%
1978 2.88% 5.88%
1977 2.92% 5.72%
1976 2.98% 5.52%
1975 2.99% 5.38%
1974 3.02% 5.29%
1973 3.04% 5.14%
1972 3.06% 4.88%
1971 3.08% 4.54%
1970 3.1% 4.25%
1969 3.09% 4.09%
1968 3.08% 3.97%
1967 3.05% 3.86%
1966 2.99% 3.79%
1965 2.93% 3.78%
1964 2.86% 3.77%
1963 2.79% 3.76%
1962 2.72% 3.74%
1961 2.65% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.82%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Saudi Arabia
Current population
5539189
37955120
Population rank 123/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.46%
One net population change
3.62 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
2.99 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
18.8 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +399 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +145,670 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +2.82% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 2/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 +119,738
Net migration rank 115/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - 119,738
2024 147,927 -2,185 499,782 122,170
2023 145,164 2,999 474,366 325,691
2022 142,451 2,999 406,920 977,072
2021 137,557 -1,483 409,032 -106,287
2020 134,899 -1,483 447,036 -74,725
2019 134,460 -3,019 474,407 191,582
2018 131,584 -2,987 528,767 -988,751
2017 128,562 -3,001 546,751 -920,812
2016 125,342 -3,008 537,829 -26,997
2015 122,092 -3,019 511,023 465,292
2014 118,792 -2,980 493,431 469,144
2013 115,558 -2,987 475,299 485,794
2012 113,489 4,515 465,649 479,206
2011 111,165 3,272 443,675 491,253
2010 108,121 1,128 418,641 504,955
2009 105,273 -1,481 438,557 496,229
2008 102,432 -3,860 433,457 491,337
2007 98,895 -17,048 425,199 489,136
2006 94,991 -18,033 399,333 504,661
2005 90,940 -18,693 375,938 518,565
2004 87,578 -19,042 362,843 523,472
2003 83,804 -19,104 364,520 514,606
2002 80,993 -18,903 372,099 500,508
2001 78,769 -21,067 382,153 484,252
2000 75,929 -2,997 392,407 468,515
1999 73,554 -2,999 390,112 160,263
1998 72,045 -8,504 389,499 159,898
1997 71,327 -8,187 385,033 160,066
1996 71,939 -28,840 382,248 160,532
1995 72,244 -22,997 380,231 160,512
1994 70,570 5,304 377,351 160,306
1993 68,167 6,217 372,621 158,074
1992 63,501 34,505 366,763 160,908
1991 61,782 -2,997 361,329 162,857
1990 59,934 -3,000 355,495 160,416
1989 58,666 -17,941 349,399 159,273
1988 56,654 -2,997 342,865 146,918
1987 55,037 -2,998 333,088 175,075
1986 53,313 -2,998 322,340 172,606
1985 52,125 -2,998 310,558 148,208
1984 50,705 -2,998 296,615 153,562
1983 49,187 -2,998 280,616 157,930
1982 47,947 -2,998 264,831 153,528
1981 46,641 -2,998 249,156 140,355
1980 45,026 -2,997 234,372 121,220
1979 43,537 -2,997 220,186 112,826
1978 42,539 -2,998 205,331 105,263
1977 41,352 -2,999 191,103 96,015
1976 40,149 -1,645 178,024 85,083
1975 38,975 -1,472 166,223 73,960
1974 38,106 -1,321 155,478 69,653
1973 37,122 -1,201 145,450 63,995
1972 36,184 -1,139 136,360 55,439
1971 35,279 -1,014 127,600 43,989
1970 34,382 -855 120,440 31,097
1969 33,252 -688 113,859 25,312
1968 32,029 -565 108,281 21,366
1967 30,853 -514 103,343 17,947
1966 29,502 -466 98,361 15,054
1965 28,028 -434 93,820 15,000
1964 26,565 -390 89,776 15,000
1963 25,250 -362 85,480 15,000
1962 23,927 -342 81,393 15,000
1961 22,781 -332 77,743 15,000
1960 21,604 -318 74,143 15,000

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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