Health in Mauritania
Mauritania
Health data overview for the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Population
5 022 441 (2023)
Current health expenditure (% of GDP)
4.12 (2021)
WHO region
Eastern Mediterranean
World Bank income level
Lower-middle income (LMC)
Population
Current Population
Mauritania, 2023
5.0M
5,022,441 people
Age 0-14 Years
Mauritania, 2023
22.1%
Percentage of population aged 0–14 years.
Age 15-64 Years
Mauritania, 2023
73.5%
Percentage of population aged 15–64 years.
Age 65+ Years
Mauritania, 2023
4.4%
Percentage of population aged 65 years and older.
Population
Mauritania, 2000 - 2050
Life expectancy
Life expectancy at birth
The average number of years that a newborn could expect to live.
Mauritania, by sex, 2000 - 2021.
Leading Causes of Death (2021)
| Rank | Cause of Death | Deaths per 100,000 Population (Mauritania, 2021) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower respiratory infections | 45.8 |
| 2 | Stroke | 44.3 |
| 3 | COVID-19 | 42.8 |
| 4 | Ischaemic heart disease | 36.9 |
| 5 | Preterm birth complications | 34.8 |
| 6 | Birth asphyxia and birth trauma | 20.7 |
| 7 | Diarrhoeal diseases | 20.1 |
| 8 | Malaria | 17.3 |
| 9 | Tuberculosis | 14.3 |
| 10 | Kidney diseases | 14.3 |
Risk factors
Hypertension
Mauritania, 2019
37.9% [27.6% – 49.5%]
−0.2 percentage points • improving since 2018
Age-standardized prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 30–79 years (%).
Tobacco Use
Mauritania, 20222
9.5% [7.2% – 11.7%]
Age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older (%).
Adult Obesity
Mauritania, 2022
22.7% [19.2% – 26.8%]
+0.7 percentage points • worsening since 2021
Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults aged 18 years and older (%).
Children & Adolescents Obesity
Mauritania, 2022
8% [4% – 14.2%]
+0.4 percentage points • worsening since 2021
Prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents aged 5–19 years (%).
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