Population · Africa · 2025 data
Mauritania Population
Mauritania had a population of 5.32 million in 2025, ranking #125 of 216 countries and territories (0.06% of the world). The population grew by 34.0% over the past ten years.
Population of Mauritania, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,315,065 | +2.82% |
| 2024 | 5,169,395 | +2.93% |
| 2023 | 5,022,441 | +3.01% |
| 2022 | 4,875,637 | +2.97% |
| 2021 | 4,734,874 | +2.93% |
| 2020 | 4,600,131 | +2.96% |
| 2019 | 4,467,708 | +3.00% |
| 2018 | 4,337,685 | +3.02% |
| 2017 | 4,210,600 | +3.03% |
| 2016 | 4,086,657 | +3.04% |
| 2015 | 3,965,959 | +3.05% |
| 2014 | 3,848,514 | +3.06% |
| 2013 | 3,734,318 | +3.19% |
| 2012 | 3,619,034 | +3.32% |
| 2011 | 3,502,811 | +3.30% |
| 2010 | 3,390,965 | +3.24% |
| 2009 | 3,284,448 | +3.18% |
| 2008 | 3,183,269 | +2.92% |
| 2007 | 3,093,059 | +2.63% |
| 2006 | 3,013,660 | +2.54% |
| 2005 | 2,939,059 | +2.45% |
| 2004 | 2,868,664 | +2.38% |
| 2003 | 2,802,046 | +2.31% |
| 2002 | 2,738,655 | +2.24% |
| 2001 | 2,678,760 | +2.50% |
| 2000 | 2,613,441 | +2.82% |
| 1999 | 2,541,698 | +2.71% |
| 1998 | 2,474,651 | +2.63% |
| 1997 | 2,411,306 | +2.25% |
| 1996 | 2,358,188 | +2.00% |
| 1995 | 2,312,017 | +2.78% |
| 1994 | 2,249,454 | +3.46% |
| 1993 | 2,174,328 | +4.13% |
| 1992 | 2,088,135 | +3.90% |
| 1991 | 2,009,738 | +2.96% |
| 1990 | 1,951,878 | +2.57% |
| 1989 | 1,903,048 | +2.54% |
| 1988 | 1,855,859 | +2.93% |
| 1987 | 1,803,014 | +2.92% |
| 1986 | 1,751,835 | +2.92% |
| 1985 | 1,702,107 | +2.93% |
| 1984 | 1,653,693 | +2.92% |
| 1983 | 1,606,746 | +2.92% |
| 1982 | 1,561,176 | +2.92% |
| 1981 | 1,516,877 | +2.91% |
| 1980 | 1,474,043 | +2.88% |
| 1979 | 1,432,758 | +2.88% |
| 1978 | 1,392,713 | +2.88% |
| 1977 | 1,353,768 | +2.92% |
| 1976 | 1,315,336 | +2.98% |
| 1975 | 1,277,330 | +2.99% |
| 1974 | 1,240,188 | +3.02% |
| 1973 | 1,203,838 | +3.04% |
| 1972 | 1,168,355 | +3.06% |
| 1971 | 1,133,702 | +3.08% |
| 1970 | 1,099,806 | +3.10% |
| 1969 | 1,066,754 | +3.09% |
| 1968 | 1,034,739 | +3.08% |
| 1967 | 1,003,843 | +3.05% |
| 1966 | 974,157 | +2.99% |
| 1965 | 945,838 | +2.93% |
| 1964 | 918,955 | +2.86% |
| 1963 | 893,423 | +2.79% |
| 1962 | 869,184 | +2.72% |
| 1961 | 846,167 | +2.65% |
| 1960 | 824,298 | — |
Demographics of Mauritania
Ethnic groups
Black Moors (Haratines - Arabic-speaking descendants of African origin who are or were enslaved by White Moors) 40%, White Moors (of Arab-Amazigh descent, known as Beydane) 30%, Sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups) 30%
Languages
Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French
Religions
Muslim (official) 100%
Where people live
Urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Mauritania and its neighbours
Frequently asked questions about the population of Mauritania
What is the population of Mauritania?
Is the population of Mauritania growing?
How has the population of Mauritania changed since 1960?
How densely populated is Mauritania?
What is the largest city in Mauritania?
Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).