Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Mauritania
Mauritania: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 50.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Mauritania, 1980–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Mauritania stood at 50.2%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Mauritania peaked at 50.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 22.4%, in 1980.
That places Mauritania 27th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 22.4% | — |
| 1985 | 38.6% | +72.6% |
| 1990 | 45.1% | +16.7% |
| 1995 | 41.1% | -8.9% |
| 2000 | 39.3% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 45.0% | +14.6% |
| 2010 | 47.7% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 48.2% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 50.2% | +4.1% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 50.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.9%, 2.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 50.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.9%, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 30.5% | 22.4% | 38.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 43.1% | 41.1% | 45.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.1% | 39.3% | 45.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 47.9% | 47.7% | 48.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 50.2% | 50.2% | 50.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More population data for Mauritania
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6195 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.8005 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6195 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.22 million people (2100)
- Population density 16.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1772 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.3851 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Mauritania?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Mauritania was 50.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 50.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.4% in 1980.
- How does Mauritania rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Mauritania ranks 27th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.