The population of Mauritania is expected to grow by 130,000 in 2026 and reach 5,677,000 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 3,061 people yearly. The population density of Mauritania has changed from 1.5 in 1980 to 5.1 in 2024.
| Current population | 5,561,247 people at present (Monday 9th of February 2026) | |
| Median Age | 25.1 years |
| Population density | 5.4 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,547,000 | 130,000 (2.3%) | 3,061 | 25.1 | 5 | 3,625,000 (65.4%) | |
| 2025 | 5,417,000 | 129,000 (2.4%) | 3,061 | 24.9 | 4.16 | 5 | 3,518,000 (65.0%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 4,079 | 24.8 | 5 | 3,412,000 (64.5%) | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 4,079 | 24.7 | 5 | 3,307,000 (64.1%) | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 4,079 | 24.5 | 5 | 3,202,000 (63.6%) | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 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 2025 the population of Mauritania was 5,417,000 and the average age increased from 21.9 in 1960 to 24.9. Urban population has increased from 1,334,197 (49.2%) in 2000 to 3,625,000 (65.4%) in the current year. The population density of Mauritania has changed from 1.5 in 1980 to 5.1 in 2024.
| 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 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 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 2,746,000 women and 2,800,000 men, which means there are 1,020 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 48.0% of population (2,659,787) is 19 or younger, 48.5% of population (2,688,631) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.6% of population (199,692) is over 65.