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Index / Demographics
   Mauritania /
Demographics
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Key figures
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Fertility
4.5 children/woman.
MENA rank: 19 of 22.
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Demographics
With comparison tables for all countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
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Through the 20th century, the population of Mauritania doubled 5 times, which is one of the slowest growths of any MENA country. The reason for this is poverty and a poor infrastructure. Fertility rates in Mauritania has always been very high, but high mortality has kept the population at balance.
Mauritania remains a very poor country with miserable services at all levels and aspects of society. Even now, the average Mauritanian mother gives birth to 4.5 children, but this represents a great improvement over recent years, down from almost 8 children per mother in the 1980's.
Still, population growth is 2.4%, which by itself is high but dramatic. What keeps growth much lower than fertility is the very same factors that prevailed through the 20th century: short life expectancy and high death rates.
Mauritania has a young population, median age is 19 years, and population projections indicate that there will be 8 million inhabitants here by 2050. Everything considered, 2050 population may well reach and pass 10 million.
More information of demography is found in other Mauritania articles about ethnic composition, first languages spoken and religious adherence. There is also information relevant to demographics under education and health.
| Year |
Total |
Density
(per km²) |
Change |
| 1890 |
482,000 |
0.5 |
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| 1900 |
502,000 |
0.5 |
4% |
| 1910 |
554,000 |
0.5 |
10% |
| 1920 |
612,000 |
0.6 |
10% |
| 1930 |
676,000 |
0.7 |
11% |
| 1940 |
747,000 |
0.7 |
11% |
| 1950 |
781,000 |
0.8 |
5% |
| 1960 |
970,000 |
0.9 |
24% |
| 1970 |
1,260,000 |
1 |
30% |
| 1980 |
1,600,000 |
2 |
27% |
| 1990 |
1,930,000 |
2 |
21% |
| 2000 |
2,670,000 |
3 |
38% |
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2009
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3,130,000 |
3 |
17% |
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