Mauritania
Mauritania
A surge in refugee numbers in Mauritania has been witnessed due to Mali's political instability, climate change, and humanitarian issues.

Key statistics
164,733
people were displaced or stateless (or returning from forced displacement) within the country at the end of 2024
162,303
people were registered as refugees and asylum-seekers at the end of 2024, mostly from Mali
$45.5 million
are needed in 2025 to ensure that operations and programmes in Mauritania are sustained
Mauritania, maintaining its long-standing open-door policy, hosts over 160,000 Malian refugees and asylum-seekers in the arid Hodh Chargui region - home to the Mbera camp - as well as in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. With ongoing insecurity in Mali, large-scale returns are unlikely, and arrivals have continued into 2023 and 2024.
In coordination with national and local authorities through the Refugee Coordination Forum, UNHCR leads the interagency humanitarian response in Hodh Chargui. Its multi-year strategy focuses on ensuring access to protection and assistance while promoting inclusion in national systems.
Efforts are centered on food security, documentation, livelihoods, and environmental resilience, while also enhancing refugee participation and self-reliance. The approach aims to strengthen community-based solutions, support integration, and explore resettlement options, working in close partnership with the government and host communities toward durable outcomes.
Strategy and results
This section provides key information related to the Global Appeal and Global Report.
Strategy
Latest multi-year strategy, outlining key priorities and a comprehensive overview of operational plans as part of the Global Appeal.
Indicators and targets
Indicators and targets enable operations to establish their benchmarks and targets for comparison with results.
Annual Results Report
Latest Annual Results Report highlighting key achievements from the year and published as part of the Global Report.
Population and financial overview
Mauritania
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
Population types
Population types
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by country
Population by country
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by origin
Population by origin
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Financial
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget and expenditure trend
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by pillar
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Budget by objective
Note: The table presents the budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
yearselected
Strategy - Country
Strategy
Street Address:
Ilot K No. 143, Route de la Corniche, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Mailing Address:
B.P. 4405, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Phone:
+222 5 257 415
Fax:
+222 5 256 176
Email:
[email protected]
Time zone:
GMT +0
Working hours
- Monday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Tuesday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Wednesday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Thursday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Friday: 8:00 - 12:30
- Saturday: closed
- Sunday: closed