Labor force participation rate in Mauritania
Mauritania: Labor force participation rate was 40.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Mauritania, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Mauritania stood at 40.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Mauritania peaked at 46.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 40.5%, in 2020.
Mauritania ranks 176th of 186 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 in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 46.5% | — |
| 1991 | 46.4% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 46.4% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 46.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 46.3% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 46.2% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 46.2% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 46.1% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 46.1% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 46.0% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 46.0% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 45.8% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 45.6% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 45.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 45.2% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 45.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 44.8% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 44.6% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 44.4% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 44.2% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 44.0% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 43.8% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 43.6% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 43.1% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 42.6% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 42.1% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 41.6% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 41.1% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 41.1% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 41.0% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 40.5% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 40.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 40.9% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 40.9% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 40.9% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 40.8% | -0.3% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 40.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 71% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 40.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.3% | 46.0% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.1% | 44.2% | 46.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.4% | 41.0% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.8% | 40.5% | 40.9% | 6 |
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 labor force participation rate in Mauritania?
- Labor force participation rate in Mauritania was 40.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 46.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.5% in 2020.
- How does Mauritania rank for labor force participation rate?
- Mauritania ranks 176th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).