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
Latest (2025)
3.27 million people
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
120th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.27 million people
in 2025
All-time low
17,182 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17,182 people | — |
| 1951 | 18,951 people | +10.3% |
| 1952 | 21,194 people | +11.8% |
| 1953 | 23,905 people | +12.8% |
| 1954 | 27,088 people | +13.3% |
| 1955 | 30,752 people | +13.5% |
| 1956 | 34,902 people | +13.5% |
| 1957 | 39,546 people | +13.3% |
| 1958 | 44,691 people | +13.0% |
| 1959 | 50,344 people | +12.6% |
| 1960 | 56,519 people | +12.3% |
| 1961 | 63,228 people | +11.9% |
| 1962 | 70,473 people | +11.5% |
| 1963 | 78,186 people | +10.9% |
| 1964 | 86,389 people | +10.5% |
| 1965 | 96,574 people | +11.8% |
| 1966 | 108,234 people | +12.1% |
| 1967 | 120,974 people | +11.8% |
| 1968 | 134,833 people | +11.5% |
| 1969 | 149,851 people | +11.1% |
| 1970 | 166,067 people | +10.8% |
| 1971 | 183,500 people | +10.5% |
| 1972 | 202,177 people | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 222,152 people | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 243,470 people | +9.6% |
| 1975 | 266,159 people | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 290,271 people | +9.1% |
| 1977 | 316,616 people | +9.1% |
| 1978 | 347,164 people | +9.6% |
| 1979 | 382,851 people | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 422,499 people | +10.4% |
| 1981 | 465,206 people | +10.1% |
| 1982 | 509,831 people | +9.6% |
| 1983 | 555,042 people | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 599,447 people | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 641,486 people | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 679,331 people | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 711,069 people | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 734,880 people | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 752,809 people | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 770,416 people | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 790,733 people | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 818,363 people | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 848,379 people | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 873,576 people | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 893,631 people | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 907,361 people | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 924,029 people | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 945,117 people | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 968,389 people | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 994,561 people | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 1.02 million people | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.05 million people | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 1.09 million people | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 1.14 million people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 1.19 million people | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 1.25 million people | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 1.31 million people | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 1.39 million people | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 1.47 million people | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 1.56 million people | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 1.65 million people | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 1.75 million people | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 1.84 million people | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 1.94 million people | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 2.05 million people | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 2.16 million people | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 2.28 million people | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 2.39 million people | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 2.50 million people | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 2.62 million people | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 2.74 million people | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 2.87 million people | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 3.00 million people | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 3.13 million people | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 3.27 million people | +4.3% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 3.27 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 49% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 3.27 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 68% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6195 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1772 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.3851 units per person (2025)
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.