Refugees by country of asylum in Mauritania
Mauritania: Refugees by country of asylum was 155,193 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Mauritania, 1987–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Mauritania is 155,193 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 37.9% on the previous year and up 105.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Mauritania peaked at 155,193 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 26 people, in 1998.
That places Mauritania 39th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 50 people | — |
| 1989 | 15,000 people | +29900.0% |
| 1990 | 60,000 people | +300.0% |
| 1991 | 35,200 people | -41.3% |
| 1992 | 37,500 people | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 51,548 people | +37.5% |
| 1994 | 82,225 people | +59.5% |
| 1995 | 34,392 people | -58.2% |
| 1996 | 15,877 people | -53.8% |
| 1997 | 7,512 people | -52.7% |
| 1998 | 26 people | -99.7% |
| 1999 | 221 people | +750.0% |
| 2000 | 350 people | +58.4% |
| 2001 | 363 people | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 398 people | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 475 people | +19.3% |
| 2004 | 473 people | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 627 people | +32.6% |
| 2006 | 771 people | +23.0% |
| 2007 | 30,465 people | +3851.4% |
| 2008 | 27,036 people | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 26,789 people | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 26,709 people | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 26,535 people | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 80,500 people | +203.4% |
| 2013 | 92,766 people | +15.2% |
| 2014 | 75,628 people | -18.5% |
| 2015 | 77,390 people | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 74,146 people | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 77,424 people | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 83,183 people | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 84,900 people | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 93,607 people | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 101,942 people | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 100,981 people | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 112,549 people | +11.5% |
| 2024 | 155,193 people | +37.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7,525 people | 50 people | 15,000 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 32,450 people | 26 people | 82,225 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,775 people | 350 people | 30,465 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 69,918 people | 26,535 people | 92,766 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 112,854 people | 93,607 people | 155,193 people | 5 |
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)
- 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 refugees by country of asylum in Mauritania?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Mauritania was 155,193 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 155,193 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 26 people in 1998.
- How does Mauritania rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Mauritania ranks 39th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.