usby.numbers
Flag of MauritaniaAfrica · Nouakchott

Mauritania· by the numbers

5,407,341
Population right now, ticking live from the last confirmed count.▲ growing5,315,065 (World Bank, 2025) + +145,670/year × elapsed time since 2025-12-31 — open formula, updates every ticksource: World Bank · indicator year: 2025 · license: CC BY 4.0 · 1 in 1546 on Earth

Mauritania's population is 5,315,065 (2025) — the 125th-largest in the world and the 39th-largest in Africa, growing by about 145,670 people a year.

Where it ranksCompare →Updated 2026-08-19

Mauritania Facts at a Glance

Six numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, prices, share of humanity.

Population#125 of 217
5,315,065
Area
1,030,700 km²
5.2 km² land area
GDP#147 of 186
$11.7B
GDP / capita
$2,198
2025
#147 economy overall
Price level#176 of 200
29 / US 100
cost of living
Share of humanity
0.06%
1 in 1,546 people on Earth lives in Mauritania

Mauritania in World Rankings

Every world ranking we publish, this country’s place in each, and its overall percentile shape.

Population5,315,065 people
#125 / 217
GDP$11.7B
#147 / 186
Average income$2,210 GNI per person
#144 / 182
Life expectancy68.7 years
#164 / 217
Average height165.5 cm (male)
#187 / 200
Median age17.1 years, half older
#209 / 220
Cleanest air46.5 µg/m³ PM2.5
#185 / 200
Safest countries1 homicides / 100k
#46 / 196
Most dangerous1 homicides / 100k
#151 / 196
Internet users45.8% of population online
#150 / 182
PopulationGDPIncomeLife exp.HeightMedian ageClean airSafetyDangerOnline
Percentile in each ranking — further from centre is a higher rank (closer to #1).

Mauritania's Population Growth

Yes — Mauritania's population rose by 145,670 people (+2.82%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 4.6 births per woman. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.

Population, 1960 to 2025

66 years of estimates from the same source.

Source: World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL) · annual estimates, 1960–2025 · hover the line for any year.

Mauritania Demographics

Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.

Population density2025
5.2 people / km²
1,030,700 km² land area, 2025
Median age2023
17.1 years
half the population is older, half younger
Life expectancy2024
68.7 years
M 66.7 · F 70.7
Average height2019
165.5 cm (male)
female 160.1 cm
Homicide rate2020
1.0 per 100,000
#46 safest of 196
Air quality (PM2.5)2023
46.5 µg/m³
lower is cleaner
Urban population2025
61.5 %
share living in cities
Fertility rate2025
4.6 births / woman
replacement level ≈ 2.1
Net migration2025
−5,044 people
negative in latest year
Aged 65+2025
3.3 %
share of the population 65 or older

Age & sex structure

17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.

Male — 2,608,804Female — 2,706,268
0-4 · Male: 419,6230-4 · Female: 409,2280-45-9 · Male: 379,1965-9 · Female: 370,5055-910-14 · Male: 341,69810-14 · Female: 332,52010-1415-19 · Male: 291,53715-19 · Female: 289,06815-1920-24 · Male: 234,99520-24 · Female: 243,07520-2425-29 · Male: 192,55925-29 · Female: 206,78725-2930-34 · Male: 161,11930-34 · Female: 177,27330-3435-39 · Male: 134,04335-39 · Female: 150,28235-3940-44 · Male: 109,44840-44 · Female: 125,28040-4445-49 · Male: 88,02545-49 · Female: 102,99945-4950-54 · Male: 73,16750-54 · Female: 84,78450-5455-59 · Male: 59,21655-59 · Female: 67,75655-5960-64 · Male: 45,85760-64 · Female: 52,46560-6465-69 · Male: 33,68265-69 · Female: 38,82765-6970-74 · Male: 22,08470-74 · Female: 26,20470-7475-79 · Male: 12,91375-79 · Female: 16,07875-7980+ · Male: 9,64280+ · Female: 13,13780+

Largest cities

By population, GeoNames city-proper figures (not metro area).

1
Nouakchott
1,184,530
2
Nouadhibou
146,048
3
Kiffa
62,051
4
Dar Naim
61,089
5
Néma
60,000
6
Mbera
58,985
7
Ksar
57,758
8
Kaédi
56,283
9
Zouérat
55,183
10
Tevragh Zeina
48,093
11
Bougadoum
40,341
12
Sélibaby
32,653

Where is Mauritania Located?

Capital
Nouakchott
Currency
Ouguiya (MRU)
Language(s)
Arabic, FUC, SNK, French, MEY, Wolof
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Continent
54 countries in Africa →
Land area
1,030,700 km²
Area (GeoNames)
1,030,700 km²
Borders
3 countries
Shares a border with
SenegalAlgeriaMali

You, in Mauritania

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Frequently asked

What is the population of Mauritania?

Mauritania's population is 5,315,065 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #125 of 217 countries and territories by population.

How many people live in Mauritania?

5,315,065 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.

What is Mauritania's population density?

5.2 people per km², based on a land area of 1,030,700 km².

What is Mauritania ranked in population worldwide?

#125 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.

What is the life expectancy in Mauritania?

68.7 years on average (2024) — 66.7 for men, 70.7 for women.

What is Mauritania's GDP?

$11.7B, ranking #147 of 186 economies we track — $2,198 per capita.

Cite this page

CC BY 4.0

Our compilation on this page — the figures as arranged, ranked and dated here — is published under CC BY 4.0. Reuse it anywhere, including commercially, with a link back. The underlying data belongs to the organizations credited below.

Us, by Numbers. "Us, by Numbers." https://usbynumbers.com

Sources