Mauritania · Africa
How many people die in Mauritania every day?
In Mauritania, about 88 people die every day, roughly one death every 16 minutes. That is about 32,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 126th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 64.4 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
88
Deaths per year
32,000
Life expectancy
64.4 years
Population
4,862,989
Death rate
6.6 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Mauritania
64.4
World avg
72.8
-8.4 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Mauritania
6.6
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Mauritania by time period
| Per hour | 3.7 |
| Per day | 88 |
| Per week | 614 |
| Per month | 2,667 |
| Per year | 32,000 |
What people die of in Mauritania
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Mauritania in 2023 was pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections, which accounted for 10.2% of all deaths, about 6.6 a day. It was followed by heart disease (ischaemic) and stroke.
Deaths from kidney diseases have more than doubled since 2000, from about 353 to 923 a year. Deaths from diarrhoeal diseases have fallen by 51% since 2000, from about 2,155 to 1,062 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 2,425 | 6.6 | 10.2% | -17% |
| 2 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 2,101 | 5.8 | 8.8% | +113% |
| 3 | Stroke | 1,875 | 5.1 | 7.9% | +71% |
| 4 | Preterm birth complications | 1,315 | 3.6 | 5.5% | +3% |
| 5 | Diarrhoeal diseases | 1,062 | 2.9 | 4.5% | -51% |
| 6 | Kidney diseases | 923 | 2.5 | 3.9% | +161% |
| 7 | Diabetes | 802 | 2.2 | 3.4% | +112% |
| 8 | Birth asphyxia and birth trauma | 792 | 2.2 | 3.3% | -10% |
| 9 | Hypertensive heart disease | 603 | 1.7 | 2.5% | +149% |
| 10 | Cirrhosis of the liver | 564 | 1.5 | 2.4% | +55% |
Deaths in Mauritania since 2000
WHO estimates that about 23,797 people died in Mauritania in 2023, 13% more than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 20,989 deaths |
| 2010 | 20,833 deaths |
| 2019 | 23,369 deaths |
| 2023 | 23,797 deaths |
Life expectancy in Mauritania since 1950
A baby born in Mauritania in 1950 could expect to live about 38.4 years. By 2023 that had risen to 68.5, a gain of 30.1 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 38.4 years |
| 1980 | 53.2 years |
| 2000 | 61 years |
| 2010 | 65.7 years |
| 2019 | 67.6 years |
| 2023 | 68.5 years |
Mauritania compared with similar countries in Africa
Among the 50 countries in Africa on this site, Mauritania ranks 16th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritania | 88 | 64.4 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Liberia | 104 | 60.7 | Malaria |
| Central African Republic | 181 | 53.1 | Lower respiratory infections |
| Congo | 104 | 64.7 | Lower respiratory infections |
| Eritrea | 71 | 66.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Libya | 88 | 72.9 | Cardiovascular disease |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Mauritania every day?
In Mauritania, about 88 people die every day, or roughly one death every 16 minutes. That adds up to about 32,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Mauritania?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Mauritania. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections first in 2023, with 10.2% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Mauritania?
Life expectancy at birth in Mauritania is 64.4 years, 8.4 years below the world average of 72.8. That ranks 153rd of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Mauritania high?
Mauritania records about 6.6 deaths per 1,000 people each year, below the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.