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Mauritania is projected to count 5,461,319 residents in 2026. That is an 8-fold increase on the 657,715 recorded in 1950. It is growing at +2.69% a year, one of the faster rates globally, adding about 146.9K people a year. With only 5 people/km², it is one of the world's more sparsely settled countries. Half the population is younger than 17.5 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 22.3 by 2050. The sexes are close to evenly balanced, at 97 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it rising to 17,118,469, up 213% from 2026.
Total population
5,461,319
Density
5 people/km²
Median age
17.5 years
Growth rate
+2.69%
Mauritania is experiencing rapid population growth, adding hundreds of thousands of people each year. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 18 in 2026 to 22 by 2050. Population density is low at 5 people per km². Looking ahead, UN projections show the population reaching 17.1M by 2100, more than double 2026's level.