Prison population rate in Mauritania
Mauritania: Prison population rate was 57 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Mauritania, 2001–2022
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in prisoners per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Mauritania is 57 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of up 21.3% on the previous year and up 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Mauritania peaked at 57 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 40 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2003.
That places Mauritania 176th out of 202 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prison population rate in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 50 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2003 | 40 prisoners per 100,000 people | -20.0% |
| 2010 | 47 prisoners per 100,000 people | +17.5% |
| 2012 | 42 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.6% |
| 2014 | 44 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 46 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 53 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.2% |
| 2020 | 47 prisoners per 100,000 people | -11.3% |
| 2022 | 57 prisoners per 100,000 people | +21.3% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 57 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 54% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 57 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 63% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45 prisoners per 100,000 people | 40 prisoners per 100,000 people | 50 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 46.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 42 prisoners per 100,000 people | 53 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 52 prisoners per 100,000 people | 47 prisoners per 100,000 people | 57 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 173 Liberia 60 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 174 Haiti 59 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 174 Togo 59 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 176 Papua New Guinea 57 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 178 Chad 56 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 179 East Timor 55 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 179 Niger 55 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Mauritania
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6195 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1772 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Population density 16.61 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.22 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 4.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Mauritania?
- Prison population rate in Mauritania was 57 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prison population rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 57 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 40 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2003.
- How does Mauritania rank for prison population rate?
- Mauritania ranks 176th out of 202 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Prison population rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.