Unemployment rate in Mauritania
Mauritania: Unemployment rate was 10.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Mauritania, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Mauritania recorded 10.3% for unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Mauritania peaked at 11.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 2006.
That places Mauritania 38th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.0% | — |
| 1992 | 10.1% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 9.8% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 10.0% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 9.8% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 9.8% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 9.8% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 10.0% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 10.0% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 10.0% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 10.1% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 10.2% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 9.8% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 9.6% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 9.3% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 9.5% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 10.2% | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 10.1% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 9.9% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 9.9% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 10.0% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 10.1% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 10.3% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 10.3% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 10.4% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 10.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 10.4% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 10.3% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 10.3% | +0.6% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 10.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 2.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 10.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.9% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.8% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.1% | 9.9% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 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 unemployment rate in Mauritania?
- Unemployment rate in Mauritania was 10.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 11.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 2006.
- How does Mauritania rank for unemployment rate?
- Mauritania ranks 38th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.