Name
Its name comes from the ancient kingdom of Mauretania, whose name derives from the "Mauri" (Moors) of northwest Africa.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
Mauritania
19.59° N, 9.74° W
The population grows 2.88% a year, at 34.01 per 1,000 births per 1,000 people.
population growth +2.88% · 11th/230 · birth rate 34.01 per 1,000 · 15th/226
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 4,525,696
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 1,030,700 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 1,035,384 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 4.4 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- MR · MRT
- GDP (nominal)
- $10.77 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $6,400
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Mauritania 1,030,700 km²Mozambique 799,380 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where Mauritania sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age18.6 years212th of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy65.9 years199th of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate4.76 children per woman12th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population4,525,696129th of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area1,030,700 km²30th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline754 km91st of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Geography
Between Senegal and Western Sahara, on the North Atlantic Ocean, lies Mauritania in Western Africa. Its terrain consists of barren, flat plains of the Sahara, with some central hills. Mauritania belongs to both North Africa’s Maghreb region and West Africa’s Sahel region.
Its natural resources include iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, and fish. Kediet Ijill is the country’s highest point. Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha is the country’s lowest point.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
People and society
Black Moors, also called Haratines, are Arabic-speaking descendants of African origin who are or were enslaved by White Moors. White Moors are of Arab-Amazigh descent and known as Beydane. Sub-Saharan Mauritanians are non-Arabic speaking, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups, and are largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley. Arabic is the official and national language; Pular, Soninke, and Wolof are national languages, alongside French. The official religion is Muslim.
Vast desert areas in the central, northern, and eastern parts of the country lack sizeable population clusters. People live in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott, with smaller clusters near the southern border with Mali and Senegal.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Government
Islamic and French civil law form a mixed legal system. The government is a presidential republic. The latest constitution was adopted 12 July 1991, following a previous constitution from 1964. Mauritania gained independence from France on 28 November 1960. Independence Day, 28 November (1960), is the national holiday.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
On green, red stripes run along top and bottom edges; a five-pointed yellow star is centered over a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon. The crescent, star, and green are traditional symbols of Islam; green represents hope for a bright future. Yellow stands for the Sahara's sands, and red for blood shed in the fight for independence. The national symbol is a five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $10.77 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $33.07 billion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $6,400
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- +5.2%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Inflation (consumer prices)
- 2.5%
- Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Unemployment
- 10.4%
- Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $3.96 billion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $5.27 billion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 65.9 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 18.6 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 34.01 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 5.18 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 4.76 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- +2.88% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 57.7%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Literacy
- 59.5%
- Field “People and Society → Literacy → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Languages
- Arabicofficial
- Pular
- Soninke
- Wolof
- French
- Field “People and Society → Languages → Languages” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Religions
- Muslim100%
- Field “People and Society → Religions” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 1,030,700 km²Land 1,030,700 km² · Water 0 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 754 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 5,002 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Mean elevation
- 276 m
- Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Highest point
- 915 m Kediet Ijill
- Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Natural geography 4
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID
Oceans 1
Plateaus 1
Largest cities 6
Population · Natural Earth
- Nouakchottcapital742.1K
- Saint-Louis220.8K
- Nema200K
- Nouadhibou86.7K
- Kiffa73.9K
- Zouirat56.3K