Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Mauritania
Mauritania: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 81.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Mauritania, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Mauritania is 81.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 33.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Mauritania peaked at 81.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 37.0%, in 2000.
Mauritania ranks 128th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.0% | — |
| 2001 | 38.3% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 39.5% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 40.8% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 42.0% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 43.2% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 45.1% | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 47.0% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 48.9% | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 50.8% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 52.8% | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 54.8% | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 56.8% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 58.9% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 61.0% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 63.1% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 65.3% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 67.5% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 69.8% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 72.0% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 74.3% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 76.7% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 79.0% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 81.5% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 81.5% | +0.0% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 81.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 81.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.2% | 37.0% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.2% | 52.8% | 72.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.6% | 74.3% | 81.5% | 5 |
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 share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Mauritania?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Mauritania was 81.5% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 81.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.0% in 2000.
- How does Mauritania rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Mauritania ranks 128th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.