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West Africa

Mauritania

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara.

Muslim population100%of the population

Population4.9 millionpeople (current)

CapitalNouakchottUTC 0

Currency36.49 = $1Ouguiyas (MRO) (2023)

Country basics

Mauritania is a West African republic on the Atlantic, mostly covered by the Sahara desert.

Mauritania is a republic with Nouakchott as its capital and Arabic as its official language, bridging the Maghreb and West Africa. The ouguiya is the currency, and iron ore, gold, copper and offshore fishing lead its export earnings.

Official name

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Region

Africa · Western Africa

Government

Unitary semi-presidential Islamic republic

Time zonesCheck the offset for your own city

UTC

Driving side

Right

Phone code

+222

Currency

Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU, UM)

Member of

Arab League; UN; African Union

Website

https://www.mauritania.mr

Faith and language

Religions

Muslim (official) 100%

Languages

Arabic

People and cities

Population

4.9 million (current)

Median ageHalf the population is younger than this

18.6 years (2025)

Living in cities

57.7% (2023)

Largest cities

Nouakchott (capital) 1.492 million

Money and cost of living

Exchange rateYearly average; check today’s rate before you budget

36.49 ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar (2023)

Income per personGDP per person, adjusted for local prices (2021 dollars)

$6,400 (2024)

InflationHow much prices rose over the year

2.5% (2024)

Unemployment

10.4% (2024)

Health and daily life

Life expectancy

65.9 years (2024)

Doctors

0.26 per 1,000 people (2022)

Safe drinking water

77.8% of people (2022)

Electricity

49% of people (2022)

Internet users

37% of people (2023)

Literacy

59.5% of adults (2020)

Land and climate

Climate

Desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

SizeSlightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; about six times the size of Florida

1,030,700 sq km

Natural hazards

Hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)