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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritania was 5,169,395 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritania's population is 5,505,206 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 3.15 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mauritania is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.07% for Mauritania vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritania has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritania has increased from 3.01M people to 5.51M (82.7% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Mauritania vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritania Zimbabwe
2100 17,309,980 37,483,053
2099 17,202,690 37,412,398
2098 17,090,030 37,328,255
2097 16,975,270 37,235,542
2096 16,857,252 37,142,915
2095 16,739,240 37,032,129
2094 16,617,272 36,912,747
2093 16,492,589 36,810,893
2092 16,366,098 36,688,511
2091 16,235,771 36,567,262
2090 16,103,700 36,425,606
2089 15,969,059 36,280,973
2088 15,831,339 36,141,446
2087 15,690,143 35,977,638
2086 15,547,605 35,808,135
2085 15,403,967 35,637,092
2084 15,257,740 35,456,207
2083 15,108,271 35,268,035
2082 14,958,279 35,078,904
2081 14,805,332 34,873,129
2080 14,651,508 34,658,962
2079 14,496,397 34,439,720
2078 14,337,117 34,217,295
2077 14,175,812 33,982,909
2076 14,013,255 33,739,228
2075 13,849,027 33,495,867
2074 13,684,146 33,244,838
2073 13,517,681 32,978,488
2072 13,349,376 32,706,059
2071 13,178,237 32,445,747
2070 13,007,812 32,181,119
2069 12,835,311 31,906,793
2068 12,662,862 31,631,000
2067 12,487,379 31,345,338
2066 12,311,503 31,062,884
2065 12,136,616 30,766,830
2064 11,958,955 30,479,939
2063 11,783,144 30,176,104
2062 11,606,044 29,867,679
2061 11,428,738 29,557,068
2060 11,251,427 29,252,423
2059 11,072,236 28,945,088
2058 10,892,076 28,631,679
2057 10,713,858 28,307,305
2056 10,536,935 27,990,713
2055 10,358,532 27,658,887
2054 10,179,658 27,331,920
2053 9,999,712 26,986,935
2052 9,819,098 26,643,553
2051 9,639,209 26,287,592
2050 9,461,249 25,934,893
2049 9,283,353 25,585,239
2048 9,104,299 25,228,082
2047 8,926,851 24,874,649
2046 8,748,845 24,513,443
2045 8,572,397 24,147,637
2044 8,397,189 23,783,088
2043 8,222,194 23,401,965
2042 8,048,139 23,035,288
2041 7,876,803 22,647,950
2040 7,706,696 22,273,520
2039 7,537,689 21,902,980
2038 7,369,184 21,530,130
2037 7,202,472 21,159,664
2036 7,036,729 20,791,034
2035 6,871,981 20,413,656
2034 6,708,364 20,048,019
2033 6,546,168 19,676,339
2032 6,385,827 19,311,985
2031 6,227,564 18,959,300
2030 6,070,865 18,613,738
2029 5,916,516 18,270,049
2028 5,764,060 17,933,466
2027 5,613,919 17,600,984
2026 5,464,898 17,273,208
2025 5,317,228 16,949,303
2024 5,169,395 16,634,373
2023 5,022,441 16,340,822
2022 4,875,637 16,069,056
2021 4,734,874 15,797,210
2020 4,600,131 15,526,888
2019 4,467,708 15,271,368
2018 4,337,685 15,034,452
2017 4,210,600 14,812,482
2016 4,086,657 14,600,294
2015 3,965,959 14,399,013
2014 3,848,514 14,207,359
2013 3,734,318 14,013,808
2012 3,619,034 13,817,887
2011 3,502,811 13,595,424
2010 3,390,965 13,356,548
2009 3,284,448 13,142,790
2008 3,183,269 12,959,149
2007 3,093,059 12,804,058
2006 3,013,660 12,636,445
2005 2,939,059 12,483,432
2004 2,868,664 12,365,896
2003 2,802,046 12,232,323
2002 2,738,655 12,087,653
2001 2,678,760 11,971,901
2000 2,613,441 11,892,055
1999 2,541,698 11,783,458
1998 2,474,651 11,594,297
1997 2,411,306 11,369,827
1996 2,358,188 11,158,360
1995 2,312,017 10,974,599
1994 2,249,454 10,873,148
1993 2,174,328 10,860,288
1992 2,088,135 10,702,700
1991 2,009,738 10,404,816
1990 1,951,878 10,137,281
1989 1,903,048 9,864,798
1988 1,855,859 9,583,094
1987 1,803,014 9,284,644
1986 1,751,835 8,982,578
1985 1,702,107 8,686,813
1984 1,653,693 8,391,488
1983 1,606,746 8,098,404
1982 1,561,176 7,796,496
1981 1,516,877 7,498,635
1980 1,474,043 7,041,303
1979 1,432,758 6,647,556
1978 1,392,713 6,543,575
1977 1,353,768 6,449,512
1976 1,315,336 6,287,105
1975 1,277,330 6,098,658
1974 1,240,188 5,908,328
1973 1,203,838 5,720,404
1972 1,168,355 5,542,445
1971 1,133,702 5,374,712
1970 1,099,806 5,215,918
1969 1,066,754 5,058,181
1968 1,034,739 4,900,440
1967 1,003,843 4,748,307
1966 974,157 4,601,217
1965 945,838 4,458,462
1964 918,955 4,320,006
1963 893,423 4,185,877
1962 869,184 4,055,959
1961 846,167 3,930,401
1960 824,298 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritania increased by 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritania gained 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Mauritania was ranked 132nd most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Mauritania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 17.3M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritania
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritania Zimbabwe
2100 0.62% 0.19%
2099 0.66% 0.23%
2098 0.68% 0.25%
2097 0.7% 0.25%
2096 0.7% 0.3%
2095 0.73% 0.32%
2094 0.76% 0.28%
2093 0.77% 0.33%
2092 0.8% 0.33%
2091 0.82% 0.39%
2090 0.84% 0.4%
2089 0.87% 0.39%
2088 0.9% 0.46%
2087 0.92% 0.47%
2086 0.93% 0.48%
2085 0.96% 0.51%
2084 0.99% 0.53%
2083 1% 0.54%
2082 1.03% 0.59%
2081 1.05% 0.62%
2080 1.07% 0.64%
2079 1.11% 0.65%
2078 1.14% 0.69%
2077 1.16% 0.72%
2076 1.19% 0.73%
2075 1.2% 0.76%
2074 1.23% 0.81%
2073 1.26% 0.83%
2072 1.3% 0.8%
2071 1.31% 0.82%
2070 1.34% 0.86%
2069 1.36% 0.87%
2068 1.41% 0.91%
2067 1.43% 0.91%
2066 1.44% 0.96%
2065 1.49% 0.94%
2064 1.49% 1.01%
2063 1.53% 1.03%
2062 1.55% 1.05%
2061 1.58% 1.04%
2060 1.62% 1.06%
2059 1.65% 1.09%
2058 1.66% 1.15%
2057 1.68% 1.13%
2056 1.72% 1.2%
2055 1.76% 1.2%
2054 1.8% 1.28%
2053 1.84% 1.29%
2052 1.87% 1.35%
2051 1.88% 1.36%
2050 1.92% 1.37%
2049 1.97% 1.42%
2048 1.99% 1.42%
2047 2.03% 1.47%
2046 2.06% 1.51%
2045 2.09% 1.53%
2044 2.13% 1.63%
2043 2.16% 1.59%
2042 2.18% 1.71%
2041 2.21% 1.68%
2040 2.24% 1.69%
2039 2.29% 1.73%
2038 2.31% 1.75%
2037 2.36% 1.77%
2036 2.4% 1.85%
2035 2.44% 1.82%
2034 2.48% 1.89%
2033 2.51% 1.89%
2032 2.54% 1.86%
2031 2.58% 1.86%
2030 2.61% 1.88%
2029 2.64% 1.88%
2028 2.67% 1.89%
2027 2.73% 1.9%
2026 2.78% 1.91%
2025 2.86% 1.89%
2024 2.93% 1.8%
2023 3.01% 1.69%
2022 2.97% 1.72%
2021 2.93% 1.74%
2020 2.96% 1.67%
2019 3% 1.58%
2018 3.02% 1.5%
2017 3.03% 1.45%
2016 3.04% 1.4%
2015 3.05% 1.35%
2014 3.06% 1.38%
2013 3.19% 1.42%
2012 3.32% 1.64%
2011 3.3% 1.79%
2010 3.24% 1.63%
2009 3.18% 1.42%
2008 2.92% 1.21%
2007 2.63% 1.33%
2006 2.54% 1.23%
2005 2.45% 0.95%
2004 2.38% 1.09%
2003 2.31% 1.2%
2002 2.24% 0.97%
2001 2.5% 0.67%
2000 2.82% 0.92%
1999 2.71% 1.63%
1998 2.63% 1.97%
1997 2.25% 1.9%
1996 2% 1.67%
1995 2.78% 0.93%
1994 3.46% 0.12%
1993 4.13% 1.47%
1992 3.9% 2.86%
1991 2.96% 2.64%
1990 2.57% 2.76%
1989 2.54% 2.94%
1988 2.93% 3.21%
1987 2.92% 3.36%
1986 2.92% 3.4%
1985 2.93% 3.52%
1984 2.92% 3.62%
1983 2.92% 3.87%
1982 2.92% 3.97%
1981 2.91% 6.49%
1980 2.88% 5.92%
1979 2.88% 1.59%
1978 2.88% 1.46%
1977 2.92% 2.58%
1976 2.98% 3.09%
1975 2.99% 3.22%
1974 3.02% 3.29%
1973 3.04% 3.21%
1972 3.06% 3.12%
1971 3.08% 3.04%
1970 3.1% 3.12%
1969 3.09% 3.22%
1968 3.08% 3.2%
1967 3.05% 3.2%
1966 2.99% 3.2%
1965 2.93% 3.2%
1964 2.86% 3.2%
1963 2.79% 3.2%
1962 2.72% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mauritania grew by 2.93%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Mauritania Zimbabwe
Current population
5505206
17361868
Population rank 122/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.21%
One net population change
3.58 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
3.04 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
19 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +403 +804
Annual growth/decline +146,954 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.93% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 17/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.74 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -5,044 -54,555
Net migration rank 115/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 195,937 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 113/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 107/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritania
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritania Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,044 - -54,555
2024 - -2,185 - -60,528
2023 145,164 2,999 372,505 -97,380
2022 142,451 2,999 371,243 -102,828
2021 137,557 -1,483 349,908 -74,623
2020 134,899 -1,483 354,790 -89,440
2019 134,460 -3,019 348,798 -103,107
2018 131,584 -2,987 345,883 -117,758
2017 128,562 -3,001 344,035 -128,241
2016 125,342 -3,008 348,772 -140,181
2015 122,092 -3,019 356,203 -162,220
2014 118,792 -2,980 366,350 -177,029
2013 115,558 -2,987 374,757 -176,972
2012 113,489 4,515 371,135 -177,061
2011 111,165 3,272 359,572 -108,714
2010 108,121 1,128 335,570 -108,671
2009 105,273 -1,481 309,316 -108,689
2008 102,432 -3,860 280,527 -113,858
2007 98,895 -17,048 261,805 -118,299
2006 94,991 -18,033 248,963 -57,257
2005 90,940 -18,693 248,545 -134,212
2004 87,578 -19,042 248,307 -127,550
2003 83,804 -19,104 243,057 -96,667
2002 80,993 -18,903 244,170 -101,212
2001 78,769 -21,067 227,909 -139,361
2000 75,929 -2,997 236,343 -165,181
1999 73,554 -2,999 232,393 -86,343
1998 72,045 -8,504 225,614 6,645
1997 71,327 -8,187 216,288 395
1996 71,939 -28,840 205,269 978
1995 72,244 -22,997 206,695 -45,428
1994 70,570 5,304 216,343 -174,723
1993 68,167 6,217 228,045 -243,947
1992 63,501 34,505 255,291 75,788
1991 61,782 -2,997 260,943 3,749
1990 59,934 -3,000 265,444 4,948
1989 58,666 -17,941 270,838 3,736
1988 56,654 -2,997 277,498 11,327
1987 55,037 -2,998 286,766 21,308
1986 53,313 -2,998 289,894 6,154
1985 52,125 -2,998 290,756 4,718
1984 50,705 -2,998 290,052 5,124
1983 49,187 -2,998 286,545 4,456
1982 47,947 -2,998 279,934 32,899
1981 46,641 -2,998 271,361 11,523
1980 45,026 -2,997 241,179 390,593
1979 43,537 -2,997 223,657 -67,937
1978 42,539 -2,998 222,979 -170,727
1977 41,352 -2,999 225,139 -89,270
1976 40,149 -1,645 221,419 -32,495
1975 38,975 -1,472 216,947 -28,988
1974 38,106 -1,321 208,806 -16,105
1973 37,122 -1,201 201,885 -18,733
1972 36,184 -1,139 193,725 -20,959
1971 35,279 -1,014 185,427 -22,719
1970 34,382 -855 178,979 -24,102
1969 33,252 -688 172,626 -12,028
1968 32,029 -565 166,865 -11,997
1967 30,853 -514 161,205 -11,814
1966 29,502 -466 156,014 -11,211
1965 28,028 -434 151,164 -10,465
1964 26,565 -390 145,848 -9,631
1963 25,250 -362 140,984 -8,936
1962 23,927 -342 136,317 -8,529
1961 22,781 -332 131,531 -8,204
1960 21,604 -318 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/mauritania/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 195,937 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Mauritania, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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