Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mauritania
Mauritania: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 32.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mauritania, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Mauritania recorded 32.7% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mauritania peaked at 48.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 32.0%, in 2017.
Mauritania ranks 52nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 48.5% | — |
| 1992 | 48.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 48.1% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 47.9% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 47.6% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 47.2% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 47.0% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 46.4% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 46.0% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 45.6% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 45.1% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 44.3% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 43.5% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 42.6% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 41.6% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 40.6% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 39.9% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 39.2% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 38.4% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 37.7% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 36.9% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 36.0% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 35.1% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 34.2% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 33.4% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 32.8% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 32.0% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 33.1% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 34.0% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 34.1% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 33.9% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 33.3% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 32.7% | -1.8% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 32.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 95% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 32.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 76% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.4% | 46.0% | 48.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 42.1% | 38.4% | 45.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.5% | 32.0% | 37.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.5% | 32.7% | 34.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More agriculture & rural data for Mauritania
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1995 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5156 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3851 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 20.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 20.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.2% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mauritania?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Mauritania was 32.7% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 48.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.0% in 2017.
- How does Mauritania rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Mauritania ranks 52nd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.