Mauritania/Society

Society in Mauritania

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
5M(2023)
Population Growth
3%(2023)
Fertility Rate
4.70(2023)
Death Rate
5.5 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-2.2K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
68.5 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
37.8 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
381 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
4.5%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
67%(2021)
Primary Enrollment
79.6%(2018)
Secondary Enrollment
35.9%(2020)
Tertiary Enrollment
6(2020)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
2.6%(2023)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
37.4%(2023)
Access to Electricity
50.3%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
77.8%(2022)
Urban Population
2.9M(2023)
Rural Population
2.1M(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Mauritania

  • Mauritania has an estimated population of 5.0M
    2023
    The nation is experiencing rapid demographic expansion with an annual growth rate of 3.0%
    2023
    , indicative of a dynamic and youthful population structure and potential for a significant demographic dividend. The elevated fertility rate of 4.7 births per woman
    2023
    contributes to a young population, presenting both opportunities for future growth and demands on educational and health services. Net emigration is relatively minor, impacting the population by approximately 2K individuals annually (or -0.4 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    .
  • Regarding public health, Healthcare outcomes show foundational progress with a life expectancy of 68.5 years
    2023
    , yet significant disparities or developmental gaps may still exist. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (37.8 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality (381 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    ) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 4.5% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Basic literacy development shows promise at 67%
    2021
    , but substantial and targeted investment is required to expand educational access and improve outcomes comprehensively. Complementing this, while primary education reaches 80% of children
    2018
    , secondary enrollment at 36%
    2020
    suggests significant attrition challenges that may hinder higher skill development and future economic potential. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 2.6% of GDP
    2023
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (58% urban population
    2023
    ) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 50%
    2023
    and internet penetration at 37%
    2023
    severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

A youthful, rapidly growing population presents a "demographic dividend" opportunity if met with sufficient investment in jobs and services.

Public Health System

Public health outcomes are a core indicator of national development and quality of life. Access to healthcare is essential for sustainable growth.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.