Female labor force participation rate in Mauritania
Mauritania: Female labor force participation rate was 29.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Mauritania, 1975–2019
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Mauritania is 29.8%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 9.4% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Mauritania peaked at 29.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 1975.
That places Mauritania 177th out of 194 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Female labor force participation rate in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 4.5% | — |
| 1988 | 25.3% | +464.8% |
| 2000 | 28.5% | +12.5% |
| 2012 | 28.0% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 27.2% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 29.8% | +9.4% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 29.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 63% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 29.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 52% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 25.3% | 25.3% | 25.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.5% | 28.5% | 28.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 28.3% | 27.2% | 29.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More work & labour data for Mauritania
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6195 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6211 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6179 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0646 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,532 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,433 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 8,606 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 8,513 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 17,118 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Mauritania?
- Female labor force participation rate in Mauritania was 29.8% in 2019, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 1975.
- How does Mauritania rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Mauritania ranks 177th out of 194 countries with data for 2019.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.