Mauritania: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Mauritania?

Mauritania's unemployment rate was 13.25% in the second quarter of 2026, up from 12.14% a year earlier, according to the quarterly national employment survey (ENTE) from ANSADE. The rate was 23.50% for young people aged 14 to 35 and 21.73% for women.

The survey covers about 2,500 households each quarter and follows International Labour Organization definitions. ANSADE notes that unemployment alone does not capture the labour market, because 52.02% of the working-age population is outside the labour force. Combining unemployment with the potential labour force gives much higher rates for young people (46.60%) and women (49.53%). The World Bank's modelled estimate for 2025 is 10.32%.

Official sources: ANSADE: ENTE key results, Q2 2026 (PDF) · World Bank: Unemployment, modelled ILO estimate, Mauritania

How many people work in Mauritania?

About 1,263,926 people were in employment in Mauritania in the second quarter of 2026, according to ANSADE's quarterly employment survey. That is 41.62% of the working-age population (aged 14 to 64), up from 40.91% a year earlier. The labour force, including the unemployed, was 1,457,008, a participation rate of 47.98%.

ANSADE estimates the population at 5,343,893 in 2026, with 56.83% of working age. The employment ratio rose in rural areas (43.44%, from 36.40%) and fell in urban areas (40.38%, from 44.17%). Participation is much higher for men (58.26%) than for women (28.04%).

Official sources: ANSADE: ENTE key results, Q2 2026 (PDF)

How many jobs in Mauritania are casual or seasonal?

26.94% of people in work in Mauritania had a precarious job in the second quarter of 2026, up from 20.75% a year earlier, according to ANSADE's quarterly national employment survey (ENTE) report. Precarious jobs are casual work paid by the task or the day, and seasonal work.

The share was 40.37% in rural areas, against 17.09% in towns, and it rose in both. The private sector, including the self-employed, provided 92.93% of jobs; the public sector 7.07%, up from 6.43%. Agriculture, livestock and fishing employed 28.33% of workers. The survey follows International Labour Organization definitions and covers people aged 14 to 64.

Official sources: quarterly national employment survey (ENTE) report

How many people in Mauritania want to work more hours?

16.83% of Mauritania's labour force was either unemployed or working fewer hours than they wanted in the second quarter of 2026, up from 14.23% a year earlier, according to ANSADE's quarterly employment survey report. Unemployment alone was 13.25%.

This measure, called SU2 by the International Labour Organization, adds time-related underemployment to unemployment. The widest measure, SU4, which also includes people who want work but are not looking or not available, was 34.21%. ANSADE considers the broader measures more relevant in Mauritania, where there are few services that help people search for jobs.

Official sources: quarterly employment survey report

What is the minimum wage in Mauritania?

In 2022, the statutory minimum wage in Mauritania was 3,000 MRU a month (about $81), according to the ILO. The figure has been the same every year since 2012.

How high is unemployment in Mauritania?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 10.3%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 9.3% (2006) to 11.1% (2021). It is 12th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 5.2%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 32nd highest.

What is youth unemployment in Mauritania?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 22.9%. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 25.5%; its low point was 2006, at 14.4%. It is 11th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 8.8%. Worldwide: 33rd of 174.

What is the labour force participation rate in Mauritania?

40.8%: that is the labour force participation rate in Mauritania for 2025, according to the ILO. The peak was 45.0% in 2005 and the low 40.5% in 2020. It is 43rd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 64.3%. World rank, highest first: 165th of 174.

What share of women in Mauritania are in the labour force?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate for women in Mauritania was 26.2%, according to the ILO. The peak was 27.9% in 2005 and the low 25.9% in 2020. It is 43rd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 57.3%. Worldwide: 160th of 174.

How many people in Mauritania are employed?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 36.6%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 36.1% (2020) to 40.7% (2005). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 58.8%; Mauritania is 42nd highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 162nd highest.

How common is self-employment in Mauritania?

53.3%: that is the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Mauritania for 2025, according to the ILO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 67.6%, and Mauritania placed 32nd highest of 45. Worldwide: 49th of 174.

What share of workers in Mauritania earn a wage or salary?

42.6%: that is the share of workers who are paid employees in Mauritania for 2025, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 42.8%; its low point was 2005, at 41.1%. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 29.0%, and Mauritania placed 14th highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 127th highest.