Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Mauritania
Mauritania: Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) was 11.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of undernourishment in Mauritania, 2001–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of undernourishment in Mauritania is 11.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 66.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Mauritania peaked at 11.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.1%, in 2012.
That places Mauritania 54th out of 171 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9.8% | — |
| 2002 | 9.2% | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 9.4% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 9.5% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 10.3% | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 9.3% | -9.7% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | -13.1% |
| 2009 | 7.0% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 6.8% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 7.0% | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 7.9% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 9.9% | +10.0% |
| 2023 | 10.5% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 11.0% | +4.8% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 11.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.1%, 99% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 11.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.8%, 59% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.9% | 7.0% | 10.3% | 9 |
| 2010s | 6.9% | 6.1% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | 8.4% | 11.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More health data for Mauritania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8878 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 1,563 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0789 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Mauritania?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Mauritania was 11.0% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 11.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.1% in 2012.
- How does Mauritania rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Mauritania ranks 54th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Prevalence of undernourishment is the percentage of the population whose habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required to maintain a normal active and healthy life. Data showing as 2.5 may signify a prevalence of undernourishment below 2.5%.