Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mauritania
Mauritania: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 53.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mauritania, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mauritania is 53.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mauritania peaked at 57.3% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 53.3%, in 2025.
That places Mauritania 50th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 57.2% | — |
| 1992 | 57.2% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 57.1% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 57.3% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 57.3% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 57.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 57.1% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 57.1% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 57.1% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 57.3% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 57.3% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 57.2% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 57.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 56.9% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 56.4% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 55.5% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 55.3% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 55.1% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 55.1% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 54.8% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 54.4% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 54.5% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 54.4% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 54.7% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 54.8% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 54.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 54.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 54.4% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 53.9% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 54.7% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 54.2% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 54.1% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 53.8% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 53.6% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 53.3% | -0.5% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 53.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 90% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 53.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 79% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.2% | 57.1% | 57.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 56.3% | 55.1% | 57.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.5% | 53.9% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.0% | 53.3% | 54.7% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mauritania?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Mauritania was 53.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 57.3% in 1994.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.3% in 2025.
- How does Mauritania rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Mauritania ranks 50th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. 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 employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).