Labor force participation rate by age in Mauritania
Mauritania: Labor force participation rate by age was 20.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
20.1%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
182nd
of 188 countries
All-time high
26.2%
in 1990
All-time low
20.0%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Mauritania, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Mauritania stood at 20.1%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Mauritania peaked at 26.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 2020.
Mauritania ranks 182nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26.2% | — |
| 1991 | 26.1% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 25.6% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 25.0% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 24.8% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 24.9% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 25.3% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 25.4% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 25.3% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 25.1% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 24.8% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 24.7% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 24.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 24.7% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 24.4% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 24.4% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 24.6% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 23.8% | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 23.0% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 22.2% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 21.4% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 20.6% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 20.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 20.4% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 20.0% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 20.2% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 20.3% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 20.2% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 20.1% | -0.3% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 20.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 58% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 20.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 53% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.4% | 24.8% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.7% | 24.5% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 20.4% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 20.0% | 20.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 179 Iran 22.7% compare
- 180 Puerto Rico 21.7% compare
- 181 Sao Tome and Principe 21.3% compare
- 183 Bulgaria 19.7% compare
- 184 Tajikistan 19.4% compare
- 185 Gabon 17.8% compare
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 labor force participation rate by age in Mauritania?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Mauritania was 20.1% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 26.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 2020.
- How does Mauritania rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Mauritania ranks 182nd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).