Mauritania

<p>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.<br><br>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p>

Land

1,030,700 sq km

Total

1,030,700 sq km

Water

0 sq km

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; about six times the size of Florida

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

754 km

Africa

Highest point

Kediet Ijill 915 m

Lowest point

Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m

Mean elevation

276 m

20 00 N, 12 00 W

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

450 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Algeria 460 km; Mali 2,236 km; Morocco 1,564 km; Senegal 742 km

number of neighbors

4

Total

5,002 km

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.)

arable land

0.44%

Forest

1% (2023 est.)

Other

60.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.01%

No

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin, Taodeni-Tanzerouft Basin

Senegal river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal and Mali) - 1,641 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/im2MmQ5jFjzxWBks5

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192763

Africa

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

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

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

Western Africa

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

UTC

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

34.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

1.2% (2021)

Women married by age 15

15.5% (2021)

Women married by age 18

36.6% (2021)

25.1%

22.4% (2022 est.)

66.1% (2020 est.)

5.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

154 per 1,000

adult male

205 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

7 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

14.3 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

84.7 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

77.8 (2025 est.)

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 (% GDP)

4.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

32% national budget (2024 est.)

5 % of GDP

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%

2.34 (2025 est.)

4 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

6.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

Female

42.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

54.8 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

22 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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

Major-language sample(s)

<br>كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from Modern Standard Arabic; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Tamazight words, is referred to as Hassaniya

number of languages

1

Female

68.5 years

Male

63.4 years

Total population

65.9 years (2024 est.)

Female

51.8% (2020 est.)

Male

70.1% (2020 est.)

Total population

59.5% (2020 est.)

1.492 million NOUAKCHOTT (capital) (2023)

381 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

23.1 years

Male

21.1 years

Total

18.6 years (2025 est.)

21.8 years (2019/21)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Mauritanian

Noun

Mauritanian(s)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

12.7% (2016)

0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

2,623,995

Male

2,578,114

Total

5,202,109 (2025 est.)

2.88% (2025 est.)

Muslim (official) 100%

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.)

Female

8 years (2020 est.)

Male

8 years (2020 est.)

Total

8 years (2020 est.)

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

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.7% (2025 est.)

Male

15.5% (2025 est.)

Total

8.3% (2025 est.)

4.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

57.7% of total population (2023)

measles

93%

15 regions (<em>wilayas</em>, singular - <em>wilaya</em>); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Etymology

the meaning of the name is unclear; it may derive from the Berber <em>nawakshut</em>, 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)

Geographic coordinates

18 04 N, 15 58 W

Name

Nouakchott

Time difference

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

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/mr.svg

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

History

previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991

alternative spellings

MR, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, al-Jumhūriyyah al-ʾIslāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah

Conventional long form

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Conventional short form

Mauritania

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

FIFA code

MTN

Local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

local long form (ara)

الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية

Local short form

Muritaniyah

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Corina R. SANDERS (since September 2025)

Email address and website

<br>consularnkc@state.gov<br><br>https://mr.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott

FAX

[222] 4525-1592

Mailing address

2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2430

Telephone

[222] 4525-2660

Chancery

2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Ciss&eacute; Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021)

Email address and website

<br>ambarimwashington@diplomatie.gov.mr<br><br>mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2623

Telephone

[1] (202) 232-5700

Cabinet

Council of Ministers nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)

Election results

<em><br>2024:</em> 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%

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

Expected date of next election

June 2029

Head of government

Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024)

Most recent election date

29 June 2024

<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

The flag of Mauritania has a green field with a thin red horizontal band at the top and bottom of the field. At the center of the field is a five-pointed yellow star above an upward facing yellow crescent.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/mr.svg

presidential republic

28 November 1960 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (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

mixed system of Islamic and French civil law

Chamber name

National Assembly (Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya)

Electoral system

mixed system

Expected date of next election

May 2028

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament (Barlamane)

Most recent election date

5/13/2023 to 5/27/2023

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the early parliamentary elections in 2023 were the first to be held under President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI, elected in 2019 in the first peaceful transition of power; the elections followed the agreement between the government and parties in September 2022 to renew the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and hold the elections in the first semester of 2023 for climatic and logistical reasons

Number of seats

176 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

El Insaf (107); Tawassoul (11); Other (58)

Percentage of women in chamber

23.3%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

green, yellow

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c); Banc d'Arguin National Park (n)&nbsp;

Total World Heritage Sites

2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon

Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR<br>El Insaf or Equity Party<br>El Islah or Reform Party<br>El Karama or Dignity Party<br>El Vadila or Virtue Party<br>Mauritanian Party of Union and Change or HATEM<br>National Democratic Alliance or AND<br>National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD or TAWASSOUL<br>Nida El-Watan<br>Party for Conciliation and Prosperity or HIWAR<br>Party of the Mauritanian Masses or Hakam<br>Republican Front for Unity and Democracy or FRUD<br>Sawab Party<br>Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP<br>Union of Planning and Construction or UPC

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

rice, milk, goat milk, sorghum, sheep milk, lamb/mutton, beef, camel meat, camel milk, dates (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$1.407 billion (2019 est.)

Revenues

$1.617 billion (2019 est.)

code

MRU

name

Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU) [UM]

$-1,039,382,013

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$4.46 billion

Debt - external 2023

$3.072 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

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.)

$4.52 billion

Exports 2021

$3.18 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$4.132 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$3.955 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 25%, Switzerland 14%, Canada 12%, UAE 9%, Spain 7% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$1.44 billion

Exports of goods and services

38.3% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

17.2% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

55.3% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-53.2% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

23.5% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

18.9% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

18.6% (2024 est.)

Industry

30.6% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Services

43.2% (2024 est.)

$10.767 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$2,110

32.6 (2014)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

32 (2019 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$10.8 billion

$2,120

43 % of GDP

Highest 10%

24.6% (2019 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.1% (2019 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$5.69 billion

Imports 2021

$4.312 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$5.77 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$5.271 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, raw sugar, palm oil, wheat, soybean oil (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 19%, UAE 14%, Morocco 6%, Spain 6%, France 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

2.8% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper)

note

<strong>note:</strong> gypsum deposits have never been exploited

2.49%

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

1.21 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

1.25 million persons

agriculture

32.12%

industry

15.04%

services

52.83%

31.8% (2019 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

100% of GDP (2016 est.)

$38.09 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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.)

6.31%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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.)

$7,369

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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.)

$94.54 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

$2.04 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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.)

10.32%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

10.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

10.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

10.4% (2024 est.)

Female

30.1% (2024 est.)

Male

19.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

23.2% (2024 est.)

Imports

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

1.7 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

378 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

812,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

320 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

49% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

91.6%

Fossil fuels

72.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0%

Hydroelectricity

12.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

19.36%

Solar

8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

14.135 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

20 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

19.6%

per 100 inhabitants

1 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total

14,000 (2022 est.)

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)

.mr

Percent of population

37% (2023 est.)

+222

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

48,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100

91 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

92 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

4.76 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

328,992 passengers

registered carrier departures

4,365 departures

25 (2025)

5T

Right

3 (2025)

By type

general cargo 2, other 9

Total

11 (2023)

Key ports

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

2

Small

1

Total ports

2 (2024)

Very small

0

Standard gauge

728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Total

728 km (2014)

RIM

armored vehicles

tanks

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)

Mauritanian Armed Forces (aka Armée Nationale Mauritanienne): National Army, National Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie <br><br>Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: National Police, National Guard (2025)

active duty personnel

21,000

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> the National Police are responsible for enforcing the law and maintaining order in urban areas, while the paramilitary Gendarmerie is responsible for maintaining civil order around metropolitan areas and providing law enforcement services in rural areas; like the Mauritanian Armed Forces, the Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense, but also supports the ministries of Interior and Justice<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the National Guard performs a limited police function in keeping with its peacetime role of providing security at government facilities, to include prisons; regional authorities may call upon the National Guard to restore civil order during riots and other large-scale disturbances; the National Guard includes the nomadic Camel Corps or Nomad Group, also known as the Méhariste

percent of total labor force

2.00 %

estimated 17,000 active Mauritanian Armed Forces; estimated 3,000 Gendarmerie (2025)

450 (plus about 325 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

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)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$260,059,017

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.)

percent of central government expenditure

9.62 %

percent of GDP

2.16 % of GDP

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)

PowerIndex score

2.7919

Refugees

162,277 (2024 est.)

Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

From petroleum and other liquids

4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

desertification caused in part by overgrazing, deforestation, and drought-aggravated soil erosion; limited natural freshwater resources; 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

35.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

1 % of total land area

19 % of total

11.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

337 % of internal resources

Agricultural

1.223 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

31.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

95.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

454,000 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

10% (2022 est.)