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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 8.87 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Mauritania vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Spain
2100 17,309,980 33,862,981
2099 17,202,690 34,039,965
2098 17,090,030 34,215,187
2097 16,975,270 34,387,116
2096 16,857,252 34,552,002
2095 16,739,240 34,719,411
2094 16,617,272 34,882,039
2093 16,492,589 35,044,043
2092 16,366,098 35,204,657
2091 16,235,771 35,366,895
2090 16,103,700 35,535,838
2089 15,969,059 35,707,942
2088 15,831,339 35,877,681
2087 15,690,143 36,043,209
2086 15,547,605 36,210,710
2085 15,403,967 36,386,207
2084 15,257,740 36,564,622
2083 15,108,271 36,749,680
2082 14,958,279 36,936,644
2081 14,805,332 37,133,976
2080 14,651,508 37,337,517
2079 14,496,397 37,551,557
2078 14,337,117 37,771,135
2077 14,175,812 38,002,963
2076 14,013,255 38,249,247
2075 13,849,027 38,506,040
2074 13,684,146 38,777,715
2073 13,517,681 39,056,249
2072 13,349,376 39,348,447
2071 13,178,237 39,642,346
2070 13,007,812 39,949,413
2069 12,835,311 40,256,590
2068 12,662,862 40,575,543
2067 12,487,379 40,893,798
2066 12,311,503 41,218,263
2065 12,136,616 41,543,254
2064 11,958,955 41,878,338
2063 11,783,144 42,208,320
2062 11,606,044 42,542,893
2061 11,428,738 42,874,096
2060 11,251,427 43,191,452
2059 11,072,236 43,506,737
2058 10,892,076 43,809,907
2057 10,713,858 44,112,668
2056 10,536,935 44,415,689
2055 10,358,532 44,691,749
2054 10,179,658 44,958,971
2053 9,999,712 45,223,225
2052 9,819,098 45,470,541
2051 9,639,209 45,695,307
2050 9,461,249 45,911,520
2049 9,283,353 46,127,777
2048 9,104,299 46,322,244
2047 8,926,851 46,510,152
2046 8,748,845 46,687,914
2045 8,572,397 46,858,778
2044 8,397,189 47,016,278
2043 8,222,194 47,158,325
2042 8,048,139 47,301,091
2041 7,876,803 47,434,593
2040 7,706,696 47,563,236
2039 7,537,689 47,685,343
2038 7,369,184 47,798,797
2037 7,202,472 47,910,899
2036 7,036,729 48,020,350
2035 6,871,981 48,124,430
2034 6,708,364 48,220,051
2033 6,546,168 48,311,842
2032 6,385,827 48,402,470
2031 6,227,564 48,495,278
2030 6,070,865 48,579,920
2029 5,916,516 48,648,699
2028 5,764,060 48,707,969
2027 5,613,919 48,758,200
2026 5,464,898 48,806,901
2025 5,317,228 48,838,057
2024 5,169,395 48,848,840
2023 5,022,441 48,352,528
2022 4,875,637 47,786,102
2021 4,734,874 47,443,821
2020 4,600,131 47,359,424
2019 4,467,708 47,118,501
2018 4,337,685 46,782,011
2017 4,210,600 46,571,232
2016 4,086,657 46,458,139
2015 3,965,959 46,422,303
2014 3,848,514 46,460,733
2013 3,734,318 46,604,197
2012 3,619,034 46,773,055
2011 3,502,811 46,742,697
2010 3,390,965 46,576,897
2009 3,284,448 46,362,946
2008 3,183,269 45,954,106
2007 3,093,059 45,226,803
2006 3,013,660 44,397,319
2005 2,939,059 43,653,155
2004 2,868,664 42,921,895
2003 2,802,046 42,187,645
2002 2,738,655 41,431,558
2001 2,678,760 40,850,412
2000 2,613,441 40,567,864
1999 2,541,698 40,386,875
1998 2,474,651 40,223,509
1997 2,411,306 40,057,389
1996 2,358,188 39,889,852
1995 2,312,017 39,724,050
1994 2,249,454 39,549,108
1993 2,174,328 39,361,262
1992 2,088,135 39,157,685
1991 2,009,738 38,966,376
1990 1,951,878 38,867,322
1989 1,903,048 38,827,764
1988 1,855,859 38,766,939
1987 1,803,014 38,684,815
1986 1,751,835 38,584,624
1985 1,702,107 38,469,512
1984 1,653,693 38,330,364
1983 1,606,746 38,171,525
1982 1,561,176 37,986,012
1981 1,516,877 37,758,631
1980 1,474,043 37,491,165
1979 1,432,758 37,191,330
1978 1,392,713 36,864,898
1977 1,353,768 36,511,638
1976 1,315,336 36,137,812
1975 1,277,330 35,757,900
1974 1,240,188 35,373,335
1973 1,203,838 34,988,947
1972 1,168,355 34,604,469
1971 1,133,702 34,224,490
1970 1,099,806 33,814,531
1969 1,066,754 33,441,054
1968 1,034,739 33,113,134
1967 1,003,843 32,682,947
1966 974,157 32,283,194
1965 945,838 31,954,292
1964 918,955 31,609,195
1963 893,423 31,296,651
1962 869,184 31,023,366
1961 846,167 30,739,250
1960 824,298 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Spain
2100 0.62% -0.52%
2099 0.66% -0.51%
2098 0.68% -0.5%
2097 0.7% -0.48%
2096 0.7% -0.48%
2095 0.73% -0.47%
2094 0.76% -0.46%
2093 0.77% -0.46%
2092 0.8% -0.46%
2091 0.82% -0.48%
2090 0.84% -0.48%
2089 0.87% -0.47%
2088 0.9% -0.46%
2087 0.92% -0.46%
2086 0.93% -0.48%
2085 0.96% -0.49%
2084 0.99% -0.5%
2083 1% -0.51%
2082 1.03% -0.53%
2081 1.05% -0.55%
2080 1.07% -0.57%
2079 1.11% -0.58%
2078 1.14% -0.61%
2077 1.16% -0.64%
2076 1.19% -0.67%
2075 1.2% -0.7%
2074 1.23% -0.71%
2073 1.26% -0.74%
2072 1.3% -0.74%
2071 1.31% -0.77%
2070 1.34% -0.76%
2069 1.36% -0.79%
2068 1.41% -0.78%
2067 1.43% -0.79%
2066 1.44% -0.78%
2065 1.49% -0.8%
2064 1.49% -0.78%
2063 1.53% -0.79%
2062 1.55% -0.77%
2061 1.58% -0.73%
2060 1.62% -0.72%
2059 1.65% -0.69%
2058 1.66% -0.69%
2057 1.68% -0.68%
2056 1.72% -0.62%
2055 1.76% -0.59%
2054 1.8% -0.58%
2053 1.84% -0.54%
2052 1.87% -0.49%
2051 1.88% -0.47%
2050 1.92% -0.47%
2049 1.97% -0.42%
2048 1.99% -0.4%
2047 2.03% -0.38%
2046 2.06% -0.36%
2045 2.09% -0.33%
2044 2.13% -0.3%
2043 2.16% -0.3%
2042 2.18% -0.28%
2041 2.21% -0.27%
2040 2.24% -0.26%
2039 2.29% -0.24%
2038 2.31% -0.23%
2037 2.36% -0.23%
2036 2.4% -0.22%
2035 2.44% -0.2%
2034 2.48% -0.19%
2033 2.51% -0.19%
2032 2.54% -0.19%
2031 2.58% -0.17%
2030 2.61% -0.14%
2029 2.64% -0.12%
2028 2.67% -0.1%
2027 2.73% -0.1%
2026 2.78% -0.06%
2025 2.86% -0.02%
2024 2.93% 1.03%
2023 3.01% 1.19%
2022 2.97% 0.72%
2021 2.93% 0.18%
2020 2.96% 0.51%
2019 3% 0.72%
2018 3.02% 0.45%
2017 3.03% 0.24%
2016 3.04% 0.08%
2015 3.05% -0.08%
2014 3.06% -0.31%
2013 3.19% -0.36%
2012 3.32% 0.06%
2011 3.3% 0.36%
2010 3.24% 0.46%
2009 3.18% 0.89%
2008 2.92% 1.61%
2007 2.63% 1.87%
2006 2.54% 1.7%
2005 2.45% 1.7%
2004 2.38% 1.74%
2003 2.31% 1.82%
2002 2.24% 1.42%
2001 2.5% 0.7%
2000 2.82% 0.45%
1999 2.71% 0.41%
1998 2.63% 0.41%
1997 2.25% 0.42%
1996 2% 0.42%
1995 2.78% 0.44%
1994 3.46% 0.48%
1993 4.13% 0.52%
1992 3.9% 0.49%
1991 2.96% 0.25%
1990 2.57% 0.1%
1989 2.54% 0.16%
1988 2.93% 0.21%
1987 2.92% 0.26%
1986 2.92% 0.3%
1985 2.93% 0.36%
1984 2.92% 0.42%
1983 2.92% 0.49%
1982 2.92% 0.6%
1981 2.91% 0.71%
1980 2.88% 0.81%
1979 2.88% 0.89%
1978 2.88% 0.97%
1977 2.92% 1.03%
1976 2.98% 1.06%
1975 2.99% 1.09%
1974 3.02% 1.1%
1973 3.04% 1.11%
1972 3.06% 1.11%
1971 3.08% 1.21%
1970 3.1% 1.12%
1969 3.09% 0.99%
1968 3.08% 1.32%
1967 3.05% 1.24%
1966 2.99% 1.03%
1965 2.93% 1.09%
1964 2.86% 1%
1963 2.79% 0.88%
1962 2.72% 0.92%
1961 2.65% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Spain
Current population
5505206
48806901
Population rank 122/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.59%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
3.04 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
19 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 100/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 +96,630
Net migration rank 115/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - 96,630
2024 - -2,185 - 111,674
2023 145,164 2,999 -111,211 119,099
2022 142,451 2,999 -133,801 299,779
2021 137,557 -1,483 -113,865 144,385
2020 134,899 -1,483 -151,551 236,854
2019 134,460 -3,019 -56,542 464,783
2018 131,584 -2,987 -56,139 337,467
2017 128,562 -3,001 -32,600 201,135
2016 125,342 -3,008 0 106,474
2015 122,092 -3,019 -4,642 -1,979
2014 118,792 -2,980 32,522 -97,870
2013 115,558 -2,987 37,284 -250,741
2012 113,489 4,515 51,450 -153,486
2011 111,165 3,272 84,137 60,761
2010 108,121 1,128 102,469 69,406
2009 105,273 -1,481 106,635 129,557
2008 102,432 -3,860 133,267 434,135
2007 98,895 -17,048 108,545 772,317
2006 94,991 -18,033 110,994 659,720
2005 90,940 -18,693 78,576 629,803
2004 87,578 -19,042 85,844 661,158
2003 83,804 -19,104 54,844 658,428
2002 80,993 -18,903 53,861 737,880
2001 78,769 -21,067 44,936 181,307
2000 75,929 -2,997 36,512 176,269
1999 73,554 -2,999 8,077 178,559
1998 72,045 -8,504 4,022 182,926
1997 71,327 -8,187 20,028 165,345
1996 71,939 -28,840 11,967 162,704
1995 72,244 -22,997 15,889 162,434
1994 70,570 5,304 31,639 160,407
1993 68,167 6,217 47,234 160,907
1992 63,501 34,505 62,652 177,544
1991 61,782 -2,997 58,450 122,841
1990 59,934 -3,000 66,075 -30,684
1989 58,666 -17,941 81,538 -25,892
1988 56,654 -2,997 100,794 -17,663
1987 55,037 -2,998 116,054 -12,681
1986 53,313 -2,998 131,188 -13,540
1985 52,125 -2,998 146,184 -589
1984 50,705 -2,998 172,487 2,754
1983 49,187 -2,998 183,223 1,241
1982 47,947 -2,998 231,714 -7,384
1981 46,641 -2,998 237,879 2,563
1980 45,026 -2,997 281,184 20,166
1979 43,537 -2,997 312,407 -5,929
1978 42,539 -2,998 339,157 -2,504
1977 41,352 -2,999 361,465 -1,332
1976 40,149 -1,645 375,834 2,804
1975 38,975 -1,472 371,882 -218
1974 38,106 -1,321 396,182 105,838
1973 37,122 -1,201 374,381 8,624
1972 36,184 -1,139 391,030 7,935
1971 35,279 -1,014 369,625 7,363
1970 34,382 -855 378,723 -60,580
1969 33,252 -688 367,851 -49,956
1968 32,029 -565 387,423 -46,088
1967 30,853 -514 402,001 -42,344
1966 29,502 -466 397,084 -41,467
1965 28,028 -434 405,819 -42,476
1964 26,565 -390 429,885 -41,461
1963 25,250 -362 394,338 -44,446
1962 23,927 -342 384,690 -45,211
1961 22,781 -332 396,537 -46,517
1960 21,604 -318 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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