Mauritania.

Mauritania occupies a vast Saharan stretch of north-west Africa, between Western Sahara and Senegal, with iron-ore wealth and a culture blending Arab-Berber and West African traditions.

Geography & landscape

Mauritania sits in Western Africa, in the northern hemisphere of Africa. With an area of approximately 1,030,700 km², it is a continental-scale country, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Nouakchott, lies near coordinates 20°, -12°.

The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Africa, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Western Africa region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Mauritania.

People & society

The population of Mauritania is around 4.8M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.

The official language is Arabic, used in government, education and most public life. Regional dialects, minority languages and immigrant communities add further linguistic texture.

Government & politics

Mauritania is structured as a presidential republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Nouakchott, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.

Economy & currency

The official currency of Mauritania is the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Nouakchott and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.

Culture & everyday life

The cultural footprint of Mauritania shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Mauritania through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.

Travel essentials

The capital, Nouakchott, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +222, and clocks are set to the GMT (UTC+0) time zone. ISO standards identify Mauritania as MR (alpha-2) and MRT (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇲🇷, appears at every border post and on every passport.

By the numbers

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Did you know?

Mauritania is one of only a handful of countries to use a non-decimal currency — the ouguiya is divided into 5 khoums.