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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,539,189 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 4.12 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 123rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +2.98% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.54M (83.8% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Mauritania vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Zambia
2100 17,302,938 65,204,593
2099 17,195,692 64,858,778
2098 17,083,078 64,503,193
2097 16,968,365 64,136,110
2096 16,850,394 63,764,760
2095 16,732,430 63,380,692
2094 16,610,512 62,980,254
2093 16,485,880 62,578,008
2092 16,359,440 62,163,693
2091 16,229,167 61,738,437
2090 16,097,149 61,309,330
2089 15,962,562 60,868,166
2088 15,824,899 60,422,781
2087 15,683,760 59,958,303
2086 15,541,281 59,487,524
2085 15,397,701 59,011,423
2084 15,251,533 58,524,337
2083 15,102,125 58,029,088
2082 14,952,194 57,527,347
2081 14,799,309 57,016,267
2080 14,645,548 56,495,299
2079 14,490,500 55,972,223
2078 14,331,284 55,438,864
2077 14,170,045 54,895,964
2076 14,007,555 54,350,375
2075 13,843,393 53,796,265
2074 13,678,579 53,236,297
2073 13,512,182 52,666,980
2072 13,343,946 52,090,884
2071 13,172,876 51,509,551
2070 13,002,521 50,921,590
2069 12,830,090 50,324,793
2068 12,657,711 49,727,689
2067 12,482,299 49,125,817
2066 12,306,495 48,520,891
2065 12,131,679 47,909,160
2064 11,954,090 47,290,430
2063 11,778,351 46,668,252
2062 11,601,323 46,039,755
2061 11,424,089 45,407,718
2060 11,246,850 44,768,534
2059 11,067,732 44,128,619
2058 10,887,645 43,485,891
2057 10,709,500 42,843,489
2056 10,532,648 42,198,591
2055 10,354,318 41,550,105
2054 10,175,517 40,898,440
2053 9,995,645 40,247,706
2052 9,815,104 39,596,094
2051 9,635,288 38,942,292
2050 9,457,400 38,287,070
2049 9,279,576 37,626,787
2048 9,100,595 36,964,032
2047 8,923,220 36,302,603
2046 8,745,286 35,638,852
2045 8,568,910 34,974,927
2044 8,393,773 34,310,227
2043 8,218,850 33,645,797
2042 8,044,865 32,984,164
2041 7,873,599 32,323,084
2040 7,703,561 31,658,029
2039 7,534,623 30,995,204
2038 7,366,187 30,329,691
2037 7,199,542 29,662,721
2036 7,033,866 28,994,556
2035 6,869,186 28,327,922
2034 6,705,635 27,665,749
2033 6,543,505 27,006,658
2032 6,383,229 26,351,393
2031 6,225,030 25,697,754
2030 6,068,395 25,050,285
2029 5,914,109 24,409,600
2028 5,761,715 23,776,128
2027 5,611,635 23,146,922
2026 5,462,675 22,525,308
2025 5,315,065 21,913,874
2024 5,169,395 21,314,956
2023 5,022,441 20,723,965
2022 4,875,637 20,152,938
2021 4,734,874 19,603,607
2020 4,600,131 19,059,395
2019 4,467,708 18,513,839
2018 4,337,685 17,973,569
2017 4,210,600 17,441,320
2016 4,086,657 16,914,423
2015 3,965,959 16,399,089
2014 3,848,514 15,895,315
2013 3,734,318 15,398,997
2012 3,619,034 14,913,629
2011 3,502,811 14,437,796
2010 3,390,965 13,965,594
2009 3,284,448 13,490,389
2008 3,183,269 13,021,324
2007 3,093,059 12,565,085
2006 3,013,660 12,129,553
2005 2,939,059 11,718,819
2004 2,868,664 11,338,198
2003 2,802,046 10,983,595
2002 2,738,655 10,647,949
2001 2,678,760 10,325,185
2000 2,613,441 10,017,631
1999 2,541,698 9,740,005
1998 2,474,651 9,482,408
1997 2,411,306 9,237,063
1996 2,358,188 9,004,053
1995 2,312,017 8,785,763
1994 2,249,454 8,576,269
1993 2,174,328 8,373,921
1992 2,088,135 8,176,680
1991 2,009,738 7,981,650
1990 1,951,878 7,786,169
1989 1,903,048 7,589,216
1988 1,855,859 7,391,440
1987 1,803,014 7,191,282
1986 1,751,835 6,986,471
1985 1,702,107 6,780,953
1984 1,653,693 6,580,490
1983 1,606,746 6,381,038
1982 1,561,176 6,178,637
1981 1,516,877 5,983,289
1980 1,474,043 5,802,833
1979 1,432,758 5,631,728
1978 1,392,713 5,465,374
1977 1,353,768 5,302,480
1976 1,315,336 5,143,842
1975 1,277,330 4,990,086
1974 1,240,188 4,842,746
1973 1,203,838 4,702,693
1972 1,168,355 4,569,309
1971 1,133,702 4,442,525
1970 1,099,806 4,321,718
1969 1,066,754 4,197,116
1968 1,034,739 4,065,593
1967 1,003,843 3,936,343
1966 974,157 3,812,003
1965 945,838 3,692,086
1964 918,955 3,577,017
1963 893,423 3,465,907
1962 869,184 3,358,099
1961 846,167 3,254,086
1960 824,298 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Zambia
2100 0.62% 0.53%
2099 0.66% 0.55%
2098 0.68% 0.57%
2097 0.7% 0.58%
2096 0.7% 0.61%
2095 0.73% 0.64%
2094 0.76% 0.64%
2093 0.77% 0.67%
2092 0.8% 0.69%
2091 0.82% 0.7%
2090 0.84% 0.72%
2089 0.87% 0.74%
2088 0.9% 0.77%
2087 0.92% 0.79%
2086 0.93% 0.81%
2085 0.96% 0.83%
2084 0.99% 0.85%
2083 1% 0.87%
2082 1.03% 0.9%
2081 1.05% 0.92%
2080 1.07% 0.93%
2079 1.11% 0.96%
2078 1.14% 0.99%
2077 1.16% 1%
2076 1.19% 1.03%
2075 1.2% 1.05%
2074 1.23% 1.08%
2073 1.26% 1.11%
2072 1.3% 1.13%
2071 1.31% 1.15%
2070 1.34% 1.19%
2069 1.36% 1.2%
2068 1.41% 1.23%
2067 1.43% 1.25%
2066 1.44% 1.28%
2065 1.49% 1.31%
2064 1.49% 1.33%
2063 1.53% 1.37%
2062 1.55% 1.39%
2061 1.58% 1.43%
2060 1.62% 1.45%
2059 1.65% 1.48%
2058 1.66% 1.5%
2057 1.68% 1.53%
2056 1.72% 1.56%
2055 1.76% 1.59%
2054 1.8% 1.62%
2053 1.84% 1.65%
2052 1.87% 1.68%
2051 1.88% 1.71%
2050 1.92% 1.75%
2049 1.97% 1.79%
2048 1.99% 1.82%
2047 2.03% 1.86%
2046 2.06% 1.9%
2045 2.09% 1.94%
2044 2.13% 1.97%
2043 2.16% 2.01%
2042 2.18% 2.05%
2041 2.21% 2.1%
2040 2.24% 2.14%
2039 2.29% 2.19%
2038 2.31% 2.25%
2037 2.36% 2.3%
2036 2.4% 2.35%
2035 2.44% 2.39%
2034 2.48% 2.44%
2033 2.51% 2.49%
2032 2.54% 2.54%
2031 2.58% 2.58%
2030 2.61% 2.62%
2029 2.64% 2.66%
2028 2.67% 2.72%
2027 2.73% 2.76%
2026 2.78% 2.79%
2025 2.82% 2.81%
2024 2.93% 2.85%
2023 3.01% 2.83%
2022 2.97% 2.8%
2021 2.93% 2.86%
2020 2.96% 2.95%
2019 3% 3.01%
2018 3.02% 3.05%
2017 3.03% 3.12%
2016 3.04% 3.14%
2015 3.05% 3.17%
2014 3.06% 3.22%
2013 3.19% 3.25%
2012 3.32% 3.3%
2011 3.3% 3.38%
2010 3.24% 3.52%
2009 3.18% 3.6%
2008 2.92% 3.63%
2007 2.63% 3.59%
2006 2.54% 3.5%
2005 2.45% 3.36%
2004 2.38% 3.23%
2003 2.31% 3.15%
2002 2.24% 3.13%
2001 2.5% 3.07%
2000 2.82% 2.85%
1999 2.71% 2.72%
1998 2.63% 2.66%
1997 2.25% 2.59%
1996 2% 2.48%
1995 2.78% 2.44%
1994 3.46% 2.42%
1993 4.13% 2.41%
1992 3.9% 2.44%
1991 2.96% 2.51%
1990 2.57% 2.6%
1989 2.54% 2.68%
1988 2.93% 2.78%
1987 2.92% 2.93%
1986 2.92% 3.03%
1985 2.93% 3.05%
1984 2.92% 3.13%
1983 2.92% 3.28%
1982 2.92% 3.26%
1981 2.91% 3.11%
1980 2.88% 3.04%
1979 2.88% 3.04%
1978 2.88% 3.07%
1977 2.92% 3.08%
1976 2.98% 3.08%
1975 2.99% 3.04%
1974 3.02% 2.98%
1973 3.04% 2.92%
1972 3.06% 2.85%
1971 3.08% 2.8%
1970 3.1% 2.97%
1969 3.09% 3.24%
1968 3.08% 3.28%
1967 3.05% 3.26%
1966 2.99% 3.25%
1965 2.93% 3.22%
1964 2.86% 3.21%
1963 2.79% 3.21%
1962 2.72% 3.2%
1961 2.65% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.82%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Zambia
Current population
5539189
22844606
Population rank 123/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
3.62 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
2.99 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
18.8 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +399 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +145,670 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +2.82% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 19/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -5,044 +6,562
Net migration rank 115/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - 6,562
2024 147,927 -2,185 587,419 7,381
2023 145,164 2,999 577,660 9,521
2022 142,451 2,999 563,456 -8,566
2021 137,557 -1,483 535,629 8,143
2020 134,899 -1,483 536,484 8,156
2019 134,460 -3,019 528,089 18,385
2018 131,584 -2,987 515,644 18,431
2017 128,562 -3,001 504,630 25,789
2016 125,342 -3,008 497,521 25,860
2015 122,092 -3,019 491,021 16,261
2014 118,792 -2,980 483,663 16,574
2013 115,558 -2,987 476,846 15,542
2012 113,489 4,515 469,406 8,958
2011 111,165 3,272 459,743 13,569
2010 108,121 1,128 448,337 22,761
2009 105,273 -1,481 434,458 44,867
2008 102,432 -3,860 419,560 39,249
2007 98,895 -17,048 403,729 49,945
2006 94,991 -18,033 387,891 29,517
2005 90,940 -18,693 368,756 35,316
2004 87,578 -19,042 349,352 7,819
2003 83,804 -19,104 331,189 20,845
2002 80,993 -18,903 316,041 3,206
2001 78,769 -21,067 302,682 23,582
2000 75,929 -2,997 293,186 -4,338
1999 73,554 -2,999 283,297 -16,888
1998 72,045 -8,504 275,568 -26,796
1997 71,327 -8,187 268,198 -26,276
1996 71,939 -28,840 262,468 -38,358
1995 72,244 -22,997 257,897 -45,423
1994 70,570 5,304 252,023 -45,504
1993 68,167 6,217 245,917 -47,739
1992 63,501 34,505 239,953 -43,656
1991 61,782 -2,997 237,957 -44,203
1990 59,934 -3,000 235,835 -38,619
1989 58,666 -17,941 233,429 -36,736
1988 56,654 -2,997 230,118 -31,270
1987 55,037 -2,998 227,813 -26,338
1986 53,313 -2,998 224,768 -16,610
1985 52,125 -2,998 221,351 -18,474
1984 50,705 -2,998 216,695 -18,652
1983 49,187 -2,998 212,712 -11,849
1982 47,947 -2,998 207,621 -3,676
1981 46,641 -2,998 202,822 -16,072
1980 45,026 -2,997 198,817 -24,664
1979 43,537 -2,997 197,578 -29,515
1978 42,539 -2,998 194,933 -30,284
1977 41,352 -2,999 191,557 -30,423
1976 40,149 -1,645 186,762 -30,612
1975 38,975 -1,472 182,258 -30,886
1974 38,106 -1,321 174,484 -31,178
1973 37,122 -1,201 168,258 -31,472
1972 36,184 -1,139 161,648 -31,672
1971 35,279 -1,014 155,249 -31,651
1970 34,382 -855 149,380 -31,370
1969 33,252 -688 142,660 -11,469
1968 32,029 -565 137,315 -5,447
1967 30,853 -514 131,938 -5,298
1966 29,502 -466 127,164 -5,129
1965 28,028 -434 122,814 -5,023
1964 26,565 -390 117,197 -4,851
1963 25,250 -362 114,555 -4,676
1962 23,927 -342 110,173 -4,428
1961 22,781 -332 106,318 -4,043
1960 21,604 -318 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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