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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 4.12 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd 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 +3% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Mauritania vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Zambia
2100 17,309,980 65,217,429
2099 17,202,690 64,871,545
2098 17,090,030 64,515,891
2097 16,975,270 64,148,736
2096 16,857,252 63,777,313
2095 16,739,240 63,393,169
2094 16,617,272 62,992,652
2093 16,492,589 62,590,327
2092 16,366,098 62,175,930
2091 16,235,771 61,750,591
2090 16,103,700 61,321,399
2089 15,969,059 60,880,148
2088 15,831,339 60,434,676
2087 15,690,143 59,970,107
2086 15,547,605 59,499,234
2085 15,403,967 59,023,040
2084 15,257,740 58,535,857
2083 15,108,271 58,040,512
2082 14,958,279 57,538,672
2081 14,805,332 57,027,491
2080 14,651,508 56,506,421
2079 14,496,397 55,983,242
2078 14,337,117 55,449,777
2077 14,175,812 54,906,771
2076 14,013,255 54,361,075
2075 13,849,027 53,806,856
2074 13,684,146 53,246,777
2073 13,517,681 52,677,348
2072 13,349,376 52,101,139
2071 13,178,237 51,519,691
2070 13,007,812 50,931,614
2069 12,835,311 50,334,700
2068 12,662,862 49,737,479
2067 12,487,379 49,135,488
2066 12,311,503 48,530,443
2065 12,136,616 47,918,592
2064 11,958,955 47,299,740
2063 11,783,144 46,677,439
2062 11,606,044 46,048,819
2061 11,428,738 45,416,657
2060 11,251,427 44,777,347
2059 11,072,236 44,137,306
2058 10,892,076 43,494,451
2057 10,713,858 42,851,923
2056 10,536,935 42,206,898
2055 10,358,532 41,558,284
2054 10,179,658 40,906,492
2053 9,999,712 40,255,629
2052 9,819,098 39,603,888
2051 9,639,209 38,949,958
2050 9,461,249 38,294,607
2049 9,283,353 37,634,194
2048 9,104,299 36,971,309
2047 8,926,851 36,309,749
2046 8,748,845 35,645,868
2045 8,572,397 34,981,812
2044 8,397,189 34,316,981
2043 8,222,194 33,652,420
2042 8,048,139 32,990,657
2041 7,876,803 32,329,447
2040 7,706,696 31,664,262
2039 7,537,689 31,001,305
2038 7,369,184 30,335,662
2037 7,202,472 29,668,561
2036 7,036,729 29,000,264
2035 6,871,981 28,333,498
2034 6,708,364 27,671,195
2033 6,546,168 27,011,974
2032 6,385,827 26,356,580
2031 6,227,564 25,702,812
2030 6,070,865 25,055,216
2029 5,916,516 24,414,405
2028 5,764,060 23,780,809
2027 5,613,919 23,151,479
2026 5,464,898 22,529,742
2025 5,317,228 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 71.9% to 9,461,249 people with a rank change from 122nd to 102nd. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 2.86% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Zambia
Current population
5505206
22697916
Population rank 122/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
3.04 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
19 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 21/197
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 - -2,185 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 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 (1960–2024, 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/zambia | 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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