Mauritania: immigration

How many refugees are there in Mauritania?

Mauritania hosted 301,490 refugees and 7,378 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to the UNHCR refugee population statistics, up from 155,193 refugees at the end of 2024. ANSADE's Socio-demographic Statistics Yearbook 2025, citing UNHCR, gives 309,670 refugees in 2025 and 5,856 asylum seekers.

The yearbook links the refugee population to the Mbera camp for Malian refugees, whose registered population it shows rising from 67,803 in 2021 to 116,055 in 2024. The two sources use different reference dates and definitions, so their totals differ. Refugee numbers roughly doubled in 2025.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee population statistics · ANSADE: Socio-demographic Statistics Yearbook 2025 (PDF)

How many people claim asylum in Mauritania?

2,735 new asylum applications were lodged in Mauritania in 2025, according to UNHCR's refugee data. Malians made 1,175 of them. 993 people were recognised as refugees in 2025, UNHCR reports.

Asylum applications are separate from the large group of Malian refugees in the Mbera camp in Hodh Chargui, who are registered on arrival. ANSADE's Socio-demographic Statistics Yearbook 2025, citing UNHCR, gives 5,856 asylum seekers in 2025 down from 7,098 in 2024.

Official sources: UNHCR's refugee data · UNHCR reports · Socio-demographic Statistics Yearbook 2025

How many people enter Mauritania each year?

767,325 people entered Mauritania through its main border posts in 2023, down from 1,442,558 in 2022, according to ANSADE's Socio-demographic Statistics Yearbook 2025, citing the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN). Nouakchott-Oumtounsy airport accounted for 289,121 entries.

778,422 departures were recorded in 2023. The figures count crossings, not people, so a person who travels several times is counted each time, and they cover only the main posts. 2023 is the latest year in the yearbook. Mauritania's long land borders with Mali, Senegal, Algeria and Western Sahara are crossed in many places outside official posts.

Official sources: Socio-demographic Statistics Yearbook 2025

How many migrants live in Mauritania?

International migrants made up 3.8% of Mauritania's population in 2024, down from 4.0% in 2020, according to UN estimates on World Bank Open Data. Net migration was an estimated outflow of 5,044 people in 2025, the same site shows.

The migrant stock counts people born abroad, including refugees, so it does not yet fully reflect the large arrival of Malian refugees in 2025. UNHCR counted 43,906 refugees from Mauritania living abroad at the end of 2025, its data shows. Mauritania is also a transit country for migrants travelling towards the Canary Islands.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data (API) · the same site shows · its data shows

What share of Mauritania's population are immigrants?

According to the UN Population Division, the share of people born abroad in Mauritania was 3.8% in 2024. It was 4.2% in 2015. It is 13th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.2%. Worldwide: 104th of 193.

How many people move to Mauritania each year?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in Mauritania at -5,044 in 2025. The peak was 4,515 in 2012 and the low -18,693 in 2005. It is 22nd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is -5,646. World rank, highest first: 113th of 193.

How many refugees are in Mauritania?

In 2025, the number of refugees in the country in Mauritania was 301,490, according to UNHCR. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 35,241, and Mauritania placed 10th highest of 45. Of 169 countries with 2025 data, 26th highest.

How many people from Mauritania are refugees?

43,906: that is the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Mauritania for 2025, according to UNHCR. Since 2005 it has ranged from 31,650 (2005) to 45,592 (2008). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 12,726, and Mauritania placed 16th highest of 48. Worldwide: 34th of 189.

How big are remittances in Mauritania's economy?

In 2024, personal remittances received in Mauritania was 0.9% of GDP, according to the World Bank. Its high point since 2017 was 2020, at 2.0% of GDP; its low point was 2021, at 0.1% of GDP. It is 29th highest of 36 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.5% of GDP. Of 156 countries with 2024 data, 107th highest.