CapitalNouakchott
Population5,202,109
Area1,030,700 km²
GDP per capita$6,400
LanguagesArabic , Pular, Soninke, Wolof , French
Currencyouguiyas
Life Expectancy65.9 yr
Governmenta presidential republic
Introduction
Background
The Amazigh and Bafour communities are recognized as some of the earliest inhabitants of present-day Mauritania and were among the first in documented history to transition from a nomadic existence to an agricultural way of life. These populations constitute approximately one-third of Mauritania's ethnic composition. The remaining ethnic groups in Mauritania are primarily derived from Sub-Saharan ethnicities, predominantly from the Senegal River Valley, including descendants of those who were formerly enslaved. These three ethnic categories are structured within a rigid caste system characterized by significant ethnic disparities that influence access to resources and power relations.
Having been a French colony, Mauritania gained its independence from France in 1960. The country initially operated under a single-party authoritarian regime, enduring nearly 49 years of dictatorship, problematic elections, unsuccessful democratic attempts, and military coups. The most recent coup was led by Ould Abdel AZIZ in 2008, who subsequently won the presidency in 2009 and was re-elected in 2014. In 2019, Mohamed Ould Cheikh GHAZOUANI was elected president, marking the first peaceful transfer of power between two democratically elected leaders, thereby reinforcing the nation's status as an emerging democracy. The elections garnered acknowledgment from international observers as being relatively free and fair. GHAZOUANI is campaigning for re-election in June 2024 for a second and final five-year term.
The nation is actively striving to confront the lingering issues related to slavery and its generational consequences. While slavery was officially abolished in Mauritania in 1981, it was not criminalized until 2007. Between 2005 and 2011, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) executed a series of assaults that resulted in the deaths of western tourists and aid workers, targeted diplomatic and governmental institutions, and ambushed Mauritanian military and gendarmerie personnel. Although there have been no attacks in Mauritania since 2011, AQIM and related groups continue to operate within the Sahel region.
Geography
Area
land
1,030,700 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
1,030,700 sq km
Climate
arid; perpetually warm, dry, and dusty
Terrain
predominantly empty, flat expanses of the Sahara; with some central elevations
Land use
other
60.5% (2023 est.)
forest
1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
38.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Western Africa, adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Coastline
754 km
Elevation
lowest point
Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point
Kediet Ijill 915 m
mean elevation
276 m
Irrigated land
450 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin, Taodeni-Tanzerouft Basin
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
5,002 km
border countries
Algeria 460 km; Mali 2,236 km; Morocco 1,564 km; Senegal 742 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust- and sand-laden sirocco winds mainly occurring in March and April; occasional droughts
Geography - note
Mauritania is classified as part of both the Maghreb region of North Africa and the Sahel region of West Africa; the majority of the populace resides in the urban areas of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern region of the country
Natural resources
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Area - comparative
approximately three times larger than New Mexico; around six times the area of Florida
Geographic coordinates
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Population distribution
extensive portions of the nation, especially in the central, northern, and eastern regions, are desert and do not have significant population centers; half of the inhabitants are located in or near the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller communities are situated close to the southern border with Mali and Senegal, as illustrated in this population distribution map
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Senegal river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal and Mali) - 1,641 km
note: [s] following the country name denotes river source; [m] following the country name signifies river mouth
People & Society
Literacy
male
70.1% (2020 est.)
female
51.8% (2020 est.)
total population
59.5% (2020 est.)
Languages
Languages
Arabic (both official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all considered national languages), French
major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim (official) 100%
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
total population
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.73 male(s)/female
Birth rate
34.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
21.1 years
total
18.6 years (2025 est.)
female
23.1 years
Population
male
2,578,114
total
5,202,109 (2025 est.)
female
2,623,995
Nationality
noun
Mauritanian(s)
adjective
Mauritanian
Tobacco use
male
15.5% (2025 est.)
total
8.3% (2025 est.)
female
1.7% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
57.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
35.7% (male 776,035/female 770,132)
15-64 years
59.9% (male 1,227,347/female 1,363,938)
65 years and over
4.4% (2024 est.) (male 80,308/female 110,280)
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%
Child marriage
men married by age 18
1.2% (2021)
women married by age 15
15.5% (2021)
women married by age 18
36.6% (2021)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
84.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
77.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
14.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
7 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
6.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 55.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 44.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
32% national budget (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
54.8 deaths/1,000 live births
total
29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
42.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
2.88% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
2.34 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
extensive regions of the nation, especially in the central, northern, and eastern parts, are characterized by desert terrain and a scarcity of large population centers; approximately half of the populace resides in or near the coastal capital, Nouakchott; smaller population groups are located close to the southern frontier with Mali and Senegal, as illustrated in this population distribution map.
Life expectancy at birth
male
63.4 years
female
68.5 years
total population
65.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
381 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 33.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 89.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 66.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 10.6% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.492 million NOUAKCHOTT (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
12.7% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.8 years (2019/21)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
22.4% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
8 years (2020 est.)
total
8 years (2020 est.)
female
8 years (2020 est.)
Environment
Climate
arid region; perpetually warm, parched, and sandy
Land use
other
60.5% (2023 est.)
forest
1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
38.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
57.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
454,000 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
desertification driven partially by excessive grazing, tree removal, and soil erosion worsened by drought; scarce natural freshwater supplies; locust invasion
Total water withdrawal
municipal
95.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
31.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1.223 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
35.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
11.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: a green background featuring red stripes at the top and bottom; centrally placed on the green field is a five-pointed yellow star above a yellow crescent moon that points upwards
meaning: the crescent, star, and the color green are emblematic of Islam; green symbolizes hope for a prosperous future; yellow represents the Sahara's sands, while red signifies the blood shed during the struggle for independence
Capital
name
Nouakchott
etymology
the origin of the name remains uncertain; it might stem from the Berber term nawakshut, which translates to "place of the winds;" alternative interpretations could include "the location where water emerges in a new well," "the land abundant in shells," "a pasture area," "a breezy place," or "without ears" (the latter referring to a local chieftain who may have inspired the name)
time difference
UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
18 04 N, 15 58 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
Constitution
history
previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991
amendment process
proposed by either the president of the republic or Parliament; amendments considered by Parliament necessitate the approval of at least one-third of its members; a referendum is only conducted if the amendment garners a two-thirds majority vote; for a referendum to pass, it requires a simple majority from eligible voters; proposed amendments by the president can be enacted without a referendum if they receive at least a three-fifths majority vote from Parliament
Country name
etymology
named after the historical kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.); the name originates from the Mauri (Moors) of northwest Africa
local long form
Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form
Muritaniyah
conventional long form
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form
Mauritania
Independence
28 November 1960 (from France)
Legal system
a hybrid legal system incorporating elements of Islamic and French civil law
Government type
a presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (comprising 7 chambers: 2 civil, 2 labor, 1 commercial, 1 administrative, and 1 criminal, each led by a chamber president and 2 councilors); Constitutional Council (made up of 9 members); High Court of Justice (also consists of 9 members)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; first-instance courts, or wilya courts, are located in regional headquarters and include commercial and labor courts, criminal courts, Moughataa (district) Courts, as well as informal/customary courts
judge selection and term of office
the Supreme Court president is appointed by the president of the republic and serves a renewable term of 5 years; members of the Constitutional Council are appointed as follows: 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; these members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of the council renewed every 3 years; members of the High Court of Justice are appointed by Parliament, with 6 from the ruling Coalition of Majority Parties and 3 from opposition parties
Executive branch
cabinet
nominees for the Council of Ministers are proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president
chief of state
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)
election results
2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI reelected as president in the first round; vote percentages - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 56.1%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 22.1%, Hamadi Sidi el MOKHTAR (independent) 12.8%, other 9.0%
head of government
Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024)
most recent election date
29 June 2024
election/appointment process
the president is directly elected through an absolute-majority popular vote in up to 2 rounds if necessary, serving a 5-year term (eligible for re-election for a second term); the prime minister is appointed by the president
expected date of next election
June 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
National color(s)
green, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c); Banc d'Arguin National Park (n)
Political parties
Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR
El Insaf or Equity Party
El Islah or Reform Party
El Karama or Dignity Party
El Vadila or Virtue Party
Mauritanian Party of Union and Change or HATEM
National Democratic Alliance or AND
National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD or TAWASSOUL
Nida El-Watan
Party for Conciliation and Prosperity or HIWAR
Party of the Mauritanian Masses or Hakam
Republican Front for Unity and Democracy or FRUD
Sawab Party
Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP
Union of Planning and Construction or UPC
Legislative branch
chamber name
National Assembly (Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
176 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
Parliament (Barlamane)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/13/2023 to 5/27/2023
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
23.3%
parties elected and seats per party
El Insaf (107); Tawassoul (11); Other (58)
National anthem(s)
title
"National Anthem of Mauritania"
history
adopted 2017
lyrics/music
unknown/Rageh DAOUD
National symbol(s)
five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 319-2623
chancery
2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 232-5700
chief of mission
Ambassador Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021)
email address and website
[email protected]
mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[222] 4525-1592
embassy
Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott
telephone
[222] 4525-2660
mailing address
2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC 20521-2430
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Corina R. SANDERS (since September 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://mr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, 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
International law organization participation
has not issued a declaration regarding ICJ jurisdiction; is a non-party state to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$1.617 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures
$1.407 billion (2019 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$3.18 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$4.132 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$3.955 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$4.312 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$5.77 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$5.271 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
fish processing, oil extraction, mining (iron ore, gold, copper)
Labor force
1.21 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
100% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
0.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019
36.691 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
37.189 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
36.063 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
36.935 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
36.489 (2023 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$3.072 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
lower middle-income economy in West Africa; predominantly agricultural; increasing urbanization; weak property rights; pervasive corruption; ongoing social and labor tensions; widespread terrorism; foreign over-fishing; environmentally vulnerable
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
10.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
10.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
10.4% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 25%, Switzerland 14%, Canada 12%, UAE 9%, Spain 7% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 19%, UAE 14%, Morocco 6%, Spain 6%, France 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$6,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$6,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$6,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
6.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, milk, goat milk, sorghum, sheep milk, lamb/mutton, beef, camel meat, camel milk, dates (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, raw sugar, palm oil, wheat, soybean oil (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
-$807.862 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$1.424 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$966.506 million (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.767 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
55.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption
17.2% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
18.9% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
23.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
38.3% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-53.2% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
31.8% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.5% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$29.514 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$31.434 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$33.069 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
19.9% (2024 est.)
total
23.2% (2024 est.)
female
30.1% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$1.029 billion (2019 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.493 billion (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$2.039 billion (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
30.6% (2024 est.)
services
43.2% (2024 est.)
agriculture
18.6% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.1% (2019 est.)
highest 10%
24.6% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
32 (2019 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
crude oil estimated reserves
20 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
imports
378 million kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
1.7 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
812,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
320 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
proven reserves
28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas
91.6%
electrification - total population
49% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
14.135 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
72.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
12.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
37% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
In 2022, there are 12 television stations operating, comprising 6 state-owned and 6 private entities. The radio broadcasting sector includes 19 stations, with 15 being state-owned and 4 private stations, namely Radio Nouakchott Libre, Radio Tenwir, Radio Kobeni, and Mauritanid. Among the 15 government-operated radio stations, 4 are based in Nouakchott (which include Radio Mauritanie, Radio Jeunesse, Radio Koran, and Mauritanid), while the remaining 12 stations serve each of the 12 regions beyond Nouakchott.
Internet country code
.mr
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
48,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
4.76 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
92 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
14,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
1
medium
1
key ports
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
very small
0
total ports
2 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
2
Airports
25 (2025)
Railways
total
728 km (2014)
standard gauge
728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Heliports
3 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
11 (2023)
by type
general cargo 2, other 9
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5T
Military & Security
Military - note
Established in 1960, the Mauritanian military is tasked with the defense of the nation and the maintenance of internal security. It also plays a role in economic development initiatives, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief operations. Key areas of concern include border and maritime security, regional stability, and the menace posed by terrorist factions operating in the Sahel, especially in Mali. The country has benefitted from security assistance provided by the EU, France, NATO, and the United States as of 2025.
Military deployments
450 (plus about 325 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Mauritanian Armed Forces (also known as Armée Nationale Mauritanienne): includes the National Army, National Navy, and Air Force; Gendarmerie
Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: oversees the National Police and National Guard (2025)
Military service age and obligation
The legal age for voluntary military service is set at 18; there exists a mandatory two-year military service law, although reports indicate that this law has never been enforced (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's arsenal is somewhat limited and primarily consists of older equipment from French and Soviet origins. In recent years, Mauritania has procured some secondhand and new military assets from various suppliers, including China, France, and the UAE (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The estimated number of active personnel in the Mauritanian Armed Forces is around 17,000, with an estimated 3,000 in the Gendarmerie (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
162,277 (2024 est.)
