Mauritania

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
The Amazigh and Bafour people were among the earliest settlers in what is now Mauritania. The country gained independence from France in 1960. After years of dictatorships, flawed elections, and military coups, the country is now an emerging democracy.

Geography

Area
total : 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Natural resources
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

People and Society

Population
total: 4,328,040 (2024 est.)

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
Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French

Religions
Muslim (official) 100%

Population growth rate
1.92% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Nouakchott

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); John T. ICE Chargé d’Affaires (since July 2024)

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)
$33.069 billion (2024 est.)
$31.434 billion (2023 est.)
$29.514 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$6,400 (2024 est.)
$6,300 (2023 est.)
$6,100 (2022 est.)

Exports
$3.955 billion (2023 est.)
$4.132 billion (2022 est.)
$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
$5.271 billion (2023 est.)
$5.77 billion (2022 est.)
$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)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.563, ranking it 163rd out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 129th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 4.269. (more information)