Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mauritania
Mauritania: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 3.27 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mauritania, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mauritania stood at 3.27 million people. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and up 59.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mauritania peaked at 3.27 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17,182 people, in 1950.
That places Mauritania 120th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30,856 people | 17,182 people | 50,344 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 96,526 people | 56,519 people | 149,851 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 262,043 people | 166,067 people | 382,851 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 607,160 people | 422,499 people | 752,809 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 873,999 people | 770,416 people | 968,389 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.19 million people | 994,561 people | 1.47 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.01 million people | 1.56 million people | 2.50 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.94 million people | 2.62 million people | 3.27 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More population data for Mauritania
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.62 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.62 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 155,193 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.62 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 4.7 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 4.45 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mauritania?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mauritania was 3.27 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 3.27 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,182 people in 1950.
- How does Mauritania rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Mauritania ranks 120th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.