Population in largest city in Mauritania
Mauritania: Population in largest city was 1.61 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in largest city in Mauritania, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Mauritania is 1.61 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 52.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Mauritania peaked at 1.61 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5,254, in 1960.
Mauritania ranks 102nd of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,254 | — |
| 1961 | 5,616 | +6.9% |
| 1962 | 6,603 | +17.6% |
| 1963 | 8,544 | +29.4% |
| 1964 | 11,059 | +29.4% |
| 1965 | 13,879 | +25.5% |
| 1966 | 16,952 | +22.1% |
| 1967 | 20,704 | +22.1% |
| 1968 | 25,295 | +22.2% |
| 1969 | 30,887 | +22.1% |
| 1970 | 37,725 | +22.1% |
| 1971 | 46,077 | +22.1% |
| 1972 | 56,294 | +22.2% |
| 1973 | 68,738 | +22.1% |
| 1974 | 83,956 | +22.1% |
| 1975 | 102,543 | +22.1% |
| 1976 | 125,279 | +22.2% |
| 1977 | 145,045 | +15.8% |
| 1978 | 159,131 | +9.7% |
| 1979 | 174,585 | +9.7% |
| 1980 | 191,563 | +9.7% |
| 1981 | 210,139 | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 230,546 | +9.7% |
| 1983 | 252,935 | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 277,534 | +9.7% |
| 1985 | 304,447 | +9.7% |
| 1986 | 334,012 | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 366,449 | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 395,937 | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 407,099 | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 418,593 | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 430,411 | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 442,580 | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 455,057 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 467,905 | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 481,115 | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 494,717 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 508,665 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 523,026 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 537,792 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 552,997 | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 574,557 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 600,164 | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 626,913 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 654,893 | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 684,040 | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 714,527 | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 746,373 | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 779,685 | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 814,386 | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 850,682 | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 888,597 | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 928,256 | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 969,570 | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 1.01 million | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 1.06 million | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 1.10 million | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 1.15 million | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 1.21 million | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 1.26 million | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 1.31 million | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 1.37 million | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 1.43 million | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 1.49 million | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 1.55 million | +4.0% |
| 2025 | 1.61 million | +3.9% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 1.61 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 62% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 1.61 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 74% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in largest city in Mauritania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | +29.4% | 6,603 | 8,544 |
| 1964 | +29.4% | 8,544 | 11,059 |
| 1965 | +25.5% | 11,059 | 13,879 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14,479 | 5,254 | 30,887 | 10 |
| 1970s | 99,937 | 37,725 | 174,585 | 10 |
| 1980s | 297,066 | 191,563 | 407,099 | 10 |
| 1990s | 475,986 | 418,593 | 537,792 | 10 |
| 2000s | 674,854 | 552,997 | 814,386 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.04 million | 850,682 | 1.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.46 million | 1.31 million | 1.61 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More urban development data for Mauritania
- Population in the largest city 49.4% (2025)
- Population density 4.87 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 46.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3035 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.61 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 1.45 units per square kilometre (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 9.24 million current US$ (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Mauritania?
- Population in largest city in Mauritania was 1.61 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 1.61 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,254 in 1960.
- How does Mauritania rank for population in largest city?
- Mauritania ranks 102nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.