The population of Mauritania is expected to grow by 129,000 in 2025 and reach 5,547,000 in 2026. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 3,061 people yearly. On average there are 165,755 births and 40,026 deaths in Mauritania per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 2.32 percent per year. The population density of Mauritania has changed from 1.5 in 1980 to 5.0 in 2023.
| Current population | 5,481,466 people at present (Monday 30th of June 2025) | |
| Median Age | 24.9 years |
| Life expectancy | 64.5 years | |
| Population density | 5.3 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,417,000 | 129,000 (2.4%) | 3,061 | 24.9 | 4.16 | 5 | 3,518,000 (65.0%) |
| 2024 | 5,288,000 | 128,000 (2.4%) | 4,079 | 24.8 | 5 | 3,412,000 (64.5%) | |
| 2023 | 5,160,000 | 127,000 (2.5%) | 4,079 | 24.7 | 5 | 3,307,000 (64.1%) | |
| 2022 | 5,033,000 | 125,000 (2.5%) | 4,079 | 24.5 | 5 | 3,202,000 (63.6%) | |
| 2021 | 4,908,000 | 124,000 (2.5%) | 4,079 | 24.4 | 5 | 3,098,000 (63.1%) | |
| 2020 | 4,784,000 | 123,000 (2.6%) | 4,079 | 24.3 | 4.43 | 5 | 2,996,000 (62.6%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 5,100 | 24.2 | 4.49 | 5 | 2,895,000 (62.1%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 5,100 | 24.0 | 4.55 | 4 | 2,795,000 (61.6%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 5,100 | 23.9 | 4.61 | 4 | 2,697,000 (61.0%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 5,100 | 23.8 | 4.68 | 4 | 2,599,793 (60.4%) |
| 2015 | 4,182,341 | 118,421 (2.8%) | 5,100 | 23.7 | 4.74 | 4 | 2,503,507 (59.9%) |
| 2010 | 3,609,543 | 103,255 (2.9%) | 8,000 | 23.3 | 4.98 | 4 | 2,045,961 (56.7%) |
| 2005 | 3,130,720 | 87,897 (2.8%) | 2,001 | 22.9 | 5.18 | 3 | 1,663,258 (53.1%) |
| 2000 | 2,709,359 | 80,556 (3.0%) | 1,401 | 22.5 | 5.45 | 3 | 1,334,197 (49.2%) |
| 1995 | 2,327,075 | 65,672 (2.8%) | 2,600 | 22.2 | 5.77 | 2 | 1,053,095 (45.3%) |
| 1990 | 2,030,140 | 54,110 (2.7%) | -5,999 | 22.1 | 6.04 | 2 | 838,955 (41.3%) |
| 1985 | 1,769,942 | 49,130 (2.8%) | -6,060 | 22.0 | 6.24 | 2 | 619,374 (35.0%) |
| 1980 | 1,534,085 | 43,482 (2.8%) | -3,220 | 22.0 | 6.46 | 1 | 419,894 (27.4%) |
| 1975 | 1,328,686 | 37,896 (2.9%) | -1,940 | 21.9 | 6.68 | 1 | 273,297 (20.6%) |
| 1970 | 1,148,908 | 33,120 (2.9%) | -1,190 | 21.9 | 6.78 | 1 | 167,327 (14.6%) |
| 1965 | 992,367 | 28,620 (2.9%) | -552 | 21.9 | 6.80 | 1 | 100,130 (10.1%) |
| 1960 | 858,168 | 25,053 (2.8%) | -364 | 21.9 | 6.78 | 1 | 59,042 (6.9%) |
In 2024 the population of Mauritania was 5,288,000 and the average age increased from 21.9 in 1960 to 24.8. Urban population has increased from 1,334,197 (49.2%) in 2000 to 3,518,000 (65.0%) in the current year. The population density of Mauritania has changed from 1.5 in 1980 to 5.0 in 2023.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 4,079 | 24.3 | 4.43 | 5 | 2,996,000 (62.6%) |
| 2025 | 5,417,000 | 129,000 (2.4%) | 3,061 | 24.9 | 4.16 | 5 | 3,518,000 (65.0%) |
| 2030 | 6,077,000 | 135,000 (2.2%) | 3,061 | 25.6 | 3.91 | 6 | 4,066,000 (66.9%) |
| 2035 | 6,766,000 | 140,000 (2.1%) | 3,061 | 26.4 | 3.69 | 7 | 4,655,000 (68.8%) |
| 2040 | 7,482,000 | 145,000 (1.9%) | 3,061 | 27.1 | 3.49 | 7 | 5,284,000 (70.6%) |
| 2045 | 8,218,000 | 148,000 (1.8%) | 3,061 | 27.8 | 3.31 | 8 | 5,948,000 (72.4%) |
| 2050 | 8,965,000 | 150,000 (1.7%) | 3,061 | 28.5 | 3.15 | 9 | 6,640,000 (74.1%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 67.4 (65.2 years for male and 69.6 years for females). Population density will go up to 8.7 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Mauritania constitutes of 2,682,000 women and 2,735,000 men, which means there are 1,020 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 48.2% of population (2,609,369) is 19 or younger, 48.3% of population (2,616,411) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.5% of population (190,678) is over 65.