World SurveyPlay
Sheet 107 of 195 · AfricaMRT · 19.3°N 9.8°W

Mauritania

Islamic Republic of Mauritania · الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية

Capital
Nouakchott
Population
5.32 million 2025
Area
1,030,700 km²
Neighbours
3
Locator map of MauritaniaMAURITANIANouakchottMALISENEGALWESTERNSAHARAMOROCCOBURKINA FASONorthAtlantic Ocean0500 km
Mauritania hatched, Nouakchott marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 21.0°N 10.9°W; the scale bar is true at the centre.

In Western Africa, Mauritania has three land neighbours: Algeria, Mali and Senegal. It also borders Western Sahara. Its area of 1,030,700 km² puts it 28th in the world and 11th of 54 in Africa.

About 5.32 million people lived in Mauritania in 2025, according to the World Bank; only 70 countries have fewer. With 5.2 people per km², only nine countries are more thinly populated. The urban share of the population was 61.5% in 2025.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$2,198 in current US dollars: 153rd of 191 worldwide, 23rd of 52 in Africa. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 68.7 years. The fertility rate was 4.63 births per woman in 2024.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Western hemispheres. From 14.7°N to 27.3°N, it spans about 1,394 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from Nouakchott lies in the Coral Sea, about 230 km from the nearest land, New Caledonia.

How it compares Africa: 54 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAfrica
Population5,315,0652025, World Bank124th of 19439th of 54
Area1,030,700 km²world-countries28th of 19511th of 54
GDPUS$11.7 billion2025, World Bank, current US$150th of 19139th of 52
GDP per capitaUS$2,1982025, World Bank, current US$153rd of 19123rd of 52
Population density5.2 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries185th of 19451st of 54
Life expectancy68.7 years2024, World Bank140th of 19413th of 54
Urban population61.5%2025, World Bank105th of 19416th of 54
Forest area1.0% of land2024, World Bank182nd of 19449th of 54
Population growth+2.78% a year2025, World Bank18th of 19410th of 54
Internet users45.8%2024, World Bank150th of 18823rd of 53
Fertility rate4.63 births per woman2024, World Bank11th of 19410th of 54
Land neighbours3world-countries; among the 195; also borders Western Sahara83rd of 19531st of 54
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaEgypt, Bolivia and Ethiopia

Closest in populationNew Zealand, Palestine and Slovakia

Neighbours 3 countries by land and 1 other area, nearest capital first

  • Senegal407 km
    Nouakchott to Dakar, capital to capital
  • Mali1,047 km
    Nouakchott to Bamako, capital to capital
  • Algeria2,788 km
    Nouakchott to Algiers, capital to capital
  • Western Sahara1,047 km
    Nouakchott to El Aaiún, capital to capital; no separate sheet: not one of the 195 countries in this atlas

Mauritania also borders Western Sahara. It is listed here but not counted or ranked as neighbours.

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Western
Capital
Nouakchott
18.09°N 15.98°W
Northernmost latitude
27.29°N
Southernmost latitude
14.75°N
Westernmost longitude
17.06°W
Easternmost longitude
4.82°W
North to south
about 1,394 km
Antipode of Nouakchott
18.09°S 164.03°E
in the Coral Sea, about 230 km from the nearest land (New Caledonia)