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.
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 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.62 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 155,193 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.62 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.62 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.9% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 4.7 live births per woman (2023)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.