The population of Mauritania is expected to grow by 146,254 in 2026 and reach 5,608,791 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 5,842 people yearly. On average there are 181,685 births and 28,723 deaths in Mauritania per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 2.80 percent per year. The population density of Mauritania has changed from 1.4 in 1980 to 5.0 in 2024.
| Current population | 5,586,165 people at present (Thursday 5th of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 23.1 years |
| Life expectancy | 69.1 years | |
| Population density | 5.3 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,461,319 | 146,254 (2.7%) | -5,842 | 23.1 | 4.50 | 5 | 3,405,624 (62.4%) |
| 2025 | 5,315,065 | 145,670 (2.7%) | -5,044 | 23.0 | 4.56 | 5 | 3,268,171 (61.5%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -2,185 | 22.9 | 4.63 | 5 | 3,133,008 (60.6%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,999 | 22.9 | 4.70 | 5 | 2,999,113 (59.7%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,999 | 22.8 | 4.77 | 5 | 2,867,464 (58.8%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -1,483 | 22.7 | 4.85 | 5 | 2,741,565 (57.9%) |
| 2020 | 4,600,131 | 132,423 (2.9%) | -1,483 | 22.7 | 4.91 | 4 | 2,621,323 (57.0%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -3,019 | 22.7 | 4.98 | 4 | 2,504,580 (56.1%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -2,987 | 22.6 | 5.04 | 4 | 2,391,388 (55.1%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -3,001 | 22.6 | 5.11 | 4 | 2,282,021 (54.2%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -3,008 | 22.6 | 5.16 | 4 | 2,162,600 (52.9%) |
| 2015 | 3,965,959 | 117,445 (3.0%) | -3,019 | 22.6 | 5.21 | 4 | 2,049,133 (51.7%) |
| 2010 | 3,390,965 | 106,517 (3.1%) | 1,128 | 22.5 | 5.38 | 3 | 1,558,291 (46.0%) |
| 2005 | 2,939,059 | 70,395 (2.4%) | -18,693 | 22.3 | 5.38 | 3 | 1,187,590 (40.4%) |
| 2000 | 2,613,441 | 71,743 (2.8%) | -2,997 | 22.2 | 5.46 | 3 | 994,560 (38.1%) |
| 1995 | 2,312,017 | 62,563 (2.7%) | -22,997 | 22.1 | 5.96 | 2 | 893,631 (38.7%) |
| 1990 | 1,951,878 | 48,830 (2.5%) | -3,000 | 22.0 | 6.18 | 2 | 770,416 (39.5%) |
| 1985 | 1,702,107 | 48,414 (2.8%) | -2,998 | 22.1 | 6.42 | 2 | 641,486 (37.7%) |
| 1980 | 1,474,043 | 41,285 (2.8%) | -2,997 | 22.2 | 6.67 | 1 | 422,499 (28.7%) |
| 1975 | 1,277,330 | 37,142 (2.9%) | -1,472 | 22.4 | 6.71 | 1 | 266,159 (20.8%) |
| 1970 | 1,099,806 | 33,052 (3.0%) | -855 | 22.6 | 6.68 | 1 | 166,067 (15.1%) |
| 1965 | 945,838 | 26,883 (2.8%) | -434 | 22.8 | 6.44 | 1 | 96,574 (10.2%) |
| 1960 | 824,298 | 21,869 (2.6%) | -318 | 22.8 | 6.15 | 1 | 56,519 (6.9%) |
In 2025 the population of Mauritania was 5,315,065 and the average age increased from 22.8 in 1960 to 23.0. Urban population has increased from 994,560 (38.1%) in 2000 to 3,405,624 (62.4%) in the current year. The population density of Mauritania has changed from 1.4 in 1980 to 5.0 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -1,483 | 22.7 | 4.91 | 4 | 2,621,323 (57.0%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -5,044 | 23.0 | 4.56 | 5 | 3,268,171 (61.5%) |
| 2030 | 6,062,528 | 153,331 (2.5%) | -7,946 | 23.6 | 4.24 | 6 | 3,983,066 (65.7%) |
| 2035 | 6,856,319 | 161,869 (2.4%) | -8,691 | 24.2 | 3.90 | 7 | 4,763,553 (69.5%) |
| 2040 | 7,681,908 | 167,166 (2.2%) | -10,327 | 25.0 | 3.60 | 8 | 5,583,242 (72.7%) |
| 2045 | 8,538,531 | 173,349 (2.0%) | -9,624 | 25.9 | 3.35 | 8 | 6,418,489 (75.2%) |
| 2050 | 9,415,598 | 175,420 (1.9%) | -12,078 | 26.9 | 3.14 | 9 | 7,231,988 (76.8%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 73.5 (71.0 years for male and 75.8 years for females). Population density will go up to 9.1 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 2.75% (145,670 residents, including 27,987 deaths). The demographics of Mauritania constitutes of 2,779,193 women and 2,682,126 men, which means there are 965 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 53.0% of population (2,896,684) is 19 or younger, 43.7% of population (2,387,689) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.3% of population (178,585) is over 65.