Refugees by country of origin in Mauritania
Mauritania: Refugees by country of origin was 38,111 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Refugees by country of origin in Mauritania, 1989–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of origin in Mauritania is 38,111 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Mauritania peaked at 84,310 people in 1995 and was at its lowest, 29,742 people, in 2000.
That places Mauritania 38th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Refugees by country of origin in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 48,236 people | — |
| 1990 | 65,995 people | +36.8% |
| 1991 | 79,874 people | +21.0% |
| 1992 | 79,594 people | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 67,887 people | -14.7% |
| 1994 | 68,039 people | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 84,310 people | +23.9% |
| 1996 | 83,231 people | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 70,294 people | -15.5% |
| 1998 | 70,221 people | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 29,942 people | -57.4% |
| 2000 | 29,742 people | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 29,850 people | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 30,130 people | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 30,518 people | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 31,104 people | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 31,650 people | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 33,420 people | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 33,095 people | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 45,592 people | +37.8% |
| 2009 | 39,134 people | -14.2% |
| 2010 | 37,721 people | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 39,919 people | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 33,747 people | -15.5% |
| 2013 | 34,239 people | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 34,103 people | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 34,656 people | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 36,263 people | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 36,525 people | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 37,050 people | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 37,423 people | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 37,931 people | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 39,279 people | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 36,928 people | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 37,532 people | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 38,111 people | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 48,236 people | 48,236 people | 48,236 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 69,939 people | 29,942 people | 84,310 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 33,424 people | 29,742 people | 45,592 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,165 people | 33,747 people | 39,919 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 37,956 people | 36,928 people | 39,279 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 origin in Mauritania?
- Refugees by country of origin in Mauritania was 38,111 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 84,310 people in 1995.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 29,742 people in 2000.
- How does Mauritania rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Mauritania ranks 38th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 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, not just those who fled that year.