MigrantoImmigrants in Mauritania
189.8K foreigners live in Mauritania — 4% of the country's population
Immigrants in Mauritania by country
The 3 largest groups make up 93% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Mali | 122945 |
| Western Sahara | 32947 |
| Senegal | 20739 |
| Guinea | 3650 |
| Algeria | 1922 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 1415 |
| Syria | 651 |
| Benin | 647 |
| Ivory Coast | 542 |
| Cameroon | 460 |
| Morocco | 401 |
| Saudi Arabia | 357 |
| Tunisia | 290 |
| Egypt | 263 |
| Ghana | 240 |
| Palestine | 188 |
| Brazil | 186 |
| China | 185 |
| Niger | 174 |
| Togo | 168 |
| Libya | 161 |
| Lebanon | 138 |
| Iraq | 131 |
| USA | 125 |
| DR Congo | 104 |
| Gabon | 97 |
| Spain | 97 |
| South Korea | 80 |
| UAE | 78 |
| Argentina | 76 |
| Russia | 69 |
| Belgium | 69 |
| Italy | 62 |
| Chad | 58 |
| Canada | 57 |
| Kuwait | 35 |
By region of origin
99% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Mauritania in numbers
Malians are the largest group by a wide margin
65% of all immigrants were born in Mali, while the next group accounts for just 17%.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 85% to 65%.
Immigrant population in Mauritania over time
Foreigners living in Mauritania, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 110227 |
| 1995 | 88054 |
| 2000 | 55481 |
| 2005 | 56197 |
| 2010 | 65646 |
| 2015 | 161138 |
| 2020 | 176583 |
| 2024 | 189807 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Mauritania, by year
| Year | Malians | Western Sahara | Senegalese | Guineans | Algerians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6776 | 0 | 94138 | 2748 | 1450 |
| 1995 | 41626 | 0 | 36493 | 2936 | 1549 |
| 2000 | 7483 | 0 | 37730 | 3042 | 1601 |
| 2005 | 7559 | 0 | 38114 | 3073 | 1617 |
| 2010 | 5297 | 26001 | 26706 | 2157 | 1133 |
| 2015 | 104491 | 28007 | 17630 | 3105 | 1634 |
| 2020 | 114379 | 30652 | 19294 | 3396 | 1788 |
| 2024 | 122945 | 32947 | 20739 | 3650 | 1922 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Mauritania
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Mauritania
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Mauritania?
Around 189.8K immigrants live in Mauritania — the world's #115 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Mauritania are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 4% of the population of Mauritania — that's 189.8K out of a total population of 5.2M.
Where do most immigrants in Mauritania come from?
Most immigrants in Mauritania come from Mali, Western Sahara and Senegal — these three countries account for about 93% of all immigrants.
How many Malians live in Mauritania?
Around 122.9K Malians live in Mauritania — about 65% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Mauritania growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Mauritania has grown from 161.1K to 189.8K, about 18%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Mauritania come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Mauritania. Their children born in Mauritania are not included.
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Living in Mauritania
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