Mauritania

• with most of the country being a desert, vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are without 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

• Mauritania is considered both a part of 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

noun:

Mauritanian(s)

adjective:

Mauritanian

total:

22.1 years (2024 est.)

male:

21.1 years

female:

23.1 years

• with most of the country being a desert, vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are without 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

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.)

total:

48.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

54.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

42.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

65.9 years (2024 est.)

male:

63.4 years

female:

68.5 years

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.)

total:

10.7% (2020 est.)

male:

19.3% (2020 est.)

female:

2.1% (2020 est.)

women married by age 15:

15.5%

women married by age 18:

36.6%

men married by age 18:

1.2% (2021 est.)

• overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification;
• limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river;
• locust infestation

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

urban population:

57.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

widespread lack of access:

• due to high food prices - according to the latest analysis, over 472,000 people are projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance during the June to August 2023 lean season;
• this would be an improvement compared to the previous year, mostly due to a substantial increase in cereal production in 2022;
• high food prices, in particular of imported wheat, continue to worsen acute food security (2023)

particulate matter emissions:

41.98 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

2.74 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

6.16 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

454,000 tons (2009 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

36,320 tons (2009 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

8% (2009 est.)

municipal:

100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

1.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

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.) and the subsequent Roman province (1st-7th centuries A.D.), which existed further north in present-day Morocco;
• the name derives from the Mauri (Moors), the Berber-speaking peoples of northwest Africa

name:

Nouakchott

geographic coordinates:

18 04 N, 15 58 W

time difference:

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

may derive from the Berber "nawakshut" meaning "place of the winds"

history:

previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991

amendments:

• 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;
• amended 2006, 2012, 2017

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

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

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 29 June 2024 (next to be held in June 2029);
• prime minister appointed by the president

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%

;

• 2019: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI elected president in first round;
• percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 52%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 18.6%, Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBACAR (independent) 17.9%, other 11.5%

highest court(s):

• Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (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

• 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

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:

[email protected]; mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington

chief of mission:

Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 27 January 2021)

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:

[email protected]; https://mr.usembassy.gov/

• green with a yellow, five-pointed star between the horns of a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon;
• red stripes along the top and bottom edges;
• the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam;
• green also represents hope for a bright future;
• the yellow color stands for the sands of the Sahara;
• red symbolizes the blood shed in the struggle for independence

name:

" Bilāda l-ʾubāti l-hudāti l-kirām " ( Land of the Proud, Guided by Noblemen )

lyrics/music:

unknown/traditional, Rageh DAOUD

note: adopted 28 November 2017, preceded by " National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania "

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)

• 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

agriculture:

19.9% (2023 est.)

industry:

30.9% (2023 est.)

services:

42.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

23.7% (2023 est.)

male:

20.3% (2023 est.)

female:

30.9% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

3.1% (2019 est.)

highest 10%:

24.6% (2019 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

refined petroleum consumption:

29,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

20 million barrels (2021 est.)

general assessment:

• Mauritania’s small population and low economic output has limited the country’s ability to develop sustained growth in the telecom sector;
• low disposable income has restricted growth in the use of services;
• this has impacted their ability to invest in network upgrades and improvements to service offerings;
• this has been reflected in the repeated fines imposed against them by the regulator for failing to ensure a good quality of service;
• there are also practical challenges related to transparency and tax burdens which have hindered foreign investment;
• financial support has been forthcoming from the government as well as the World Bank and European Investment Bank;
• their efforts have focused on implementing appropriate regulatory measures and promoting the further penetration of fixed-line broadband services by improving the national backbone network, ensuring connectivity to international telecom cables, and facilitating operator access to infrastructure;
• progress has been made to improve internet bandwidth capacity, including the completion of a cable link at the border with Algeria, and the connection to the EllaLink submarine cable;
• the final stage of the national backbone network was completed in December 2021, which now runs to some 4,000km;
• penetration of fixed telephony and broadband service is very low and is expected to remain so in coming years, though growth is anticipated following improvements to backbone infrastructure and the reduction in access pricing;
• most voice and data services are carried over the mobile networks (2022)

domestic:

fixed-line teledensity 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity of roughly 141 per 100 persons (2021)

international:

• country code - 222;
• landing point for the ACE submarine cable for connectivity to 19 West African countries and 2 European countries;
• satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat) (2019)

number of registered air carriers:

1 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

454,435 (2018)

total:

728 km (2014)

standard gauge:

728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

total:

12,253 km

paved:

3,988 km

unpaved:

8,265 km

total ports:

2 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

1

small:

1

very small:

0

ports with oil terminals:

2

key ports:

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

• 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, including unmanned aircraft (drones), from several suppliers, including China and the UAE (2024)

• 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 (2023)