Map of Mauritania | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 1,030,700 km²
Land: 1,030,700 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; about six times the size of Florida

Land boundaries
Total: 5,002 km
Border countries: (4) Algeria 460 km; Mali 2,236 km; Morocco 1,564 km; Senegal 742 km

Coastline: 754 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation
Highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
Mean elevation: 276 m

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 38.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 38.1% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0.2% (2018 est.)
Other: 61.3% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 450 km² (2012)

Major rivers
By length in km:

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 km²), Senegal (456,397 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 1.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 11.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Geography
Note: Mauritania is considered both a part of North Africa's Maghreb region and West Africa's Sahel region; most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country


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Population
Distribution: with most of the country being a desert, vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are without sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal as shown in this [link]: 4,244,878 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 1.96% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 31% (2014 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Mauritanian(s)
Adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups: Black Moors (Haratines - Arabic-speaking descendants of African origin who are or were enslaved by White Moors) 40%, White Moors (of Arab-Amazigh descent, known as Beydane) 30%, Sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups) 30%

Languages: Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French; note - the spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from the Modern Standard Arabic used for official written purposes or in the media; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Tamazight words, is referred to as Hassaniya
Major-language samples:

Religions: Muslim (official) 100%

Demographic profile: With a sustained total fertility rate of about 3.5 children per woman and almost 60% of the population under the age of 25 as of 2020, Mauritania's population is likely to continue growing for the foreseeable future. Mauritania's large youth cohort is vital to its development prospects, but available schooling does not adequately prepare students for the workplace. Girls continue to be underrepresented in the classroom, educational quality remains poor, and the dropout rate is high. The literacy rate is only about 50%, even though access to primary education has improved since the mid-2000s. Women's restricted access to education and discriminatory laws maintain gender inequality - worsened by early and forced marriages and female genital cutting.

Age structure
0-14 years: 36.11% (male 769,229/female 763,465)
15-64 years: 59.58% (male 1,197,311/female 1,331,815)
65 years and over: 4.31% (2023 est.) (male 77,123/female 105,935)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 82.7
Youth dependency ratio: 76.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 6
Potential support ratio: 16.8 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 21.9 years (2023 est.)
Male: 20.9 years
Female: 22.8 years

Population growth rate: 1.96% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 27.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: with most of the country being a desert, vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are without sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal as shown in this [link]

Urbanization
Urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.492 million NOUAKCHOTT (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 41.98 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.74 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 6.16 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 21.8 years (2019/21)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 465 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 43.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 65.6 years (2023 est.)
Male: 63.1 years
Female: 68.1 years

Total fertility rate: 3.46 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 11.5% (2019/20)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 98.7% of population
Improved rural: 68.4% of population
Improved total: 85.2% of population
Unimproved urban: 1.3% of population
Unimproved rural: 31.6% of population
Unimproved total: 14.8% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: 3.4% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Animal contact diseases: rabies
Respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 12.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 10.7% (2020 est.)
Male: 19.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.1% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 22.4% (2022)

Education expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 67%
Male: 71.8%
Female: 62.2% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years
Male: 8 years
Female: 9 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 23% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 20.8%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 27.9%


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Country name
Conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Conventional short form: Mauritania
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
Local short form: Muritaniyah
Etymology: named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.) and the subsequent Roman province (1st-7th centuries A.D.), which existed further north in present-day Morocco; the name derives from the Mauri (Moors), the Berber-speaking peoples of northwest Africa

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Nouakchott
Geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 15 58 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: may derive from the Berber "nawakshut" meaning "place of the winds"

Administrative divisions: 15 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Dependent areas

Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution
History: previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament; amended 2006, 2012, 2017

Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic and French civil law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)
Head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Ould BILAL (since 6 August 2020)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers - nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 June 2019 (next to be held on 22 June 2024); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results:

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament or Barlamane consists of the National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (176 seats statutory; 88 members filled from one or two seat constituencies elected by a two-round majority system and the other 88 members filled from a single, nationwide constituency directly elected by proportional representation vote); 20 seats are reserved for women candidates in the nationwide constituency, 11 seats are reserved for young candidates (aged between 25 and 35), and 4 members directly elected by the diaspora; all members serve 5-year terms
Elections: last held in 2 rounds on 13 and 27 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2,028)
Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - El INSAF 107, Tawassoul 11, UDP 10, FRUD (Republican Front for Unity and Democracy) 7, El Islah (Reformist Party) 6, National Democratic Alliance (AND) 6, El Karama (Dignity Party) 5, Nida Al-Watan 5, Sawab 5, Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal 4, Hiwar 3, Mauritanian Party for Union and Change (HATEM) 3, El Vadila (Party of Virtue) 2, Union for Planning and Construction (UPC) 1, Party of the Mauritanian Masses (Hakam) 1; composition - men, 135, women 41, percent of women elected 23.3%
Note: the early parliamentary elections in 2023 were the first to be held under President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, elected in 2019 in a first peaceful transition of power; the elections followed the agreement between the government and parties in September 2022 to renew the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and hold the elections in the first semester of 2023 for climatic and logistical reasons

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (subdivided into 7 chambers: 2 civil, 2 labor, 1 commercial, 1 administrative, and 1 criminal, each with a chamber president and 2 councilors ); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, 1 by the prime minister, 1 by the leader of the democratic opposition, 1 by the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, and 1 by the second largest party in the National Assembly; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years; High Court of Justice members appointed by Parliament - 6 by the ruling Coalition of Majority Parties and 3 by opposition parties
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; courts of first instance or wilya courts are established in the regions' headquarters and include commercial and labor courts, criminal courts, Moughataa (district) Courts, and informal/customary courts

Political parties and leaders:
Note: only parties with seats in the National Assembly listed

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador BOIDE Cisse (since 15 September 2021)
In the us chancery: 2,129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 232-5,700
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 319-2,623
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 27 January 2021)
From the us embassy: Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott
From the us mailing address: 2,430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC 20,521-2,430
From the us telephone: [222] 4,525-2,660
From the us FAX: [222] 4,525-1592
From the us email address and website:

Flag description: green with a yellow, five-pointed star between the horns of a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon; red stripes along the top and bottom edges; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; green also represents hope for a bright future; the yellow color stands for the sands of the Sahara; red symbolizes the blood shed in the struggle for independence

National symbols: five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon; national colors: green, yellow

National anthem
Name: "Mauritania - Economy 2023

$24.494 billion (2021 est.)
$23.909 billion (2020 est.)
$24.136 billion (2019 est.)

2.45% (2021 est.)
-0.94% (2020 est.)
5.3% (2019 est.)

$5,300 (2021 est.)
$5,300 (2020 est.)
$5,500 (2019 est.)

11.46% (2021 est.)
11.27% (2020 est.)
10.39% (2019 est.)

96.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
100% of GDP (2016 est.)

3.57% (2021 est.)
2.39% (2020 est.)
2.3% (2019 est.)

-$807.862 million (2021 est.)
-$576.175 million (2020 est.)
-$831.106 million (2019 est.)

$3.18 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.784 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.525 billion (2019 est.)

$4.312 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.675 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.683 billion (2019 est.)

$2.039 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$1.493 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$1.029 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

$4.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.899 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 36.063 (2021 est.)
37.189 (2020 est.)
36.691 (2019 est.)
35.678 (2018 est.)
35.794 (2017 est.)

2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2018 est.)

Mauritanian Armed Forces (aka Armée Nationale Mauritanienne): National Army, National Navy (Marine Nationale), Mauritania Islamic Air Force; Gendarmerie (Ministry of Defense)

Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: National Police, National Guard, General Group for Road Safety (2023)