Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Mauritania
Mauritania: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 8.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
8.1%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
49th
of 187 countries
All-time high
9.7%
in 2017
All-time low
7.9%
in 2024
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Mauritania, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Mauritania is 8.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and down 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Mauritania peaked at 9.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2024.
Mauritania ranks 49th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.8% | — |
| 1992 | 8.9% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 8.6% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 8.6% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 8.7% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 8.8% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 8.9% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 8.6% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 8.5% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 8.3% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 8.1% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 8.2% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 8.4% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 8.9% | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 8.8% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 8.7% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 8.6% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 9.5% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 8.9% | -8.2% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | -9.6% |
| 2020 | 8.7% | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 8.7% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 8.0% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 7.9% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 8.1% | +2.1% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 8.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.3%, 1.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 8.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.3%, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.7% | 8.6% | 8.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 8.1% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.9% | 8.1% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.3% | 7.9% | 8.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 46 Chile 8.5% compare
- 47 Saint Lucia 8.4% compare
- 48 Tajikistan 8.2% compare
- 50 Equatorial Guinea 7.7% compare
- 51 Latvia 7.6% compare
- 52 France 7.5% compare
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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Mauritania?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Mauritania was 8.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2024.
- How does Mauritania rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Mauritania ranks 49th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.