Mauritania’s population now exceeds three million, according to figures released by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. Census figures carried out by the organisation in March found 3,398,000 people live inside Mauritania, surprising officials who had expected a higher number, a source told Arabstoday. Earlier projections had claimed Mauritania’s population would hit four million by the year 2010. The country has seen a 500,000 increase in the past 13 years.