Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in Mauritania
Mauritania: Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita was 61.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
61.5%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
137th
of 236 countries
All-time high
61.5%
in 2025
All-time low
2.6%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita 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 %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Mauritania is 61.5%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Mauritania peaked at 61.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1950.
That places Mauritania 137th 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.
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.6% | — |
| 1951 | 2.8% | +8.1% |
| 1952 | 3.1% | +9.6% |
| 1953 | 3.4% | +10.4% |
| 1954 | 3.8% | +10.9% |
| 1955 | 4.2% | +11.0% |
| 1956 | 4.7% | +10.9% |
| 1957 | 5.2% | +10.7% |
| 1958 | 5.7% | +10.3% |
| 1959 | 6.3% | +9.9% |
| 1960 | 6.9% | +9.4% |
| 1961 | 7.5% | +9.0% |
| 1962 | 8.1% | +8.5% |
| 1963 | 8.8% | +7.9% |
| 1964 | 9.4% | +7.4% |
| 1965 | 10.2% | +8.6% |
| 1966 | 11.1% | +8.8% |
| 1967 | 12.1% | +8.5% |
| 1968 | 13.0% | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 14.0% | +7.8% |
| 1970 | 15.1% | +7.5% |
| 1971 | 16.2% | +7.2% |
| 1972 | 17.3% | +6.9% |
| 1973 | 18.5% | +6.6% |
| 1974 | 19.6% | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 20.8% | +6.1% |
| 1976 | 22.1% | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 23.4% | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 24.9% | +6.6% |
| 1979 | 26.7% | +7.2% |
| 1980 | 28.7% | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 30.7% | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 32.7% | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 34.5% | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 36.2% | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 37.7% | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 38.8% | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 39.4% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 39.6% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 39.6% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 39.5% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 39.3% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 39.2% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 39.0% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 38.8% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 38.7% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 38.5% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 38.3% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 38.2% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 38.1% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 38.1% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 38.1% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 38.4% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 38.9% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 39.6% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 40.4% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 41.4% | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 42.4% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 43.6% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 44.8% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 46.0% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 47.1% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 48.3% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 49.4% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 50.5% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 51.7% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 52.9% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 54.2% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 55.1% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 56.1% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 57.0% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 57.9% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 58.8% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 59.7% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 60.6% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 61.5% | +1.5% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 61.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 61.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.2% | 2.6% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 10.1% | 6.9% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.5% | 15.1% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 35.8% | 28.7% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.8% | 38.1% | 39.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.6% | 38.1% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.1% | 46.0% | 56.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.3% | 57.0% | 61.5% | 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 share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Mauritania?
- Share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Mauritania was 61.5% 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 share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1950.
- How does Mauritania rank for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita?
- Mauritania ranks 137th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. 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 Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.