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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,539,189 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 3.73 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 123rd most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +2.98% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.54M (83.8% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Mauritania vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Somalia
2100 17,302,938 68,341,587
2099 17,195,692 67,997,987
2098 17,083,078 67,660,056
2097 16,968,365 67,320,374
2096 16,850,394 66,931,214
2095 16,732,430 66,544,181
2094 16,610,512 66,138,594
2093 16,485,880 65,719,626
2092 16,359,440 65,283,569
2091 16,229,167 64,812,444
2090 16,097,149 64,322,633
2089 15,962,562 63,882,977
2088 15,824,899 63,424,502
2087 15,683,760 62,947,792
2086 15,541,281 62,408,129
2085 15,397,701 61,835,054
2084 15,251,533 61,280,718
2083 15,102,125 60,723,949
2082 14,952,194 60,150,487
2081 14,799,309 59,639,547
2080 14,645,548 59,064,099
2079 14,490,500 58,441,001
2078 14,331,284 57,816,490
2077 14,170,045 57,176,183
2076 14,007,555 56,567,204
2075 13,843,393 55,970,712
2074 13,678,579 55,295,699
2073 13,512,182 54,617,874
2072 13,343,946 53,944,923
2071 13,172,876 53,250,824
2070 13,002,521 52,540,460
2069 12,830,090 51,845,897
2068 12,657,711 51,165,760
2067 12,482,299 50,461,574
2066 12,306,495 49,748,163
2065 12,131,679 48,994,126
2064 11,954,090 48,235,809
2063 11,778,351 47,492,758
2062 11,601,323 46,756,776
2061 11,424,089 46,008,848
2060 11,246,850 45,192,338
2059 11,067,732 44,370,279
2058 10,887,645 43,631,825
2057 10,709,500 42,870,700
2056 10,532,648 42,095,303
2055 10,354,318 41,292,441
2054 10,175,517 40,487,904
2053 9,995,645 39,720,236
2052 9,815,104 38,967,888
2051 9,635,288 38,205,058
2050 9,457,400 37,448,393
2049 9,279,576 36,717,019
2048 9,100,595 35,962,583
2047 8,923,220 35,196,924
2046 8,745,286 34,440,935
2045 8,568,910 33,696,593
2044 8,393,773 32,957,131
2043 8,218,850 32,227,622
2042 8,044,865 31,517,627
2041 7,873,599 30,775,671
2040 7,703,561 30,013,616
2039 7,534,623 29,294,623
2038 7,366,187 28,565,580
2037 7,199,542 27,821,304
2036 7,033,866 27,097,563
2035 6,869,186 26,368,985
2034 6,705,635 25,671,628
2033 6,543,505 25,002,924
2032 6,383,229 24,323,435
2031 6,225,030 23,642,617
2030 6,068,395 22,951,436
2029 5,914,109 22,285,719
2028 5,761,715 21,638,095
2027 5,611,635 20,978,784
2026 5,462,675 20,310,008
2025 5,315,065 19,654,739
2024 5,169,395 19,009,151
2023 5,022,441 18,358,615
2022 4,875,637 17,801,897
2021 4,734,874 17,271,431
2020 4,600,131 16,651,191
2019 4,467,708 16,030,971
2018 4,337,685 15,452,487
2017 4,210,600 14,916,629
2016 4,086,657 14,348,740
2015 3,965,959 13,806,963
2014 3,848,514 13,339,491
2013 3,734,318 12,869,594
2012 3,619,034 12,461,160
2011 3,502,811 12,348,830
2010 3,390,965 12,261,756
2009 3,284,448 11,961,201
2008 3,183,269 11,663,084
2007 3,093,059 11,322,582
2006 3,013,660 10,975,502
2005 2,939,059 10,644,228
2004 2,868,664 10,280,998
2003 2,802,046 9,909,157
2002 2,738,655 9,550,063
2001 2,678,760 9,198,493
2000 2,613,441 8,838,713
1999 2,541,698 8,492,059
1998 2,474,651 8,155,417
1997 2,411,306 7,824,525
1996 2,358,188 7,554,474
1995 2,312,017 7,285,007
1994 2,249,454 7,026,797
1993 2,174,328 6,681,399
1992 2,088,135 6,495,107
1991 2,009,738 6,813,760
1990 1,951,878 7,082,811
1989 1,903,048 7,114,817
1988 1,855,859 7,235,360
1987 1,803,014 7,228,302
1986 1,751,835 6,974,788
1985 1,702,107 6,693,289
1984 1,653,693 6,428,389
1983 1,606,746 6,198,430
1982 1,561,176 6,003,840
1981 1,516,877 5,982,849
1980 1,474,043 5,936,154
1979 1,432,758 5,449,117
1978 1,392,713 4,814,892
1977 1,353,768 4,484,050
1976 1,315,336 4,365,812
1975 1,277,330 4,257,535
1974 1,240,188 4,151,842
1973 1,203,838 4,045,592
1972 1,168,355 3,939,436
1971 1,133,702 3,837,691
1970 1,099,806 3,738,448
1969 1,066,754 3,641,015
1968 1,034,739 3,546,590
1967 1,003,843 3,454,537
1966 974,157 3,365,106
1965 945,838 3,277,874
1964 918,955 3,192,796
1963 893,423 3,110,361
1962 869,184 3,030,091
1961 846,167 2,952,054
1960 824,298 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 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 Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 68.3M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Somalia
2100 0.62% 0.51%
2099 0.66% 0.5%
2098 0.68% 0.5%
2097 0.7% 0.58%
2096 0.7% 0.58%
2095 0.73% 0.61%
2094 0.76% 0.64%
2093 0.77% 0.67%
2092 0.8% 0.73%
2091 0.82% 0.76%
2090 0.84% 0.69%
2089 0.87% 0.72%
2088 0.9% 0.76%
2087 0.92% 0.86%
2086 0.93% 0.93%
2085 0.96% 0.9%
2084 0.99% 0.92%
2083 1% 0.95%
2082 1.03% 0.86%
2081 1.05% 0.97%
2080 1.07% 1.07%
2079 1.11% 1.08%
2078 1.14% 1.12%
2077 1.16% 1.08%
2076 1.19% 1.07%
2075 1.2% 1.22%
2074 1.23% 1.24%
2073 1.26% 1.25%
2072 1.3% 1.3%
2071 1.31% 1.35%
2070 1.34% 1.34%
2069 1.36% 1.33%
2068 1.41% 1.4%
2067 1.43% 1.43%
2066 1.44% 1.54%
2065 1.49% 1.57%
2064 1.49% 1.56%
2063 1.53% 1.57%
2062 1.55% 1.63%
2061 1.58% 1.81%
2060 1.62% 1.85%
2059 1.65% 1.69%
2058 1.66% 1.78%
2057 1.68% 1.84%
2056 1.72% 1.94%
2055 1.76% 1.99%
2054 1.8% 1.93%
2053 1.84% 1.93%
2052 1.87% 2%
2051 1.88% 2.02%
2050 1.92% 1.99%
2049 1.97% 2.1%
2048 1.99% 2.18%
2047 2.03% 2.2%
2046 2.06% 2.21%
2045 2.09% 2.24%
2044 2.13% 2.26%
2043 2.16% 2.25%
2042 2.18% 2.41%
2041 2.21% 2.54%
2040 2.24% 2.45%
2039 2.29% 2.55%
2038 2.31% 2.68%
2037 2.36% 2.67%
2036 2.4% 2.76%
2035 2.44% 2.72%
2034 2.48% 2.67%
2033 2.51% 2.79%
2032 2.54% 2.88%
2031 2.58% 3.01%
2030 2.61% 2.99%
2029 2.64% 2.99%
2028 2.67% 3.14%
2027 2.73% 3.29%
2026 2.78% 3.33%
2025 2.82% 3.4%
2024 2.93% 3.54%
2023 3.01% 3.13%
2022 2.97% 3.07%
2021 2.93% 3.72%
2020 2.96% 3.87%
2019 3% 3.74%
2018 3.02% 3.59%
2017 3.03% 3.96%
2016 3.04% 3.92%
2015 3.05% 3.5%
2014 3.06% 3.65%
2013 3.19% 3.28%
2012 3.32% 0.91%
2011 3.3% 0.71%
2010 3.24% 2.51%
2009 3.18% 2.56%
2008 2.92% 3.01%
2007 2.63% 3.16%
2006 2.54% 3.11%
2005 2.45% 3.53%
2004 2.38% 3.75%
2003 2.31% 3.76%
2002 2.24% 3.82%
2001 2.5% 4.07%
2000 2.82% 4.08%
1999 2.71% 4.13%
1998 2.63% 4.23%
1997 2.25% 3.57%
1996 2% 3.7%
1995 2.78% 3.67%
1994 3.46% 5.17%
1993 4.13% 2.87%
1992 3.9% -4.68%
1991 2.96% -3.8%
1990 2.57% -0.45%
1989 2.54% -1.67%
1988 2.93% 0.1%
1987 2.92% 3.63%
1986 2.92% 4.21%
1985 2.93% 4.12%
1984 2.92% 3.71%
1983 2.92% 3.24%
1982 2.92% 0.35%
1981 2.91% 0.79%
1980 2.88% 8.94%
1979 2.88% 13.2%
1978 2.88% 7.38%
1977 2.92% 2.71%
1976 2.98% 2.54%
1975 2.99% 2.55%
1974 3.02% 2.63%
1973 3.04% 2.69%
1972 3.06% 2.65%
1971 3.08% 2.65%
1970 3.1% 2.68%
1969 3.09% 2.66%
1968 3.08% 2.66%
1967 3.05% 2.66%
1966 2.99% 2.66%
1965 2.93% 2.66%
1964 2.86% 2.65%
1963 2.79% 2.65%
1962 2.72% 2.64%
1961 2.65% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.82%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Somalia
Current population
5539189
20653532
Population rank 123/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.25%
One net population change
3.62 minutes
49 seconds
One birth every
2.99 minutes
39.2 seconds
One death every
18.8 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +399 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +145,670 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +2.82% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 8/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 +12,077
Net migration rank 115/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - 12,077
2024 147,927 -2,185 619,793 26,859
2023 145,164 2,999 608,203 46,217
2022 142,451 2,999 551,450 -92,434
2021 137,557 -1,483 566,399 35,506
2020 134,899 -1,483 561,311 77,259
2019 134,460 -3,019 548,756 53,124
2018 131,584 -2,987 514,244 40,844
2017 128,562 -3,001 478,556 38,067
2016 125,342 -3,008 495,132 124,017
2015 122,092 -3,019 481,573 -17,178
2014 118,792 -2,980 464,481 6,065
2013 115,558 -2,987 448,518 20,723
2012 113,489 4,515 399,468 -51,833
2011 111,165 3,272 203,213 -326,192
2010 108,121 1,128 385,571 -88,448
2009 105,273 -1,481 405,784 -101,795
2008 102,432 -3,860 394,258 -102,035
2007 98,895 -17,048 380,303 8,476
2006 94,991 -18,033 372,597 -67,200
2005 90,940 -18,693 363,117 -5,955
2004 87,578 -19,042 351,959 17,353
2003 83,804 -19,104 341,192 33,174
2002 80,993 -18,903 331,215 12,603
2001 78,769 -21,067 319,059 40,274
2000 75,929 -2,997 306,651 53,580
1999 73,554 -2,999 295,523 37,548
1998 72,045 -8,504 284,779 55,426
1997 71,327 -8,187 271,894 49,692
1996 71,939 -28,840 264,807 -46,291
1995 72,244 -22,997 254,509 65,888
1994 70,570 5,304 246,950 -50,921
1993 68,167 6,217 232,960 261,815
1992 63,501 34,505 57,495 -179,675
1991 61,782 -2,997 53,052 -568,166
1990 59,934 -3,000 225,162 -248,155
1989 58,666 -17,941 225,255 -266,281
1988 56,654 -2,997 215,599 -415,660
1987 55,037 -2,998 231,580 -17,391
1986 53,313 -2,998 218,416 74,424
1985 52,125 -2,998 207,960 62,183
1984 50,705 -2,998 199,017 60,630
1983 49,187 -2,998 190,775 9,505
1982 47,947 -2,998 182,793 6,115
1981 46,641 -2,998 185,211 -332,129
1980 45,026 -2,997 174,790 65,519
1979 43,537 -2,997 151,016 582,746
1978 42,539 -2,998 132,689 402,005
1977 41,352 -2,999 124,818 2,170
1976 40,149 -1,645 113,319 -3,831
1975 38,975 -1,472 108,998 -1,934
1974 38,106 -1,321 104,813 -495
1973 37,122 -1,201 108,038 143
1972 36,184 -1,139 104,493 -351
1971 35,279 -1,014 101,196 -1,850
1970 34,382 -855 98,025 1,104
1969 33,252 -688 95,045 690
1968 32,029 -565 92,208 906
1967 30,853 -514 89,497 1,498
1966 29,502 -466 86,930 941
1965 28,028 -434 84,448 2,142
1964 26,565 -390 82,042 1,518
1963 25,250 -362 79,859 1,449
1962 23,927 -342 77,737 1,496
1961 22,781 -332 75,513 1,336
1960 21,604 -318 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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