Urban population in Mauritania
Mauritania: Urban population was 3.27 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Mauritania, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Mauritania is 3.27 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 59.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Mauritania peaked at 3.27 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 56,519, in 1960.
That places Mauritania 119th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 56,519 | — |
| 1961 | 63,228 | +11.9% |
| 1962 | 70,473 | +11.5% |
| 1963 | 78,186 | +10.9% |
| 1964 | 86,389 | +10.5% |
| 1965 | 96,574 | +11.8% |
| 1966 | 108,234 | +12.1% |
| 1967 | 120,974 | +11.8% |
| 1968 | 134,833 | +11.5% |
| 1969 | 149,851 | +11.1% |
| 1970 | 166,067 | +10.8% |
| 1971 | 183,500 | +10.5% |
| 1972 | 202,177 | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 222,152 | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 243,470 | +9.6% |
| 1975 | 266,159 | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 290,271 | +9.1% |
| 1977 | 316,616 | +9.1% |
| 1978 | 347,164 | +9.6% |
| 1979 | 382,851 | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 422,499 | +10.4% |
| 1981 | 465,206 | +10.1% |
| 1982 | 509,831 | +9.6% |
| 1983 | 555,042 | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 599,447 | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 641,486 | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 679,331 | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 711,069 | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 734,879 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 752,809 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 770,416 | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 790,733 | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 818,363 | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 848,379 | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 873,576 | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 893,631 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 907,361 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 924,029 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 945,117 | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 968,389 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 994,560 | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 1.02 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.05 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 1.09 million | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 1.14 million | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 1.19 million | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 1.25 million | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 1.31 million | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 1.39 million | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 1.47 million | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 1.56 million | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 1.65 million | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 1.75 million | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 1.84 million | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 1.94 million | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 2.05 million | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 2.16 million | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 2.28 million | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 2.39 million | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 2.50 million | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 2.62 million | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 2.74 million | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 2.87 million | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 3.00 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 3.13 million | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 3.27 million | +4.3% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 3.27 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 49% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 3.27 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 68% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 96,526 | 56,519 | 149,851 | 10 |
| 1970s | 262,043 | 166,067 | 382,851 | 10 |
| 1980s | 607,160 | 422,499 | 752,809 | 10 |
| 1990s | 873,999 | 770,416 | 968,389 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.19 million | 994,560 | 1.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.01 million | 1.56 million | 2.50 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.94 million | 2.62 million | 3.27 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More climate change data for Mauritania
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 5.05 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 13,025 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,939 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9,086 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.87 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 324.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 339.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60.39 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 279.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.2279 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Mauritania?
- Urban population in Mauritania was 3.27 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 3.27 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 56,519 in 1960.
- How does Mauritania rank for urban population?
- Mauritania ranks 119th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.