Mauritania
Introduction
Background
The Amazigh and Bafour people were among the earliest settlers in what is now Mauritania and among the first in recorded history to convert from a nomadic to agricultural lifestyle. These groups account for roughly one third of Mauritania’s ethnic makeup. The remainder of Mauritania’s ethnic groups derive from Sub-Saharan ethnic groups originating mainly from the Senegal River Valley, including descendants of former enslaved peoples. These three groups are organized according to a strict caste system with deep ethnic divides that impact access to resources and power dynamics.
A former French colony, Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960. Mauritania initially began as a single-party, authoritarian regime and experienced 49 years of dictatorships, flawed elections, failed attempts at democracy, and military coups. Ould Abdel AZIZ led the last coup in 2008, was elected president in 2009, and was reelected in 2014. Mohamed Ould Cheikh GHAZOUANI was elected president in 2019, and his inauguration marked the first peaceful transition of power from one democratically elected president to another, solidifying the country's status as an emerging democracy. International observers recognized the elections as relatively free and fair. GHAZOUANI is seeking re-election in June 2024 for a second, and final, five-year term.
The country is working to address vestigial practices of slavery and its hereditary impacts. Mauritania officially abolished slavery in 1981, but the practice was not criminalized until 2007. Between 2005 and 2011, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched a series of attacks killing western tourists and aid workers, attacking diplomatic and government facilities, and ambushing Mauritanian soldiers and gendarmes. Although Mauritania has not seen an attack since 2011, AQIM and similar groups remain active in the Sahel region.
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area
total
1,030,700 sq km
land
1,030,700 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - 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
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% (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.)
forest
1% (2023 est.)
other
60.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
450 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Senegal river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal and Mali) - 1,641 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin, Taodeni-Tanzerouft Basin
Population distribution
vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are desert and lack 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 population distribution map
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Geography - note
Mauritania is considered part of both 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
People and Society
Population
total
5,202,109 (2025 est.)
male
2,578,114
female
2,623,995
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
Languages
Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all 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%
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
84.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
77.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
14.3 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
18.6 years (2025 est.)
male
21.1 years
female
23.1 years
Population growth rate
2.88% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
34.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are desert and lack 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 population distribution map
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)
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 (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.8 years (2019/21)
Maternal mortality ratio
381 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
54.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female
42.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
65.9 years (2024 est.)
male
63.4 years
female
68.5 years
Total fertility rate
4.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
2.34 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
urban: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural
rural: 55.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 44.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)
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.)
Physician density
0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
urban: 89.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural
rural: 33.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 10.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 66.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
12.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
total
8.3% (2025 est.)
male
15.5% (2025 est.)
female
1.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
22.4% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.1% (2020 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15
15.5% (2021)
women married by age 18
36.6% (2021)
men married by age 18
1.2% (2021)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
32% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy
total population
59.5% (2020 est.)
male
70.1% (2020 est.)
female
51.8% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total
8 years (2020 est.)
male
8 years (2020 est.)
female
8 years (2020 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
desertification caused in part by overgrazing, deforestation, and drought-aggravated soil erosion; limited natural freshwater resources; locust infestation
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
Climate
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Land use
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.)
forest
1% (2023 est.)
other
60.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
57.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 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.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
454,000 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10% (2022 est.)
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.)
Total renewable water resources
11.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
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.); its name derives from the Mauri (Moors) 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
the meaning of the name is unclear; it may derive from the Berber nawakshut, meaning "place of the winds;" other variants could translate as "the place where water appears in a new well," "the land where shells abound," "a place with pasture," "a windy place," or "without ears" (the last referring to a local chieftain who could have been the place's namesake)
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
Legal system
mixed system of Islamic and French civil law
Constitution
history
previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991
amendment process
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
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 Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024)
cabinet
Council of Ministers nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
most recent election date
29 June 2024
election results
2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI reelected president in first round; percent of vote - 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%
expected date of next election
June 2029
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament (Barlamane)
legislative structure
unicameral
chamber name
National Assembly (Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya)
number of seats
176 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
5 years
most recent election date
5/13/2023 to 5/27/2023
parties elected and seats per party
El Insaf (107); Tawassoul (11); Other (58)
percentage of women in chamber
23.3%
expected date of next election
May 2028
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (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
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021)
chancery
2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 232-5700
FAX
[1] (202) 319-2623
email address and website
ambarimwashington@diplomatie.gov.mr
mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Corina R. SANDERS (since September 2025)
embassy
Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott
mailing address
2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC 20521-2430
telephone
[222] 4525-2660
FAX
[222] 4525-1592
email address and website
consularnkc@state.gov
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
Independence
28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Flag
description: green with red stripes along the top and bottom edges; on the green field, a five-pointed yellow star is centered over a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon
meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; green also represents hope for a bright future; yellow stands for the sands of the Sahara, and red for blood shed in the fight for independence
meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; green also represents hope for a bright future; yellow stands for the sands of the Sahara, and red for blood shed in the fight for independence
National symbol(s)
five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon
National color(s)
green, yellow
National anthem(s)
title
"National Anthem of Mauritania"
lyrics/music
unknown/Rageh DAOUD
history
adopted 2017
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)
Economy
Economic overview
lower middle-income West African economy; primarily agrarian; rising urbanization; poor property rights; systemic corruption; endemic social and workforce tensions; wide-scale terrorism; foreign over-fishing; environmentally fragile
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$33.069 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$31.434 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$29.514 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
6.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024
$6,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$6,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$6,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.767 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture
18.6% (2024 est.)
industry
30.6% (2024 est.)
services
43.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
55.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption
17.2% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
23.5% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
18.9% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
38.3% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-53.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, milk, goat milk, sorghum, sheep milk, lamb/mutton, beef, camel meat, camel milk, dates (2023)
Industries
fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper)
Industrial production growth rate
2.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force
1.21 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024
10.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
10.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
10.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total
23.2% (2024 est.)
male
19.9% (2024 est.)
female
30.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
31.8% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
32 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.1% (2019 est.)
highest 10%
24.6% (2019 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2023
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021
0.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
revenues
$1.617 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures
$1.407 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
100% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2023
-$966.506 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$1.424 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021
-$807.862 million (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2023
$3.955 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022
$4.132 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021
$3.18 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
China 25%, Switzerland 14%, Canada 12%, UAE 9%, Spain 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023)
Imports
Imports 2023
$5.271 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022
$5.77 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021
$4.312 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 19%, UAE 14%, Morocco 6%, Spain 6%, France 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, raw sugar, palm oil, wheat, soybean oil (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$2.039 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.493 billion (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$1.029 billion (2019 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$3.072 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2023
36.489 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
36.935 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
36.063 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
37.189 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2019
36.691 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
49% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas
91.6%
Electricity
installed generating capacity
812,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption
1.7 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
378 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
320 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
72.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind
6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
12.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
imports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
20 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
proven reserves
28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
14.135 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Communications
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.)
Broadcast media
12 TV stations, 6 state-owned and 6 private; 19 radio broadcasters, including 15 state-owned and 4 (Radio Nouakchott Libre, Radio Tenwir, Radio Kobeni and Mauritanid) private; of the 15 government stations, 4 broadcast from Nouakchott (Radio Mauritanie, Radio Jeunesse, Radio Koran and Mauritanid) and the other 12 broadcast from each of the 12 regions outside Nouakchott (2022)
Internet country code
.mr
Internet users
percent of population
37% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
14,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5T
Airports
25 (2025)
Heliports
3 (2025)
Railways
total
728 km (2014)
standard gauge
728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine
total
11 (2023)
by type
general cargo 2, other 9
Ports
total ports
2 (2024)
large
0
medium
1
small
1
very small
0
ports with oil terminals
2
key ports
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Mauritanian Armed Forces (aka Armée Nationale Mauritanienne): National Army, National Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie
Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: National Police, National Guard (2025)
Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: National Police, National Guard (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2024
2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020
2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 17,000 active Mauritanian Armed Forces; estimated 3,000 Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is limited and made up largely of older French and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, Mauritania has received some secondhand and new military equipment from several suppliers, including China, France, and the UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; has a compulsory two-year military service law, but the law has reportedly never been applied (2025)
Military deployments
450 (plus about 325 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note
founded in 1960, the Mauritanian military is responsible for territorial defense and internal security; it also assists in economic development projects, humanitarian missions, and disaster response; border and maritime security, regional stability, and the threat of terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, particularly Mali, are key areas of focus; Mauritania has received security assistance from the EU, France, NATO, and the US (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.)