Mauritania's unemployment rate rose to 13.25% in the second quarter of 2026 from 12.14% a year earlier, statistics agency ANSADE said in the key results of its quarterly labor force survey, posted on October 12. Joblessness reached 23.50% among people aged 14 to 35 and 21.73% among women, according to the agency.
Analysis: Employment increased 5.0% from a year earlier, but the labor force grew 6.3%, lifting the number of unemployed people by 16% to 193,082, by our calculation. The share of working-age urban residents with jobs fell to 40.4% from 44.2%, while the rural employment rate rose to 43.4% from 36.4%. The contrasting trends point to greater employment pressure in cities. Employers in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou may find more applicants, particularly younger workers. ANSADE estimates broader unmet demand for work at 34.2% of the labor force. Third-quarter survey figures are expected around mid-January.
Source: ANSADE, ANSADE, Enquête Nationale Trimestrielle sur l'Emploi (ENTE), Résultats clés du deuxième trimestre 2026, Q2 2026 and Q2 2025