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๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ท
West Africa ยท Africa

Mauritania

ู…ูˆุฑูŠุชุงู†ูŠุง
Capital
Nouakchott
Population
4.7M
Area
1,030,700 kmยฒ
Language
Arabic

Mauritania is a country in West Africa, Africa. Its capital is Nouakchott, with a population of approximately 4.7M and a total area of 1,030,700 kmยฒ. The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU).

๐Ÿ“Š Quick Facts about Mauritania

๐Ÿ‘ฅ
Population
4.7M
total residents
๐Ÿ“
Total Area
1,030,700 kmยฒ
land coverage
๐Ÿ™๏ธ
Pop. Density
5/kmยฒ
people per kmยฒ
๐Ÿ’ฐ
GDP (nominal)
$9.8B
total output
๐Ÿ’ต
GDP per Capita
$2,085
per person
๐Ÿ’ฑ
Currency
Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
legal tender
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ
Language(s)
Arabic
official
๐ŸŒŠ
Coastline
754 km
total shore
๐Ÿ•
Timezone
UTC+0
UTC offset
๐ŸŽ‚
Independence
1960
established
๐Ÿ•
Local Time in Nouakchott

Mauritania covers an area of 1,030,700 kmยฒ with a population density of 5/kmยฒ people per kmยฒ. The country has a GDP of $9.8B ($2,085 per capita) and gained independence in 1960. It has a coastline of 754 km.

Did You Know?

Mauritania was the last country in the world to officially abolish slavery in 1981, though it wasn't criminalized until 2007. The country is also home to the world's longest train โ€” the iron ore train that stretches up to 3km in length.

๐Ÿ’ก Interesting Facts about Mauritania

  1. Mauritania was the last country in the world to officially abolish slavery โ€” in 1981, though it wasn't criminalised until 2007.
  2. The Richat Structure (Eye of the Sahara) is a 50km wide geological bull's-eye visible from space.
  3. Chinguetti is Islam's 7th holiest city and a major medieval centre of Islamic scholarship.
  4. Mauritania is 90% desert โ€” mostly Sahara.

โœˆ๏ธ Travel Information for Mauritania

๐Ÿ“…
Best Time to Visit
Novemberโ€“February
Hot desert, extreme heat most of the year
๐Ÿ’ธ
Cost of Travel
๐Ÿ’š Low Budget
Budget โ€” compared to global average
๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
Meal Cost
$2โ€“6
average restaurant meal
๐Ÿจ
Hotel Cost
$25โ€“60
per night
๐Ÿ›‚
Visa
Visa on arrival for many nationalities
entry requirements
๐Ÿ”Œ
Plug Type
Type C, 220V
electrical standard
๐Ÿš—โžก๏ธ
Driving Side
Right
side of the road

โš ๏ธ Travel information is approximate and may change. Always verify visa requirements, entry rules and travel advisories with official government sources before travelling.

๐Ÿ“ Mauritania on the Map

๐ŸŒ
๐Ÿ“ Nouakchott, Mauritania

โš  Coverage varies by country. Zoom in or drag to explore.

๐Ÿ† Mauritania World Rankings

1st
Last to Abolish Slavery
Last country to officially abolish slavery โ€” 1981
1st
Eye of Sahara
Home to the Richat Structure โ€” a 50km geological eye visible from space
1st
Islamic Heritage
Chinguetti โ€” Islam's 7th holiest city
1st
Iron Ore
Home to the longest train in the world โ€” the iron ore train

๐Ÿ› Must-See Places in Mauritania

๐Ÿ‘๏ธ
Open Wikipedia โ†—
Richat Structure (Eye of the Sahara)

A mysterious 50km wide geological bull's-eye in the Sahara โ€” visible from space and still not fully explained

โ†— Learn more on Wikipedia
๐Ÿ•Œ
Open Wikipedia โ†—
Chinguetti

UNESCO ancient caravan city โ€” Islam's 7th holiest city and a medieval centre of Quranic scholarship

โ†— Learn more on Wikipedia
๐Ÿฆ…
Open Wikipedia โ†—
Banc d'Arguin National Park

UNESCO coastal wetland โ€” one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries with 2 million migratory birds

โ†— Learn more on Wikipedia
๐Ÿš‚
Open Wikipedia โ†—
Iron Ore Train

The world's longest train โ€” up to 3km of wagons carrying iron ore across the Sahara to the coast

โ†— Learn more on Wikipedia

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Countries Bordering Mauritania

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ฟ
Algeria
Algiers
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฑ
Mali
Bamako
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ณ
Senegal
Dakar

โ“ Frequently Asked Questions about Mauritania

What is the capital of Mauritania?

The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.

What language is spoken in Mauritania?

The official language(s) of Mauritania are Arabic.

What is the population of Mauritania?

The population of Mauritania is approximately 4.7M.

What currency does Mauritania use?

Mauritania uses the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU).

What continent is Mauritania in?

Mauritania is located in Africa, in the West Africa region.

What is the GDP of Mauritania?

Mauritania has a GDP of $9.8B, with a GDP per capita of $2,085.

What is the best time to visit Mauritania?

The best time to visit Mauritania is Novemberโ€“February. The climate is Hot desert, extreme heat most of the year.

Do I need a visa for Mauritania?

Visa on arrival for many nationalities

๐ŸŒ Explore More Countries in West Africa

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Accra
๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ
Nigeria
Abuja
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ณ
Senegal
Dakar
๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฏ
Benin
Porto-Novo

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