Mauritania’s urban growth among highest in Africa- World Bank

Mauritania’s cities have been growing at a rate of 3.8%, one of the highest in Africa, the World Bank said in a report, urging more attention to cities in the interior.

The World Bank is implementing together with Mauritanian authorities an urban development program dubbed Moudoun, which seeks to address the vulnerability of Mauritanian cities by supporting the government’s efforts to make the towns and cities located in the country’s interior more productive, resilient, green, and inclusive.

The project targets eight cities in the south of the country, as well as refugee and host communities in and around Mberra on the border with Mali, the World Bank said in the report.

In August 2022, massive flooding caused significant damage to Mauritanian cities, equivalent to up to 3% of GDP, and destroyed over 4,000 dwellings.

Mauritania’s urban population has increased significantly over the years. In 2023, the urban population reached 57.7%, up from 19.2% in 1974.