Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mauritania
Mauritania: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 89.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mauritania, 1994–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mauritania is 89.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mauritania peaked at 89.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 42.7%, in 1994.
That places Mauritania 130th out of 190 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 42.7% | — |
| 1995 | 48.7% | +14.1% |
| 1996 | 52.9% | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 58.2% | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 58.2% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 57.9% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 60.2% | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 60.0% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 63.1% | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 70.4% | +11.5% |
| 2005 | 69.7% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 72.7% | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 74.7% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 72.5% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 71.5% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 71.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 71.4% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 69.8% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 70.6% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 72.1% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 75.9% | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 68.2% | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 72.4% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 73.1% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 70.6% | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 76.8% | +8.7% |
| 2024 | 89.7% | +16.9% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 89.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 90.6%, 99% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 89.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 86.4%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.1% | 42.7% | 58.2% | 5 |
| 2000s | 67.3% | 57.9% | 74.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.6% | 68.2% | 75.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.2% | 76.8% | 89.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More education data for Mauritania
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9,029 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 52,338 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 258,591 (2020)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 891,821 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1725 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 891,821 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mauritania?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mauritania was 89.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 89.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.7% in 1994.
- How does Mauritania rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Mauritania ranks 130th out of 190 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.