Understand the demographic development of Mauritania through historical population data by age and sex.
Review the age and gender distribution of Mauritania's population and compare demographic changes over time.
As of 2025, Mauritania's population stands at approximately 5,315,065 people. Over the past five years it has grown by +15.54%, and over the past ten years by +34.02%.
Mauritania ranks 125th of 217 countries by total population, and 16th by five-year population growth. Growth momentum is currently decelerating (+3.01% → +2.93% per year).
By gender, female residents make up the larger share of the population, at 50.9% (50.9% female vs 49.1% male).
By broad age group, the working-age (15-64) group accounts for the largest share of the population: 42.4% are under 15, 54.4% are aged 15-64, and 3.2% are aged 65 and above.
The share of the population under 15 is currently falling, and peaked at 45.9% in 1980.
The share of the population aged 60 and above has been rising, from 4.1% in 1960 to 5.1% in 2025.
Population of Mauritania by Year: Total, Gender and Broad Age Groups
Data source: World Bank, World Development Indicators — Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL); population by gender (SP.POP.TOTL.MA.IN, SP.POP.TOTL.FE.IN); population by broad age group (SP.POP.0014.TO, SP.POP.1564.TO, SP.POP.65UP.TO). License: CC BY-4.0. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
Mauritania Population by Five-Year Age Cohorts and Gender
Data source: World Bank, World Development Indicators — Population by five-year age groups and sex (SP.POP.0004.MA … SP.POP.80UP.FE). License: CC BY-4.0. Retrieved 2026-07-10.