What is the population of Mauritania in 2026?
Mauritania has a population of 5,315,065 people (2025 estimate), which is 126th in the world and about 0.06% of the global total.
Officially Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Population 2025
5,315,065
0.06% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+2.78%
+147,706 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
5/km²
1,030,700 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
17.4 years
Life expectancy 68.7 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Mauritania
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania ranks 124th globally by population, with roughly 5.3 million people spread across 1,030,700 km² at a density of just 5 per km². A young median age of 17.4 years reflects rapid growth at 2.8% annually, driven by a fertility rate of 4.6 births per woman. Life expectancy stands at 68.7 years.
More than 60% of the population is urban, concentrated largely in the capital, Nouakchott. The economy remains modest, with GDP per capita at $2,198. Arabic is the official language, and the Mauritanian ouguiya serves as currency. The country gained independence in 1960 and shares borders with Algeria, Mali, Senegal, and Western Sahara.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Continent
- Africa
- ISO codes
- MR · MRT
- Demonym
- Mauritanian
- Currency
- Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU UM)
- State inception
- 1960
- Time zone
- UTC±00:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +222
- Internet TLD
- .mr
- Land neighbours
- 4
Languages
- Arabic
Demographics
Economy
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 42.7%
- Age 15–64
- 54.1%
- Age 65+
- 3.2%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 11 | 21 |
| 95-99 | 121 | 207 |
| 90-94 | 620 | 1,006 |
| 85-89 | 2,437 | 3,368 |
| 80-84 | 6,389 | 8,246 |
| 75-79 | 12,636 | 15,575 |
| 70-74 | 21,369 | 25,077 |
| 65-69 | 32,585 | 37,224 |
| 60-64 | 44,605 | 50,525 |
| 55-59 | 57,282 | 65,218 |
| 50-54 | 71,270 | 81,933 |
| 45-49 | 85,204 | 99,694 |
| 40-44 | 105,065 | 120,822 |
| 35-39 | 129,620 | 145,728 |
| 30-34 | 155,507 | 171,815 |
| 25-29 | 186,607 | 201,325 |
| 20-24 | 225,800 | 235,436 |
| 15-19 | 280,805 | 280,335 |
| 10-14 | 333,981 | 324,937 |
| 5-9 | 371,495 | 363,058 |
| 0-4 | 412,319 | 402,123 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 657,715 |
| 1960 | 824,298 |
| 1970 | 1,099,806 |
| 1980 | 1,474,043 |
| 1990 | 1,951,878 |
| 2000 | 2,613,441 |
| 2010 | 3,390,965 |
| 2020 | 4,600,131 |
| 2030 | 6,062,528 |
| 2040 | 7,681,908 |
| 2050 | 9,415,598 |
| 2060 | 11,180,219 |
| 2070 | 12,908,450 |
| 2080 | 14,520,791 |
| 2090 | 15,941,788 |
| 2100 | 17,118,469 |
How Mauritania Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
- Mauritania5.32M
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Mauritania | 5.32M |
Countries Bordering Mauritania
4 land borders.
- Algeria47.4M · +1.32%
- Mali25.2M · +2.90%
- Senegal18.9M · +2.30%
- Western Sahara587K · +2.54%
Mauritania Population FAQ
Is the population of Mauritania growing or shrinking?
Mauritania's population is growing at +2.78% per year, a change of roughly 147,706 people annually.
What is the capital of Mauritania?
The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.
How densely populated is Mauritania?
Mauritania has 5/km² across 1,030,700 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Mauritania?
Life expectancy at birth in Mauritania is 68.7 years (2024).
What is the median age in Mauritania?
The median age in Mauritania is 17.4 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Mauritania in?
Mauritania is in Africa.