Mauritania flag
West Africa · Africa

Mauritania

موريتانيا
Capital
Nouakchott
Population
4.7M
Area
1,030,700 km²
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 km². The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU).

📊 Quick Facts about Mauritania

👥
Population
4.7M
total residents
📐
Total Area
1,030,700 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
5/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$9.8B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$2,085
per person
💱
Currency
Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
Arabic
official
🌊
Coastline
754 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+0
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1960
established
🕐
Local Time in Nouakchott

Mauritania covers an area of 1,030,700 km² with a population density of 5/km² people per km². 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, the iron ore train that stretches up to 3km in length.

See all 14+ facts about Mauritania

✈️ Travel Information for Mauritania

📅
Best Time to Visit
November–February
Hot desert, extreme heat most of the year
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa on arrival for many nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Mauritania travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Mauritania on the Map

Street-level photo from Nouakchott
📍 Nouakchott · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Mauritania World Rankings

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

🏛 Must-See Places in Mauritania

🗺️ Countries Bordering Mauritania

Algeria
Algeria
Algiers
Mali
Mali
Bamako
Senegal
Senegal
Dakar

⚖️ Compare Mauritania with another country

See how Mauritania stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

MauritaniavsAlgeria
Mauritania vs Algeria
MauritaniavsMali
Mauritania vs Mali
MauritaniavsSenegal
Mauritania vs Senegal
MauritaniavsGhana
Mauritania vs Ghana
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Mauritania

What is the capital of Mauritania?

The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.

What continent is Mauritania in?

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

What currency does Mauritania use?

Mauritania uses the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). The international calling code is +222.

What is the GDP of Mauritania?

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

🌍 Explore More Countries in West Africa

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Ghana
Accra
Nigeria
Nigeria
Abuja
Senegal
Senegal
Dakar
Benin
Benin
Porto-Novo

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