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Population in Mauritania compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 4.03 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Mauritania vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Sri Lanka
2100 17,309,980 20,270,496
2099 17,202,690 20,383,669
2098 17,090,030 20,498,567
2097 16,975,270 20,611,123
2096 16,857,252 20,723,560
2095 16,739,240 20,834,629
2094 16,617,272 20,943,809
2093 16,492,589 21,052,131
2092 16,366,098 21,158,833
2091 16,235,771 21,263,961
2090 16,103,700 21,371,263
2089 15,969,059 21,475,426
2088 15,831,339 21,577,177
2087 15,690,143 21,677,510
2086 15,547,605 21,777,420
2085 15,403,967 21,876,464
2084 15,257,740 21,970,336
2083 15,108,271 22,062,801
2082 14,958,279 22,151,745
2081 14,805,332 22,240,834
2080 14,651,508 22,326,555
2079 14,496,397 22,411,438
2078 14,337,117 22,489,772
2077 14,175,812 22,565,028
2076 14,013,255 22,637,463
2075 13,849,027 22,707,112
2074 13,684,146 22,778,489
2073 13,517,681 22,844,703
2072 13,349,376 22,905,707
2071 13,178,237 22,964,866
2070 13,007,812 23,022,515
2069 12,835,311 23,076,310
2068 12,662,862 23,129,541
2067 12,487,379 23,184,596
2066 12,311,503 23,234,419
2065 12,136,616 23,285,901
2064 11,958,955 23,331,390
2063 11,783,144 23,372,184
2062 11,606,044 23,409,522
2061 11,428,738 23,441,893
2060 11,251,427 23,474,032
2059 11,072,236 23,502,132
2058 10,892,076 23,528,076
2057 10,713,858 23,550,580
2056 10,536,935 23,570,923
2055 10,358,532 23,582,432
2054 10,179,658 23,591,414
2053 9,999,712 23,601,371
2052 9,819,098 23,605,361
2051 9,639,209 23,606,194
2050 9,461,249 23,603,330
2049 9,283,353 23,597,604
2048 9,104,299 23,587,307
2047 8,926,851 23,570,881
2046 8,748,845 23,547,409
2045 8,572,397 23,515,133
2044 8,397,189 23,483,546
2043 8,222,194 23,446,242
2042 8,048,139 23,404,983
2041 7,876,803 23,357,358
2040 7,706,696 23,306,148
2039 7,537,689 23,248,341
2038 7,369,184 23,187,512
2037 7,202,472 23,120,775
2036 7,036,729 23,053,427
2035 6,871,981 22,981,808
2034 6,708,364 22,906,587
2033 6,546,168 22,826,414
2032 6,385,827 22,742,267
2031 6,227,564 22,655,907
2030 6,070,865 22,564,038
2029 5,916,516 22,470,759
2028 5,764,060 22,370,999
2027 5,613,919 22,266,017
2026 5,464,898 22,155,543
2025 5,317,228 22,039,908
2024 5,169,395 21,916,000
2023 5,022,441 22,037,000
2022 4,875,637 22,181,000
2021 4,734,874 22,156,000
2020 4,600,131 21,919,000
2019 4,467,708 21,803,000
2018 4,337,685 21,670,000
2017 4,210,600 21,453,000
2016 4,086,657 21,209,000
2015 3,965,959 20,970,000
2014 3,848,514 20,778,000
2013 3,734,318 20,585,000
2012 3,619,034 21,169,458
2011 3,502,811 21,009,048
2010 3,390,965 20,879,089
2009 3,284,448 20,756,435
2008 3,183,269 20,629,378
2007 3,093,059 20,492,545
2006 3,013,660 20,352,411
2005 2,939,059 20,216,524
2004 2,868,664 20,087,605
2003 2,802,046 19,951,521
2002 2,738,655 19,805,752
2001 2,678,760 19,600,362
2000 2,613,441 19,293,054
1999 2,541,698 18,944,731
1998 2,474,651 18,596,003
1997 2,411,306 18,248,200
1996 2,358,188 17,905,018
1995 2,312,017 17,564,068
1994 2,249,454 17,275,773
1993 2,174,328 17,025,918
1992 2,088,135 16,739,284
1991 2,009,738 16,475,354
1990 1,951,878 16,352,458
1989 1,903,048 16,248,557
1988 1,855,859 16,078,621
1987 1,803,014 15,916,576
1986 1,751,835 15,731,256
1985 1,702,107 15,544,154
1984 1,653,693 15,441,860
1983 1,606,746 15,388,794
1982 1,561,176 15,286,567
1981 1,516,877 15,099,414
1980 1,474,043 14,847,974
1979 1,432,758 14,579,614
1978 1,392,713 14,310,128
1977 1,353,768 14,049,371
1976 1,315,336 13,796,770
1975 1,277,330 13,548,984
1974 1,240,188 13,305,693
1973 1,203,838 13,060,916
1972 1,168,355 12,809,205
1971 1,133,702 12,551,910
1970 1,099,806 12,287,110
1969 1,066,754 12,013,858
1968 1,034,739 11,736,088
1967 1,003,843 11,457,328
1966 974,157 11,183,928
1965 945,838 10,916,965
1964 918,955 10,653,397
1963 893,423 10,395,040
1962 869,184 10,143,754
1961 846,167 9,899,372
1960 824,298 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Sri Lanka
2100 0.62% -0.56%
2099 0.66% -0.56%
2098 0.68% -0.55%
2097 0.7% -0.54%
2096 0.7% -0.53%
2095 0.73% -0.52%
2094 0.76% -0.51%
2093 0.77% -0.5%
2092 0.8% -0.49%
2091 0.82% -0.5%
2090 0.84% -0.49%
2089 0.87% -0.47%
2088 0.9% -0.46%
2087 0.92% -0.46%
2086 0.93% -0.45%
2085 0.96% -0.43%
2084 0.99% -0.42%
2083 1% -0.4%
2082 1.03% -0.4%
2081 1.05% -0.38%
2080 1.07% -0.38%
2079 1.11% -0.35%
2078 1.14% -0.33%
2077 1.16% -0.32%
2076 1.19% -0.31%
2075 1.2% -0.31%
2074 1.23% -0.29%
2073 1.26% -0.27%
2072 1.3% -0.26%
2071 1.31% -0.25%
2070 1.34% -0.23%
2069 1.36% -0.23%
2068 1.41% -0.24%
2067 1.43% -0.21%
2066 1.44% -0.22%
2065 1.49% -0.19%
2064 1.49% -0.17%
2063 1.53% -0.16%
2062 1.55% -0.14%
2061 1.58% -0.14%
2060 1.62% -0.12%
2059 1.65% -0.11%
2058 1.66% -0.1%
2057 1.68% -0.09%
2056 1.72% -0.05%
2055 1.76% -0.04%
2054 1.8% -0.04%
2053 1.84% -0.02%
2052 1.87% -0.004%
2051 1.88% 0.01%
2050 1.92% 0.02%
2049 1.97% 0.04%
2048 1.99% 0.07%
2047 2.03% 0.1%
2046 2.06% 0.14%
2045 2.09% 0.13%
2044 2.13% 0.16%
2043 2.16% 0.18%
2042 2.18% 0.2%
2041 2.21% 0.22%
2040 2.24% 0.25%
2039 2.29% 0.26%
2038 2.31% 0.29%
2037 2.36% 0.29%
2036 2.4% 0.31%
2035 2.44% 0.33%
2034 2.48% 0.35%
2033 2.51% 0.37%
2032 2.54% 0.38%
2031 2.58% 0.41%
2030 2.61% 0.42%
2029 2.64% 0.45%
2028 2.67% 0.47%
2027 2.73% 0.5%
2026 2.78% 0.52%
2025 2.86% 0.57%
2024 2.93% -0.55%
2023 3.01% -0.65%
2022 2.97% 0.11%
2021 2.93% 1.08%
2020 2.96% 0.53%
2019 3% 0.61%
2018 3.02% 1.01%
2017 3.03% 1.15%
2016 3.04% 1.14%
2015 3.05% 0.92%
2014 3.06% 0.94%
2013 3.19% -2.76%
2012 3.32% 0.76%
2011 3.3% 0.62%
2010 3.24% 0.59%
2009 3.18% 0.62%
2008 2.92% 0.67%
2007 2.63% 0.69%
2006 2.54% 0.67%
2005 2.45% 0.64%
2004 2.38% 0.68%
2003 2.31% 0.74%
2002 2.24% 1.05%
2001 2.5% 1.59%
2000 2.82% 1.84%
1999 2.71% 1.88%
1998 2.63% 1.91%
1997 2.25% 1.92%
1996 2% 1.94%
1995 2.78% 1.67%
1994 3.46% 1.47%
1993 4.13% 1.71%
1992 3.9% 1.6%
1991 2.96% 0.75%
1990 2.57% 0.64%
1989 2.54% 1.06%
1988 2.93% 1.02%
1987 2.92% 1.18%
1986 2.92% 1.2%
1985 2.93% 0.66%
1984 2.92% 0.34%
1983 2.92% 0.67%
1982 2.92% 1.24%
1981 2.91% 1.69%
1980 2.88% 1.84%
1979 2.88% 1.88%
1978 2.88% 1.86%
1977 2.92% 1.83%
1976 2.98% 1.83%
1975 2.99% 1.83%
1974 3.02% 1.87%
1973 3.04% 1.97%
1972 3.06% 2.05%
1971 3.08% 2.16%
1970 3.1% 2.27%
1969 3.09% 2.37%
1968 3.08% 2.43%
1967 3.05% 2.44%
1966 2.99% 2.45%
1965 2.93% 2.47%
1964 2.86% 2.49%
1963 2.79% 2.48%
1962 2.72% 2.47%
1961 2.65% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Sri Lanka
Current population
5505206
22185425
Population rank 122/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
3.04 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
19 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 -332
Annual growth/decline +146,954 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 -30,724
Net migration rank 115/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - -30,724
2024 - -2,185 - -27,245
2023 145,164 2,999 66,111 -28,011
2022 142,451 2,999 95,378 -27,435
2021 137,557 -1,483 121,858 -29,586
2020 134,899 -1,483 170,968 -29,875
2019 134,460 -3,019 172,243 -28,426
2018 131,584 -2,987 183,610 -28,607
2017 128,562 -3,001 187,993 -22,324
2016 125,342 -3,008 194,232 -18,388
2015 122,092 -3,019 201,815 -29,797
2014 118,792 -2,980 211,541 -33,672
2013 115,558 -2,987 221,021 -37,754
2012 113,489 4,515 229,138 -41,955
2011 111,165 3,272 224,461 -90,839
2010 108,121 1,128 224,325 -98,060
2009 105,273 -1,481 200,175 -81,130
2008 102,432 -3,860 232,225 -97,144
2007 98,895 -17,048 248,287 -109,695
2006 94,991 -18,033 248,706 -107,045
2005 90,940 -18,693 248,683 -118,594
2004 87,578 -19,042 212,527 -84,795
2003 83,804 -19,104 252,008 -107,573
2002 80,993 -18,903 252,840 -105,718
2001 78,769 -21,067 244,377 19,273
2000 75,929 -2,997 227,060 123,894
1999 73,554 -2,999 206,876 138,799
1998 72,045 -8,504 201,059 150,724
1997 71,327 -8,187 208,193 135,636
1996 71,939 -28,840 215,290 127,236
1995 72,244 -22,997 221,957 117,416
1994 70,570 5,304 228,904 8,323
1993 68,167 6,217 226,257 36,232
1992 63,501 34,505 222,230 88,542
1991 61,782 -2,997 218,117 -1,047
1990 59,934 -3,000 224,454 -195,736
1989 58,666 -17,941 212,401 -33,305
1988 56,654 -2,997 219,184 -58,415
1987 55,037 -2,998 226,414 -63,105
1986 53,313 -2,998 233,782 -26,460
1985 52,125 -2,998 247,836 -80,950
1984 50,705 -2,998 263,175 -225,450
1983 49,187 -2,998 277,768 -209,362
1982 47,947 -2,998 300,030 -163,987
1981 46,641 -2,998 328,096 -89,824
1980 45,026 -2,997 328,155 -63,541
1979 43,537 -2,997 329,791 -57,683
1978 42,539 -2,998 317,055 -50,189
1977 41,352 -2,999 300,038 -45,383
1976 40,149 -1,645 291,816 -41,258
1975 38,975 -1,472 282,496 -37,475
1974 38,106 -1,321 275,521 -33,979
1973 37,122 -1,201 278,577 -30,582
1972 36,184 -1,139 282,494 -27,071
1971 35,279 -1,014 281,200 -22,021
1970 34,382 -855 286,719 -16,299
1969 33,252 -688 286,218 -10,152
1968 32,029 -565 286,642 -7,163
1967 30,853 -514 284,738 -6,696
1966 29,502 -466 275,549 -6,794
1965 28,028 -434 272,422 -7,249
1964 26,565 -390 269,584 -7,614
1963 25,250 -362 262,880 -8,118
1962 23,927 -342 256,719 -8,909
1961 22,781 -332 251,087 -10,144
1960 21,604 -318 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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