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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 6.67 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Mauritania vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Saudi Arabia
2100 17,309,980 74,230,118
2099 17,202,690 73,760,045
2098 17,090,030 73,287,526
2097 16,975,270 72,813,125
2096 16,857,252 72,336,039
2095 16,739,240 71,858,206
2094 16,617,272 71,379,928
2093 16,492,589 70,900,460
2092 16,366,098 70,420,464
2091 16,235,771 69,940,749
2090 16,103,700 69,462,214
2089 15,969,059 68,985,976
2088 15,831,339 68,510,277
2087 15,690,143 68,035,545
2086 15,547,605 67,562,521
2085 15,403,967 67,091,615
2084 15,257,740 66,621,667
2083 15,108,271 66,152,653
2082 14,958,279 65,684,321
2081 14,805,332 65,216,102
2080 14,651,508 64,749,128
2079 14,496,397 64,282,393
2078 14,337,117 63,815,918
2077 14,175,812 63,348,712
2076 14,013,255 62,880,120
2075 13,849,027 62,409,793
2074 13,684,146 61,937,628
2073 13,517,681 61,462,662
2072 13,349,376 60,984,202
2071 13,178,237 60,502,791
2070 13,007,812 60,018,216
2069 12,835,311 59,529,456
2068 12,662,862 59,036,086
2067 12,487,379 58,539,487
2066 12,311,503 58,039,687
2065 12,136,616 57,537,106
2064 11,958,955 57,032,172
2063 11,783,144 56,524,331
2062 11,606,044 56,014,549
2061 11,428,738 55,501,467
2060 11,251,427 54,986,901
2059 11,072,236 54,469,809
2058 10,892,076 53,950,469
2057 10,713,858 53,430,639
2056 10,536,935 52,909,061
2055 10,358,532 52,386,571
2054 10,179,658 51,862,312
2053 9,999,712 51,336,335
2052 9,819,098 50,809,100
2051 9,639,209 50,280,719
2050 9,461,249 49,751,739
2049 9,283,353 49,221,828
2048 9,104,299 48,690,143
2047 8,926,851 48,157,605
2046 8,748,845 47,623,246
2045 8,572,397 47,087,215
2044 8,397,189 46,550,306
2043 8,222,194 46,013,232
2042 8,048,139 45,475,200
2041 7,876,803 44,936,131
2040 7,706,696 44,396,093
2039 7,537,689 43,856,006
2038 7,369,184 43,314,707
2037 7,202,472 42,773,375
2036 7,036,729 42,231,639
2035 6,871,981 41,690,245
2034 6,708,364 41,150,029
2033 6,546,168 40,611,021
2032 6,385,827 40,073,144
2031 6,227,564 39,535,357
2030 6,070,865 38,998,581
2029 5,916,516 38,417,447
2028 5,764,060 37,810,902
2027 5,613,919 37,189,969
2026 5,464,898 36,566,201
2025 5,317,228 35,932,673
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 74.2M 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 2.86% 1.79%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Saudi Arabia
Current population
5505206
36734925
Population rank 122/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.44%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
3.04 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
19 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 4/197
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 - -2,185 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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 (1960–2024, 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/saudi-arabia | 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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