Population of Mauritania

As of May 2026, the population of Mauritania is 5.2 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 137 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.66%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 17 years in 2016 to 18.5 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 67.3 years and population density is 5.1 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Mauritania peaked in 1992, reaching around 4.71% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.61% in 2026. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 137.43 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Mauritania, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 61.9 years in 2006 to 67.3 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 5 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Mauritania

The cities of Mauritania are mostly small, but 2 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Nouakchott, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 1.2 million inhabitants. It is followed by Nouadhibou, Dakhlet Nouadhibou with 146 thousand and Kiffa, Assaba with 62.1 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Mauritania: