Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mauritania
Mauritania: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 22.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
22.9%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
37th
of 187 countries
All-time high
25.5%
in 2020
All-time low
14.4%
in 2006
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mauritania, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mauritania is 22.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mauritania peaked at 25.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 14.4%, in 2006.
Mauritania ranks 37th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.1% | — |
| 1992 | 15.2% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 15.0% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 15.2% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 15.0% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 14.9% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 15.0% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 15.2% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 15.3% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 15.3% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 15.4% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 15.5% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 15.1% | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 15.0% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 14.7% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 14.4% | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 14.6% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 14.9% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 15.5% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 15.2% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 15.1% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 16.2% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 17.4% | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 18.5% | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 21.0% | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 22.2% | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 23.4% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 25.5% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 24.9% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 23.5% | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 23.2% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 23.0% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 22.9% | -0.5% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 22.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1%, 2.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 22.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 2.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.1% | 14.9% | 15.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 14.4% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.4% | 15.1% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.8% | 22.9% | 25.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 34 Montenegro 24.4% compare
- 35 Sweden 24.3% compare
- 36 United States Virgin Islands 24.2% compare
- 38 Lebanon 22.7% compare
- 39 Iran, Islamic Republic of 21.9% compare
- 40 Morocco 21.9% 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 unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mauritania?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mauritania was 22.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.4% in 2006.
- How does Mauritania rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Mauritania ranks 37th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.