Mauritania’s population growth fell to 2.8% y/y in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. Population growth has no good or bad direction on its own. A faster rate means more demand for schools, jobs, housing and food, and a larger future workforce. A slower rate eases that pressure and also means fewer young people entering the labour market. The latest figure, for 2025, is 2.8% y/y, down from 2.9% a year earlier, a fall of 0.11 percentage points. It is the lowest reading since 2016, when growth peaked at 3% y/y.

Why it matters. At 2.8% y/y, Mauritania's population is still growing quickly, so the number of people needing school places, health care, water and work rises every year. Households feel this in crowded classrooms and a young job market. The state has to expand services and infrastructure at a similar pace just to keep provision per person level.