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Population in Mauritania compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.9 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Mauritania vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania South Africa
2100 17,309,980 94,767,727
2099 17,202,690 94,556,931
2098 17,090,030 94,349,546
2097 16,975,270 94,158,472
2096 16,857,252 93,960,605
2095 16,739,240 93,752,736
2094 16,617,272 93,527,902
2093 16,492,589 93,300,398
2092 16,366,098 93,074,837
2091 16,235,771 92,826,204
2090 16,103,700 92,594,033
2089 15,969,059 92,355,184
2088 15,831,339 92,112,914
2087 15,690,143 91,866,024
2086 15,547,605 91,614,165
2085 15,403,967 91,385,350
2084 15,257,740 91,139,318
2083 15,108,271 90,877,425
2082 14,958,279 90,615,359
2081 14,805,332 90,345,492
2080 14,651,508 90,071,835
2079 14,496,397 89,801,998
2078 14,337,117 89,526,224
2077 14,175,812 89,249,206
2076 14,013,255 88,986,114
2075 13,849,027 88,713,215
2074 13,684,146 88,428,616
2073 13,517,681 88,149,885
2072 13,349,376 87,866,246
2071 13,178,237 87,540,177
2070 13,007,812 87,209,425
2069 12,835,311 86,901,512
2068 12,662,862 86,588,742
2067 12,487,379 86,268,392
2066 12,311,503 85,935,310
2065 12,136,616 85,604,376
2064 11,958,955 85,244,950
2063 11,783,144 84,875,503
2062 11,606,044 84,503,237
2061 11,428,738 84,132,885
2060 11,251,427 83,748,999
2059 11,072,236 83,354,923
2058 10,892,076 82,947,675
2057 10,713,858 82,538,045
2056 10,536,935 82,127,477
2055 10,358,532 81,698,196
2054 10,179,658 81,255,867
2053 9,999,712 80,818,632
2052 9,819,098 80,367,409
2051 9,639,209 79,886,672
2050 9,461,249 79,411,977
2049 9,283,353 78,925,493
2048 9,104,299 78,437,677
2047 8,926,851 77,922,211
2046 8,748,845 77,397,298
2045 8,572,397 76,879,838
2044 8,397,189 76,357,155
2043 8,222,194 75,827,709
2042 8,048,139 75,291,615
2041 7,876,803 74,748,408
2040 7,706,696 74,205,530
2039 7,537,689 73,663,047
2038 7,369,184 73,105,930
2037 7,202,472 72,532,742
2036 7,036,729 71,956,247
2035 6,871,981 71,362,555
2034 6,708,364 70,762,815
2033 6,546,168 70,153,205
2032 6,385,827 69,527,410
2031 6,227,564 68,890,002
2030 6,070,865 68,245,372
2029 5,916,516 67,573,179
2028 5,764,060 66,884,377
2027 5,613,919 66,190,258
2026 5,464,898 65,496,277
2025 5,317,228 64,770,314
2024 5,169,395 64,007,187
2023 5,022,441 63,212,384
2022 4,875,637 62,378,410
2021 4,734,874 61,502,603
2020 4,600,131 60,562,381
2019 4,467,708 59,587,885
2018 4,337,685 58,613,001
2017 4,210,600 57,635,162
2016 4,086,657 57,259,551
2015 3,965,959 56,723,537
2014 3,848,514 55,594,838
2013 3,734,318 54,678,791
2012 3,619,034 53,782,567
2011 3,502,811 52,995,205
2010 3,390,965 52,344,051
2009 3,284,448 51,728,516
2008 3,183,269 51,114,599
2007 3,093,059 50,528,584
2006 3,013,660 49,998,277
2005 2,939,059 49,490,033
2004 2,868,664 48,991,421
2003 2,802,046 48,500,348
2002 2,738,655 48,019,415
2001 2,678,760 47,566,800
2000 2,613,441 47,159,719
1999 2,541,698 46,730,335
1998 2,474,651 46,223,880
1997 2,411,306 45,666,838
1996 2,358,188 45,123,018
1995 2,312,017 44,541,554
1994 2,249,454 44,004,139
1993 2,174,328 43,297,156
1992 2,088,135 42,443,509
1991 2,009,738 41,687,898
1990 1,951,878 40,746,268
1989 1,903,048 39,628,575
1988 1,855,859 38,480,649
1987 1,803,014 37,326,190
1986 1,751,835 36,180,515
1985 1,702,107 35,042,093
1984 1,653,693 33,892,788
1983 1,606,746 32,739,304
1982 1,561,176 31,615,339
1981 1,516,877 30,541,044
1980 1,474,043 29,518,857
1979 1,432,758 28,634,162
1978 1,392,713 27,869,507
1977 1,353,768 27,118,952
1976 1,315,336 26,395,450
1975 1,277,330 25,690,940
1974 1,240,188 24,989,108
1973 1,203,838 24,294,263
1972 1,168,355 23,609,456
1971 1,133,702 22,942,143
1970 1,099,806 22,279,984
1969 1,066,754 21,614,676
1968 1,034,739 20,957,287
1967 1,003,843 20,314,066
1966 974,157 19,690,087
1965 945,838 19,089,380
1964 918,955 18,511,361
1963 893,423 17,954,564
1962 869,184 17,418,522
1961 846,167 16,908,035
1960 824,298 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania South Africa
2100 0.62% 0.22%
2099 0.66% 0.22%
2098 0.68% 0.2%
2097 0.7% 0.21%
2096 0.7% 0.22%
2095 0.73% 0.24%
2094 0.76% 0.24%
2093 0.77% 0.24%
2092 0.8% 0.27%
2091 0.82% 0.25%
2090 0.84% 0.26%
2089 0.87% 0.26%
2088 0.9% 0.27%
2087 0.92% 0.27%
2086 0.93% 0.25%
2085 0.96% 0.27%
2084 0.99% 0.29%
2083 1% 0.29%
2082 1.03% 0.3%
2081 1.05% 0.3%
2080 1.07% 0.3%
2079 1.11% 0.31%
2078 1.14% 0.31%
2077 1.16% 0.3%
2076 1.19% 0.31%
2075 1.2% 0.32%
2074 1.23% 0.32%
2073 1.26% 0.32%
2072 1.3% 0.37%
2071 1.31% 0.38%
2070 1.34% 0.35%
2069 1.36% 0.36%
2068 1.41% 0.37%
2067 1.43% 0.39%
2066 1.44% 0.39%
2065 1.49% 0.42%
2064 1.49% 0.44%
2063 1.53% 0.44%
2062 1.55% 0.44%
2061 1.58% 0.46%
2060 1.62% 0.47%
2059 1.65% 0.49%
2058 1.66% 0.5%
2057 1.68% 0.5%
2056 1.72% 0.53%
2055 1.76% 0.54%
2054 1.8% 0.54%
2053 1.84% 0.56%
2052 1.87% 0.6%
2051 1.88% 0.6%
2050 1.92% 0.62%
2049 1.97% 0.62%
2048 1.99% 0.66%
2047 2.03% 0.68%
2046 2.06% 0.67%
2045 2.09% 0.68%
2044 2.13% 0.7%
2043 2.16% 0.71%
2042 2.18% 0.73%
2041 2.21% 0.73%
2040 2.24% 0.74%
2039 2.29% 0.76%
2038 2.31% 0.79%
2037 2.36% 0.8%
2036 2.4% 0.83%
2035 2.44% 0.85%
2034 2.48% 0.87%
2033 2.51% 0.9%
2032 2.54% 0.93%
2031 2.58% 0.94%
2030 2.61% 0.99%
2029 2.64% 1.03%
2028 2.67% 1.05%
2027 2.73% 1.06%
2026 2.78% 1.12%
2025 2.86% 1.19%
2024 2.93% 1.26%
2023 3.01% 1.34%
2022 2.97% 1.42%
2021 2.93% 1.55%
2020 2.96% 1.64%
2019 3% 1.66%
2018 3.02% 1.7%
2017 3.03% 0.66%
2016 3.04% 0.94%
2015 3.05% 2.03%
2014 3.06% 1.68%
2013 3.19% 1.67%
2012 3.32% 1.49%
2011 3.3% 1.24%
2010 3.24% 1.19%
2009 3.18% 1.2%
2008 2.92% 1.16%
2007 2.63% 1.06%
2006 2.54% 1.03%
2005 2.45% 1.02%
2004 2.38% 1.01%
2003 2.31% 1%
2002 2.24% 0.95%
2001 2.5% 0.86%
2000 2.82% 0.92%
1999 2.71% 1.1%
1998 2.63% 1.22%
1997 2.25% 1.21%
1996 2% 1.31%
1995 2.78% 1.22%
1994 3.46% 1.63%
1993 4.13% 2.01%
1992 3.9% 1.81%
1991 2.96% 2.31%
1990 2.57% 2.82%
1989 2.54% 2.98%
1988 2.93% 3.09%
1987 2.92% 3.17%
1986 2.92% 3.25%
1985 2.93% 3.39%
1984 2.92% 3.52%
1983 2.92% 3.56%
1982 2.92% 3.52%
1981 2.91% 3.46%
1980 2.88% 3.09%
1979 2.88% 2.74%
1978 2.88% 2.77%
1977 2.92% 2.74%
1976 2.98% 2.74%
1975 2.99% 2.81%
1974 3.02% 2.86%
1973 3.04% 2.9%
1972 3.06% 2.91%
1971 3.08% 2.97%
1970 3.1% 3.08%
1969 3.09% 3.14%
1968 3.08% 3.17%
1967 3.05% 3.17%
1966 2.99% 3.15%
1965 2.93% 3.12%
1964 2.86% 3.1%
1963 2.79% 3.08%
1962 2.72% 3.02%
1961 2.65% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Mauritania South Africa
Current population
5505206
65683993
Population rank 122/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
3.04 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
19 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +403 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 +146,370
Net migration rank 115/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - 146,370
2024 - -2,185 - 166,972
2023 145,164 2,999 602,793 228,222
2022 142,451 2,999 603,636 233,284
2021 137,557 -1,483 456,411 458,246
2020 134,899 -1,483 595,873 369,901
2019 134,460 -3,019 652,130 331,124
2018 131,584 -2,987 648,319 318,260
2017 128,562 -3,001 645,975 343,146
2016 125,342 -3,008 641,365 -879,235
2015 122,092 -3,019 668,771 641,150
2014 118,792 -2,980 674,754 272,697
2013 115,558 -2,987 652,427 232,230
2012 113,489 4,515 643,723 264,091
2011 111,165 3,272 601,708 65,166
2010 108,121 1,128 566,834 68,563
2009 105,273 -1,481 554,115 41,528
2008 102,432 -3,860 595,332 36,869
2007 98,895 -17,048 503,567 36,339
2006 94,991 -18,033 487,584 33,159
2005 90,940 -18,693 464,464 31,286
2004 87,578 -19,042 442,540 58,924
2003 83,804 -19,104 415,018 65,604
2002 80,993 -18,903 430,926 50,313
2001 78,769 -21,067 484,801 -60,793
2000 75,929 -2,997 526,963 -136,794
1999 73,554 -2,999 594,643 -126,011
1998 72,045 -8,504 627,027 -82,722
1997 71,327 -8,187 667,969 -98,181
1996 71,939 -28,840 710,868 -193,007
1995 72,244 -22,997 743,488 -98,403
1994 70,570 5,304 698,609 -268,849
1993 68,167 6,217 789,220 194,977
1992 63,501 34,505 794,415 -71,342
1991 61,782 -2,997 827,296 -39,131
1990 59,934 -3,000 835,421 259,718
1989 58,666 -17,941 884,629 255,605
1988 56,654 -2,997 909,221 246,382
1987 55,037 -2,998 922,330 231,009
1986 53,313 -2,998 903,644 234,378
1985 52,125 -2,998 893,889 244,940
1984 50,705 -2,998 869,011 290,789
1983 49,187 -2,998 837,013 310,172
1982 47,947 -2,998 807,550 293,195
1981 46,641 -2,998 767,833 279,985
1980 45,026 -2,997 738,415 258,127
1979 43,537 -2,997 716,541 56,323
1978 42,539 -2,998 694,341 62,121
1977 41,352 -2,999 680,929 63,739
1976 40,149 -1,645 675,011 27,333
1975 38,975 -1,472 667,862 38,809
1974 38,106 -1,321 658,438 38,518
1973 37,122 -1,201 651,596 41,125
1972 36,184 -1,139 638,754 38,163
1971 35,279 -1,014 624,761 32,961
1970 34,382 -855 605,102 61,514
1969 33,252 -688 590,794 73,225
1968 32,029 -565 571,841 78,932
1967 30,853 -514 553,741 81,932
1966 29,502 -466 534,862 77,417
1965 28,028 -434 506,632 82,514
1964 26,565 -390 490,606 76,298
1963 25,250 -362 473,821 72,844
1962 23,927 -342 455,634 69,771
1961 22,781 -332 437,851 57,728
1960 21,604 -318 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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