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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 in 2025 vs 18,931,966 people in Senegal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,539,189 people compared to 19,596,169 in Senegal.

Population statistics:

  • Senegal's population is 3.54 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 123rd most populous country in the world, while Senegal is the 68th.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.24% for Senegal.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +2.98% per year vs +2.68% in Senegal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.54M (83.8% growth), while Senegal has grown from 11.5M to 19.6M (70.4% growth).

Mauritania vs Senegal: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Senegal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Senegal
2100 17,302,938 47,474,574
2099 17,195,692 47,302,101
2098 17,083,078 47,124,428
2097 16,968,365 46,935,783
2096 16,850,394 46,742,299
2095 16,732,430 46,541,530
2094 16,610,512 46,331,819
2093 16,485,880 46,117,446
2092 16,359,440 45,896,926
2091 16,229,167 45,669,419
2090 16,097,149 45,435,395
2089 15,962,562 45,190,699
2088 15,824,899 44,942,408
2087 15,683,760 44,685,891
2086 15,541,281 44,418,490
2085 15,397,701 44,143,926
2084 15,251,533 43,864,819
2083 15,102,125 43,572,529
2082 14,952,194 43,279,061
2081 14,799,309 42,978,412
2080 14,645,548 42,673,206
2079 14,490,500 42,360,446
2078 14,331,284 42,038,513
2077 14,170,045 41,710,573
2076 14,007,555 41,373,492
2075 13,843,393 41,024,071
2074 13,678,579 40,668,576
2073 13,512,182 40,306,673
2072 13,343,946 39,937,069
2071 13,172,876 39,562,087
2070 13,002,521 39,181,827
2069 12,830,090 38,789,497
2068 12,657,711 38,392,382
2067 12,482,299 37,991,278
2066 12,306,495 37,578,685
2065 12,131,679 37,162,056
2064 11,954,090 36,738,762
2063 11,778,351 36,312,562
2062 11,601,323 35,879,325
2061 11,424,089 35,443,454
2060 11,246,850 35,004,974
2059 11,067,732 34,566,478
2058 10,887,645 34,117,578
2057 10,709,500 33,668,392
2056 10,532,648 33,214,418
2055 10,354,318 32,760,822
2054 10,175,517 32,308,761
2053 9,995,645 31,854,267
2052 9,815,104 31,400,703
2051 9,635,288 30,944,985
2050 9,457,400 30,486,035
2049 9,279,576 30,028,301
2048 9,100,595 29,566,333
2047 8,923,220 29,107,317
2046 8,745,286 28,644,370
2045 8,568,910 28,183,606
2044 8,393,773 27,720,422
2043 8,218,850 27,256,832
2042 8,044,865 26,792,904
2041 7,873,599 26,328,316
2040 7,703,561 25,862,356
2039 7,534,623 25,394,612
2038 7,366,187 24,924,728
2037 7,199,542 24,453,976
2036 7,033,866 23,983,290
2035 6,869,186 23,511,966
2034 6,705,635 23,043,425
2033 6,543,505 22,574,895
2032 6,383,229 22,106,910
2031 6,225,030 21,639,797
2030 6,068,395 21,175,234
2029 5,914,109 20,716,123
2028 5,761,715 20,260,670
2027 5,611,635 19,811,163
2026 5,462,675 19,369,097
2025 5,315,065 18,931,966
2024 5,169,395 18,501,984
2023 5,022,441 18,077,573
2022 4,875,637 17,651,103
2021 4,734,874 17,220,867
2020 4,600,131 16,789,219
2019 4,467,708 16,352,922
2018 4,337,685 15,914,498
2017 4,210,600 15,475,002
2016 4,086,657 15,034,521
2015 3,965,959 14,593,331
2014 3,848,514 14,152,102
2013 3,734,318 13,710,849
2012 3,619,034 13,310,495
2011 3,502,811 12,958,897
2010 3,390,965 12,635,413
2009 3,284,448 12,337,389
2008 3,183,269 12,048,959
2007 3,093,059 11,770,344
2006 3,013,660 11,500,094
2005 2,939,059 11,235,472
2004 2,868,664 10,975,704
2003 2,802,046 10,721,176
2002 2,738,655 10,466,214
2001 2,678,760 10,212,942
2000 2,613,441 9,968,260
1999 2,541,698 9,730,887
1998 2,474,651 9,502,952
1997 2,411,306 9,283,495
1996 2,358,188 9,067,014
1995 2,312,017 8,848,101
1994 2,249,454 8,624,078
1993 2,174,328 8,396,288
1992 2,088,135 8,168,395
1991 2,009,738 7,943,085
1990 1,951,878 7,720,523
1989 1,903,048 7,502,207
1988 1,855,859 7,289,618
1987 1,803,014 7,081,530
1986 1,751,835 6,878,192
1985 1,702,107 6,683,287
1984 1,653,693 6,499,364
1983 1,606,746 6,324,504
1982 1,561,176 6,156,961
1981 1,516,877 5,997,160
1980 1,474,043 5,845,638
1979 1,432,758 5,702,895
1978 1,392,713 5,568,096
1977 1,353,768 5,439,549
1976 1,315,336 5,308,564
1975 1,277,330 5,170,810
1974 1,240,188 5,029,437
1973 1,203,838 4,885,181
1972 1,168,355 4,741,631
1971 1,133,702 4,601,864
1970 1,099,806 4,466,328
1969 1,066,754 4,334,974
1968 1,034,739 4,207,587
1967 1,003,843 4,083,870
1966 974,157 3,964,299
1965 945,838 3,849,788
1964 918,955 3,740,535
1963 893,423 3,635,876
1962 869,184 3,534,686
1961 846,167 3,436,375
1960 824,298 3,340,907

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/senegal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Senegal gained 3,534,427 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth), while Senegal's population increased by 4,561,648 people (a 30.3% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd in 2026. Senegal was ranked 72nd in 2006 and ranked 68th 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 Senegal will increase by 55.6% to 30,486,035 people and rank change from 68th to 63rd.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 47.5M people in 2100 for Senegal.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Senegal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Senegal
2100 0.62% 0.36%
2099 0.66% 0.38%
2098 0.68% 0.4%
2097 0.7% 0.41%
2096 0.7% 0.43%
2095 0.73% 0.45%
2094 0.76% 0.46%
2093 0.77% 0.48%
2092 0.8% 0.5%
2091 0.82% 0.52%
2090 0.84% 0.54%
2089 0.87% 0.55%
2088 0.9% 0.57%
2087 0.92% 0.6%
2086 0.93% 0.62%
2085 0.96% 0.64%
2084 0.99% 0.67%
2083 1% 0.68%
2082 1.03% 0.7%
2081 1.05% 0.72%
2080 1.07% 0.74%
2079 1.11% 0.77%
2078 1.14% 0.79%
2077 1.16% 0.81%
2076 1.19% 0.85%
2075 1.2% 0.87%
2074 1.23% 0.9%
2073 1.26% 0.93%
2072 1.3% 0.95%
2071 1.31% 0.97%
2070 1.34% 1.01%
2069 1.36% 1.03%
2068 1.41% 1.06%
2067 1.43% 1.1%
2066 1.44% 1.12%
2065 1.49% 1.15%
2064 1.49% 1.17%
2063 1.53% 1.21%
2062 1.55% 1.23%
2061 1.58% 1.25%
2060 1.62% 1.27%
2059 1.65% 1.32%
2058 1.66% 1.33%
2057 1.68% 1.37%
2056 1.72% 1.38%
2055 1.76% 1.4%
2054 1.8% 1.43%
2053 1.84% 1.44%
2052 1.87% 1.47%
2051 1.88% 1.51%
2050 1.92% 1.52%
2049 1.97% 1.56%
2048 1.99% 1.58%
2047 2.03% 1.62%
2046 2.06% 1.63%
2045 2.09% 1.67%
2044 2.13% 1.7%
2043 2.16% 1.73%
2042 2.18% 1.76%
2041 2.21% 1.8%
2040 2.24% 1.84%
2039 2.29% 1.89%
2038 2.31% 1.93%
2037 2.36% 1.96%
2036 2.4% 2%
2035 2.44% 2.03%
2034 2.48% 2.08%
2033 2.51% 2.12%
2032 2.54% 2.16%
2031 2.58% 2.19%
2030 2.61% 2.22%
2029 2.64% 2.25%
2028 2.67% 2.27%
2027 2.73% 2.28%
2026 2.78% 2.31%
2025 2.82% 2.32%
2024 2.93% 2.35%
2023 3.01% 2.42%
2022 2.97% 2.5%
2021 2.93% 2.57%
2020 2.96% 2.67%
2019 3% 2.75%
2018 3.02% 2.84%
2017 3.03% 2.93%
2016 3.04% 3.02%
2015 3.05% 3.12%
2014 3.06% 3.22%
2013 3.19% 3.01%
2012 3.32% 2.71%
2011 3.3% 2.56%
2010 3.24% 2.42%
2009 3.18% 2.39%
2008 2.92% 2.37%
2007 2.63% 2.35%
2006 2.54% 2.36%
2005 2.45% 2.37%
2004 2.38% 2.37%
2003 2.31% 2.44%
2002 2.24% 2.48%
2001 2.5% 2.45%
2000 2.82% 2.44%
1999 2.71% 2.4%
1998 2.63% 2.36%
1997 2.25% 2.39%
1996 2% 2.47%
1995 2.78% 2.6%
1994 3.46% 2.71%
1993 4.13% 2.79%
1992 3.9% 2.84%
1991 2.96% 2.88%
1990 2.57% 2.91%
1989 2.54% 2.92%
1988 2.93% 2.94%
1987 2.92% 2.96%
1986 2.92% 2.92%
1985 2.93% 2.83%
1984 2.92% 2.76%
1983 2.92% 2.72%
1982 2.92% 2.66%
1981 2.91% 2.59%
1980 2.88% 2.5%
1979 2.88% 2.42%
1978 2.88% 2.36%
1977 2.92% 2.47%
1976 2.98% 2.66%
1975 2.99% 2.81%
1974 3.02% 2.95%
1973 3.04% 3.03%
1972 3.06% 3.04%
1971 3.08% 3.03%
1970 3.1% 3.03%
1969 3.09% 3.03%
1968 3.08% 3.03%
1967 3.05% 3.02%
1966 2.99% 2.97%
1965 2.93% 2.92%
1964 2.86% 2.88%
1963 2.79% 2.86%
1962 2.72% 2.86%
1961 2.65% 2.86%

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/senegal | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.82%, while Senegal's population grew by 2.32%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Senegal
Current population
5539189
19596169
Population rank 123/197 68/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.24%
One net population change
3.62 minutes
1.23 minutes
One birth every
2.99 minutes
58.4 seconds
One death every
18.8 minutes
5.16 minutes
Daily growth/decline +399 +1,178
Annual growth/decline +145,670 +429,982
Annual growth/decline rate +2.82% +2.32%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 35/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
41.7 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 -12,636
Net migration rank 115/196 138/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 281,867
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 100/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 146/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Senegal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Senegal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - -12,636
2024 147,927 -2,185 438,108 -10,307
2023 145,164 2,999 431,006 -9,999
2022 142,451 2,999 415,507 16,425
2021 137,557 -1,483 403,019 25,519
2020 134,899 -1,483 400,910 33,848
2019 134,460 -3,019 399,436 38,386
2018 131,584 -2,987 405,454 33,567
2017 128,562 -3,001 410,366 29,605
2016 125,342 -3,008 411,480 29,498
2015 122,092 -3,019 407,008 34,387
2014 118,792 -2,980 405,019 36,030
2013 115,558 -2,987 406,582 34,878
2012 113,489 4,515 402,243 -42,978
2011 111,165 3,272 387,290 -43,350
2010 108,121 1,128 372,934 -69,888
2009 105,273 -1,481 362,238 -69,239
2008 102,432 -3,860 351,661 -67,812
2007 98,895 -17,048 339,963 -66,580
2006 94,991 -18,033 331,364 -64,254
2005 90,940 -18,693 323,908 -61,781
2004 87,578 -19,042 317,286 -59,879
2003 83,804 -19,104 308,856 -57,213
2002 80,993 -18,903 298,842 -40,554
2001 78,769 -21,067 289,690 -41,422
2000 75,929 -2,997 283,946 -42,854
1999 73,554 -2,999 277,944 -44,284
1998 72,045 -8,504 267,404 -45,189
1997 71,327 -8,187 261,200 -44,506
1996 71,939 -28,840 255,418 -39,162
1995 72,244 -22,997 252,552 -31,001
1994 70,570 5,304 249,115 -22,633
1993 68,167 6,217 245,742 -16,649
1992 63,501 34,505 241,482 -14,796
1991 61,782 -2,997 237,713 -13,783
1990 59,934 -3,000 234,155 -12,959
1989 58,666 -17,941 227,797 -12,362
1988 56,654 -2,997 221,772 -12,036
1987 55,037 -2,998 218,522 -12,086
1986 53,313 -2,998 212,887 -12,655
1985 52,125 -2,998 208,218 -18,644
1984 50,705 -2,998 203,125 -24,858
1983 49,187 -2,998 197,673 -26,222
1982 47,947 -2,998 191,309 -27,672
1981 46,641 -2,998 185,917 -29,959
1980 45,026 -2,997 179,707 -32,616
1979 43,537 -2,997 173,425 -35,022
1978 42,539 -2,998 167,744 -36,559
1977 41,352 -2,999 161,636 -35,731
1976 40,149 -1,645 154,776 -18,716
1975 38,975 -1,472 147,311 -7,870
1974 38,106 -1,321 139,974 3,347
1973 37,122 -1,201 133,834 11,382
1972 36,184 -1,139 128,024 13,852
1971 35,279 -1,014 122,511 15,131
1970 34,382 -855 117,264 16,168
1969 33,252 -688 112,393 16,887
1968 32,029 -565 108,240 17,264
1967 30,853 -514 104,824 17,107
1966 29,502 -466 101,359 15,849
1965 28,028 -434 97,912 13,913
1964 26,565 -390 94,797 11,892
1963 25,250 -362 92,264 10,371
1962 23,927 -342 89,937 9,809
1961 22,781 -332 87,322 9,549
1960 21,604 -318 84,735 9,337

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/senegal | 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 Senegal 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,122,294 people) and 5.09% is from migration (a gain of 220,929 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 281,867 people or 1.5% in Senegal.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Senegal
City Population
Dakar 1.44M
Thies 391K
Rufisque 295K
Saint-Louis 259K
Ziguinchor 215K
Kaolack 172K
Louga 113K
Kolda 62.3K
Fatick 39.4K

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/senegal | 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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