Mauritania: housing

Are building costs rising in Mauritania?

Mauritania's construction cost index was 150.6 in the second quarter of 2026, 0.8% higher than in the first quarter and 3.4% higher than a year earlier, according to ANSADE's quarterly construction cost index note. The year-on-year rise was 7.0% in the first quarter of 2026.

The index tracks the cost of building materials, site management goods and services, and labour. In the second quarter, materials rose 0.9%, site management costs 11.4% and labour 0.1%. It measures the cost of building, not the selling price of homes or rents: no official house price or rent index was found on ANSADE's or the ministries' sites, checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: ANSADE: Construction cost index note, Q2 2026 (PDF)

What share of Mauritania is urban?

61.5%: that is the share of people living in urban areas in Mauritania for 2025, according to the UN Population Division. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 44.9%, and Mauritania placed 11th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 104th of 193.

How many people in Mauritania live in slums?

The latest figure from UN-Habitat, for 2022, is 58.6%. Its high point since 2006 was 2006, at 74.6%; its low point was 2018, at 56.0%. It is 19th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 48.7%. Worldwide: 20th of 170.

What share of people in Mauritania have electricity?

In 2024, the share of people with access to electricity in Mauritania was 52.2%, according to the World Bank. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 57.8%; Mauritania is 34th highest of 48. Worldwide: 178th of 193.

What share of homes in Mauritania cook with clean fuels?

56.0%: that is the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Mauritania for 2024, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 13.0%; Mauritania is 8th highest of 48. Worldwide: 134th of 192.