Mauritania

Official nameIslamic Republic of Mauritania
Name in local languageRépublique islamique de Mauritanie (fr) ; الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية (ar)
ContinentAfrica
SubcontinentSub-Saharan Africa
Population (ranking: 134e)3,984,110 inhabitants (2018)
Population growth2.32 % / year
Area1,030,700 km²
Density3.87 inhabitants / km²
GDP (ranking: 172e)5.366 billions $USD (2018)
GDP/capita (ranking)1,219 $USD (2018)
GDP growth3.60 % / year (2018)
Life expectancy (ranking)64.70 years (2018)
Birth rate32.31 ‰ (2013)
Fertility rate4.30 children / woman (2013)
Death rate (ranking)10.90 ‰ (2013)
Infant mortality rate (ranking)72.00 ‰ (2013)
Literacy rate62.64 % (2015)
Official languagesArabic, French
CurrencyOuguiya (MRO)
HDI (ranking: 200e)0.527 / 1 (2018)
EPI (ranking)39.24 (2018)
GovernmentUnitary semi-presidential Islamic republic
Head of StatePresident Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
National Day28 November (independence of 1960)
ISO CodesMR, MRT
DemonymMauritanian
Tourists (ranking)1,470 people (2017)
Mauritanie – petite

Mauritania is a country in northwestern Africa, bordering Algeria and Western Sahara to the north, Mali to the east, and Senegal to the south, with which it shares the Senegal River. It is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, along a coastline over 700 kilometers long.

Mauritanie - Adrar : Passe d'Amogjar
Pass of Amogjar, Adrar, Mauritania. Photo: Ji-Elle
Nouakchott, capitale de la Mauritanie
Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania. Photo: Wikipedia
Richat Structure, Mauritania
Richat Structure, Mauritania. Photo: NASA
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Urban areas (2017)
Urban areasPopulation
Nouakchott1,116,739 inhabitants
Nouadhibou132,246 inhabitants
Fessale (Fassalé)65,927 inhabitants
Kiffa55,499 inhabitants
Kaédi48,537 inhabitants
Adel Bagrou47,829 inhabitants
Zouérate46,286 inhabitants
Boghé (Bogué)42,759 inhabitants
Bougadoum40,341 inhabitants
Atar38,877 inhabitants
Rosso35,847 inhabitants
Néma24,419 inhabitants
Bousteille20,327 inhabitants
See all urban areas
Administrative divisions
Regions (Wilayas)PopulationArea
Adrar61,196 inhabitants235,000 km²
Assaba360,249 inhabitants36,600 km²
Brakna320,447 inhabitants33,000 km²
Dakhlet Nouadhibou138,526 inhabitants22,300 km²
Gorgol358,027 inhabitants13,600 km²
Guidimakha (Guidimagha)294,506 inhabitants10,300 km²
Hodh Ech Chargui478,464 inhabitants182,700 km²
Hodh El Gharbi313,681 inhabitants53,400 km²
Inchiri22,833 inhabitants46,800 km²
Nouakchott1,116,739 inhabitants1,000 km²
Tagant82,683 inhabitants98,340 km²
Tiris Zemmour55,213 inhabitants252,900 km²
Trarza291,210 inhabitants67,800 km²
See all administrative divisions
See also