Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Mauritania
Mauritania: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 56.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Mauritania, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Mauritania recorded 56.6% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Mauritania peaked at 68.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 56.6%, in 2025.
Mauritania ranks 174th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.5% | — |
| 1991 | 68.0% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 67.6% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 67.1% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 66.7% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 66.3% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 65.8% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 65.4% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 65.0% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 64.5% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 64.1% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 63.8% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 63.6% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 63.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 63.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 63.0% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 62.7% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 62.5% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 62.2% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 62.0% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 61.7% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 61.5% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 61.3% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 60.6% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 59.8% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 59.0% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 58.3% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 57.5% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 57.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 57.3% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 56.7% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 56.8% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 57.2% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 57.0% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 56.9% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 56.6% | -0.4% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 56.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.3%, 81% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 56.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.5% | 64.5% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.0% | 62.0% | 64.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.4% | 57.3% | 61.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.9% | 56.6% | 57.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 171 Italy 58.3% compare
- 172 French Polynesia 58.0% compare
- 173 Croatia 57.4% compare
- 175 United States Virgin Islands 56.2% compare
- 176 Tajikistan 55.8% compare
- 177 Sierra Leone 55.2% 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Mauritania?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Mauritania was 56.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 68.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.6% in 2025.
- How does Mauritania rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Mauritania ranks 174th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.