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Population in Mauritania compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.64 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Mauritania vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2100 17,309,980 16,111,324
2099 17,202,690 16,126,181
2098 17,090,030 16,139,280
2097 16,975,270 16,154,153
2096 16,857,252 16,164,923
2095 16,739,240 16,173,557
2094 16,617,272 16,173,155
2093 16,492,589 16,177,864
2092 16,366,098 16,175,032
2091 16,235,771 16,168,153
2090 16,103,700 16,158,415
2089 15,969,059 16,146,773
2088 15,831,339 16,133,018
2087 15,690,143 16,116,823
2086 15,547,605 16,089,780
2085 15,403,967 16,068,438
2084 15,257,740 16,044,782
2083 15,108,271 16,011,134
2082 14,958,279 15,975,073
2081 14,805,332 15,935,071
2080 14,651,508 15,896,846
2079 14,496,397 15,854,898
2078 14,337,117 15,805,607
2077 14,175,812 15,754,551
2076 14,013,255 15,699,439
2075 13,849,027 15,639,458
2074 13,684,146 15,584,377
2073 13,517,681 15,516,736
2072 13,349,376 15,446,543
2071 13,178,237 15,374,790
2070 13,007,812 15,297,449
2069 12,835,311 15,216,666
2068 12,662,862 15,128,048
2067 12,487,379 15,032,144
2066 12,311,503 14,935,222
2065 12,136,616 14,837,697
2064 11,958,955 14,740,749
2063 11,783,144 14,642,031
2062 11,606,044 14,529,557
2061 11,428,738 14,423,861
2060 11,251,427 14,311,215
2059 11,072,236 14,198,706
2058 10,892,076 14,080,827
2057 10,713,858 13,960,869
2056 10,536,935 13,836,132
2055 10,358,532 13,706,113
2054 10,179,658 13,579,802
2053 9,999,712 13,444,465
2052 9,819,098 13,303,409
2051 9,639,209 13,156,370
2050 9,461,249 13,010,109
2049 9,283,353 12,867,021
2048 9,104,299 12,716,015
2047 8,926,851 12,570,250
2046 8,748,845 12,414,307
2045 8,572,397 12,257,874
2044 8,397,189 12,092,075
2043 8,222,194 11,931,531
2042 8,048,139 11,770,467
2041 7,876,803 11,602,993
2040 7,706,696 11,431,337
2039 7,537,689 11,262,807
2038 7,369,184 11,100,099
2037 7,202,472 10,931,629
2036 7,036,729 10,760,758
2035 6,871,981 10,585,702
2034 6,708,364 10,413,826
2033 6,546,168 10,241,196
2032 6,385,827 10,062,575
2031 6,227,564 9,883,708
2030 6,070,865 9,708,038
2029 5,916,516 9,532,000
2028 5,764,060 9,360,873
2027 5,613,919 9,179,702
2026 5,464,898 9,001,269
2025 5,317,228 8,822,114
2024 5,169,395 8,642,022
2023 5,022,441 8,460,512
2022 4,875,637 8,276,807
2021 4,734,874 8,094,602
2020 4,600,131 7,912,558
2019 4,467,708 7,731,991
2018 4,337,685 7,554,563
2017 4,210,600 7,379,299
2016 4,086,657 7,205,328
2015 3,965,959 7,037,655
2014 3,848,514 6,876,385
2013 3,734,318 6,714,051
2012 3,619,034 6,551,080
2011 3,502,811 6,387,251
2010 3,390,965 6,222,714
2009 3,284,448 6,055,646
2008 3,183,269 5,894,722
2007 3,093,059 5,749,352
2006 3,013,660 5,624,466
2005 2,939,059 5,501,712
2004 2,868,664 5,355,717
2003 2,802,046 5,177,687
2002 2,738,655 4,971,435
2001 2,678,760 4,692,716
2000 2,613,441 4,423,611
1999 2,541,698 4,318,043
1998 2,474,651 4,295,785
1997 2,411,306 4,253,716
1996 2,358,188 4,199,210
1995 2,312,017 4,179,179
1994 2,249,454 4,173,105
1993 2,174,328 4,157,130
1992 2,088,135 4,166,366
1991 2,009,738 4,246,267
1990 1,951,878 4,196,828
1989 1,903,048 4,034,037
1988 1,855,859 3,934,517
1987 1,803,014 3,829,718
1986 1,751,835 3,728,380
1985 1,702,107 3,638,438
1984 1,653,693 3,558,758
1983 1,606,746 3,481,646
1982 1,561,176 3,408,183
1981 1,516,877 3,338,940
1980 1,474,043 3,272,089
1979 1,432,758 3,207,499
1978 1,392,713 3,145,517
1977 1,353,768 3,085,354
1976 1,315,336 3,028,820
1975 1,277,330 2,974,657
1974 1,240,188 2,920,459
1973 1,203,838 2,866,955
1972 1,168,355 2,814,388
1971 1,133,702 2,763,222
1970 1,099,806 2,712,286
1969 1,066,754 2,661,365
1968 1,034,739 2,611,532
1967 1,003,843 2,562,384
1966 974,157 2,514,638
1965 945,838 2,468,666
1964 918,955 2,424,390
1963 893,423 2,382,258
1962 869,184 2,342,242
1961 846,167 2,304,227
1960 824,298 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2100 0.62% -0.09%
2099 0.66% -0.08%
2098 0.68% -0.09%
2097 0.7% -0.07%
2096 0.7% -0.05%
2095 0.73% 0.002%
2094 0.76% -0.03%
2093 0.77% 0.02%
2092 0.8% 0.04%
2091 0.82% 0.06%
2090 0.84% 0.07%
2089 0.87% 0.09%
2088 0.9% 0.1%
2087 0.92% 0.17%
2086 0.93% 0.13%
2085 0.96% 0.15%
2084 0.99% 0.21%
2083 1% 0.23%
2082 1.03% 0.25%
2081 1.05% 0.24%
2080 1.07% 0.26%
2079 1.11% 0.31%
2078 1.14% 0.32%
2077 1.16% 0.35%
2076 1.19% 0.38%
2075 1.2% 0.35%
2074 1.23% 0.44%
2073 1.26% 0.45%
2072 1.3% 0.47%
2071 1.31% 0.51%
2070 1.34% 0.53%
2069 1.36% 0.59%
2068 1.41% 0.64%
2067 1.43% 0.65%
2066 1.44% 0.66%
2065 1.49% 0.66%
2064 1.49% 0.67%
2063 1.53% 0.77%
2062 1.55% 0.73%
2061 1.58% 0.79%
2060 1.62% 0.79%
2059 1.65% 0.84%
2058 1.66% 0.86%
2057 1.68% 0.9%
2056 1.72% 0.95%
2055 1.76% 0.93%
2054 1.8% 1.01%
2053 1.84% 1.06%
2052 1.87% 1.12%
2051 1.88% 1.12%
2050 1.92% 1.11%
2049 1.97% 1.19%
2048 1.99% 1.16%
2047 2.03% 1.26%
2046 2.06% 1.28%
2045 2.09% 1.37%
2044 2.13% 1.35%
2043 2.16% 1.37%
2042 2.18% 1.44%
2041 2.21% 1.5%
2040 2.24% 1.5%
2039 2.29% 1.47%
2038 2.31% 1.54%
2037 2.36% 1.59%
2036 2.4% 1.65%
2035 2.44% 1.65%
2034 2.48% 1.69%
2033 2.51% 1.78%
2032 2.54% 1.81%
2031 2.58% 1.81%
2030 2.61% 1.85%
2029 2.64% 1.83%
2028 2.67% 1.97%
2027 2.73% 1.98%
2026 2.78% 2.03%
2025 2.86% 2.08%
2024 2.93% 2.15%
2023 3.01% 2.22%
2022 2.97% 2.25%
2021 2.93% 2.3%
2020 2.96% 2.34%
2019 3% 2.35%
2018 3.02% 2.38%
2017 3.03% 2.41%
2016 3.04% 2.38%
2015 3.05% 2.35%
2014 3.06% 2.42%
2013 3.19% 2.49%
2012 3.32% 2.56%
2011 3.3% 2.64%
2010 3.24% 2.76%
2009 3.18% 2.73%
2008 2.92% 2.53%
2007 2.63% 2.22%
2006 2.54% 2.23%
2005 2.45% 2.73%
2004 2.38% 3.44%
2003 2.31% 4.15%
2002 2.24% 5.94%
2001 2.5% 6.08%
2000 2.82% 2.44%
1999 2.71% 0.52%
1998 2.63% 0.99%
1997 2.25% 1.3%
1996 2% 0.48%
1995 2.78% 0.15%
1994 3.46% 0.38%
1993 4.13% -0.22%
1992 3.9% -1.88%
1991 2.96% 1.18%
1990 2.57% 4.04%
1989 2.54% 2.53%
1988 2.93% 2.74%
1987 2.92% 2.72%
1986 2.92% 2.47%
1985 2.93% 2.24%
1984 2.92% 2.21%
1983 2.92% 2.16%
1982 2.92% 2.07%
1981 2.91% 2.04%
1980 2.88% 2.01%
1979 2.88% 1.97%
1978 2.88% 1.95%
1977 2.92% 1.87%
1976 2.98% 1.82%
1975 2.99% 1.86%
1974 3.02% 1.87%
1973 3.04% 1.87%
1972 3.06% 1.85%
1971 3.08% 1.88%
1970 3.1% 1.91%
1969 3.09% 1.91%
1968 3.08% 1.92%
1967 3.05% 1.9%
1966 2.99% 1.86%
1965 2.93% 1.83%
1964 2.86% 1.77%
1963 2.79% 1.71%
1962 2.72% 1.65%
1961 2.65% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Sierra Leone
Current population
5505206
9049533
Population rank 122/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.11%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
3.04 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
19 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +497
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 -11,309
Net migration rank 115/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - -11,309
2024 - -2,185 - -11,000
2023 145,164 2,999 188,788 -4,000
2022 142,451 2,999 186,625 -4,000
2021 137,557 -1,483 183,326 -1,544
2020 134,899 -1,483 181,015 1,292
2019 134,460 -3,019 181,068 -2,238
2018 131,584 -2,987 178,772 -2,741
2017 128,562 -3,001 173,259 1,234
2016 125,342 -3,008 168,784 4,657
2015 122,092 -3,019 162,275 -356
2014 118,792 -2,980 160,137 485
2013 115,558 -2,987 161,265 2,773
2012 113,489 4,515 160,915 988
2011 111,165 3,272 158,858 6,895
2010 108,121 1,128 155,338 7,983
2009 105,273 -1,481 152,669 18,145
2008 102,432 -3,860 149,855 1,182
2007 98,895 -17,048 145,740 -6,042
2006 94,991 -18,033 144,127 -34,052
2005 90,940 -18,693 137,234 -1,805
2004 87,578 -19,042 132,661 23,897
2003 83,804 -19,104 130,312 69,185
2002 80,993 -18,903 126,429 86,578
2001 78,769 -21,067 116,647 227,791
2000 75,929 -2,997 110,754 83,013
1999 73,554 -2,999 102,295 -84,926
1998 72,045 -8,504 103,906 -76,766
1997 71,327 -8,187 105,433 -48,437
1996 71,939 -28,840 104,140 -52,110
1995 72,244 -22,997 100,885 -112,857
1994 70,570 5,304 101,486 -77,371
1993 68,167 6,217 103,317 -95,476
1992 63,501 34,505 103,251 -129,565
1991 61,782 -2,997 105,477 -238,965
1990 59,934 -3,000 100,778 131,587
1989 58,666 -17,941 98,298 -5,079
1988 56,654 -2,997 96,344 9,470
1987 55,037 -2,998 94,235 9,558
1986 53,313 -2,998 90,902 7,992
1985 52,125 -2,998 88,869 -7,873
1984 50,705 -2,998 87,072 -8,708
1983 49,187 -2,998 84,628 -8,783
1982 47,947 -2,998 82,457 -11,379
1981 46,641 -2,998 80,111 -12,699
1980 45,026 -2,997 77,932 -11,641
1979 43,537 -2,997 75,992 -13,095
1978 42,539 -2,998 74,130 -13,073
1977 41,352 -2,999 71,663 -12,399
1976 40,149 -1,645 69,506 -15,686
1975 38,975 -1,472 67,560 -13,058
1974 38,106 -1,321 65,357 -11,473
1973 37,122 -1,201 62,443 -9,322
1972 36,184 -1,139 60,279 -8,267
1971 35,279 -1,014 58,484 -8,162
1970 34,382 -855 56,513 -4,957
1969 33,252 -688 54,768 -4,485
1968 32,029 -565 53,126 -3,743
1967 30,853 -514 51,734 -2,819
1966 29,502 -466 49,486 -2,911
1965 28,028 -434 47,223 -1,851
1964 26,565 -390 45,487 -2,308
1963 25,250 -362 43,569 -2,480
1962 23,927 -342 41,603 -2,658
1961 22,781 -332 40,022 -2,947
1960 21,604 -318 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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