Mauritania Population
Sub-Saharan Africa · 123rd most populous · Lower middle income
Population right now (estimate)
5,507,118
The population of Mauritania is about 5,507,118 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 5.5 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.07% of the world's people.
Mauritania is ranked 123rd of 217 by population. Its population is growing fast — about 2.8% a year, roughly 412 more people every day. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 9.4 million. That is 6.6 times its 1960 population of 824 thousand. It is sparsely populated, with only 5.3 people per square kilometre. 61% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
5.5 million
Yearly change
+2.75%
World rank
123rd
Share of world
0.07%
Density
5/km²
Land area
1,030,700 km²
Life expectancy
68.7 yrs
Births per woman
4.63
GDP per capita
$2,198
GDP
$11.7B
Population of Mauritania, 1960–2050
Mauritania population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 824,298 | — | 1 |
| 1970 | 1,099,806 | +3.10% | 1 |
| 1980 | 1,474,043 | +2.88% | 1 |
| 1990 | 1,951,878 | +2.57% | 2 |
| 2000 | 2,613,441 | +2.82% | 3 |
| 2010 | 3,390,965 | +3.24% | 3 |
| 2020 | 4,600,131 | +2.96% | 4 |
| 2024 | 5,169,395 | +2.93% | 5 |
| 2026proj. | 5,461,319 | +2.75% | 5 |
| 2030proj. | 6,062,528 | +2.59% | 6 |
| 2040proj. | 7,681,908 | +2.22% | 7 |
| 2050proj. | 9,415,598 | +1.90% | 9 |
Mauritania vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 32.6 times as many people as Mauritania. Bangladesh is 257.8 times more densely populated.
Mauritania population: questions and answers
What is the population of Mauritania in 2026?
About 5,461,319 (5.5 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Mauritania's population growing?
Yes, by about 2.75% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Mauritania?
About 5 people per km², with a land area of 1,030,700 km².
What will the population of Mauritania be in 2050?
About 9.4 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Mauritania?
Nouakchott.
What is the life expectancy in Mauritania?
68.7 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.