Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania
Mauritania: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 301,490 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania, 1987–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania is 301,490, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.
The figure is up 94.3% on the previous year and up 289.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania peaked at 301,490 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 26, in 1998.
That places Mauritania 26th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 50 | — |
| 1989 | 15,000 | +29900.0% |
| 1990 | 60,000 | +300.0% |
| 1991 | 35,200 | -41.3% |
| 1992 | 37,500 | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 51,548 | +37.5% |
| 1994 | 82,225 | +59.5% |
| 1995 | 34,392 | -58.2% |
| 1996 | 15,877 | -53.8% |
| 1997 | 7,512 | -52.7% |
| 1998 | 26 | -99.7% |
| 1999 | 221 | +750.0% |
| 2000 | 350 | +58.4% |
| 2001 | 363 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 398 | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 475 | +19.3% |
| 2004 | 473 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 627 | +32.6% |
| 2006 | 771 | +23.0% |
| 2007 | 30,465 | +3851.4% |
| 2008 | 27,036 | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 26,789 | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 26,709 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 26,535 | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 80,500 | +203.4% |
| 2013 | 92,766 | +15.2% |
| 2014 | 75,628 | -18.5% |
| 2015 | 77,390 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 74,146 | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 77,424 | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 83,183 | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 84,900 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 93,607 | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 101,942 | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 100,981 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 112,549 | +11.5% |
| 2024 | 155,193 | +37.9% |
| 2025 | 301,490 | +94.3% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 301,490 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 35.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 301,490 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 8.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +29900.0% | 50 | 15,000 |
| 2007 | +3851.4% | 771 | 30,465 |
| 1999 | +750.0% | 26 | 221 |
| 1990 | +300.0% | 15,000 | 60,000 |
| 2012 | +203.4% | 26,535 | 80,500 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7,525 | 50 | 15,000 | 2 |
| 1990s | 32,450 | 26 | 82,225 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,775 | 350 | 30,465 | 10 |
| 2010s | 69,918 | 26,535 | 92,766 | 10 |
| 2020s | 144,294 | 93,607 | 301,490 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
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)
- Population growth rate 0.614 (2100)
- Population density 16.61 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.22 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.614 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 1.46 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mauritania was 301,490 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 301,490 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 26 in 1998.
- How does Mauritania rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Mauritania ranks 26th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 289.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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