Situated in Western Africa, Mauritania 🇲🇷 (officially Islamic Republic of Mauritania) is one of the most interesting places you can land on when you spin the globe. With a population of about 5.2 million and a total area of 1,030,700 km², it offers far more than its statistics suggest.
Whether you discovered Mauritania through our random country spinner or searched for it directly, this guide covers everything you need to know: the flag, the capital city of Nouakchott, population figures, languages, currency, geography and a collection of memorable facts.
Where is Mauritania located?
Geographically, Mauritania belongs to Western Africa within Africa. Its territory spans approximately 1,030,700 km², which makes it the 30th largest country or territory on Earth.
Mauritania has a coastline as well as land borders with Algeria, Mali, Senegal and Western Sahara — a crossroads position that has influenced its culture and economy for centuries.
The capital city is Nouakchott, the political and cultural heart of the country and usually the first stop for visitors who want to understand how mauritanian life really works.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in Mauritania?
Around 5.2 million people live in Mauritania, making it the 126th most populous country or territory in the world. A person from Mauritania is called a Mauritanian.
The main language spoken here is Arabic. Learning even a handful of phrases before a visit goes a long way with locals.
Beyond the numbers, everyday culture in Mauritania — from markets and music to family traditions — is what makes discovering it through a random spin so rewarding.
Good to know before you go
The official currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU, symbol UM). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Mauritania is +222. Websites from the country typically use the .mr internet domain.
Quiz tip: the three facts most worth memorising about Mauritania are its flag, its capital Nouakchott, and its approximate population of 5.2 million.
Neighbouring countries
Mauritania shares borders with 4 countries:
Fun facts about Mauritania
- Mauritania's flag emoji is 🇲🇷 — its two-letter country code is MR and its three-letter code is MRT.
- Mauritania covers 1,030,700 km², ranking 30th in the world by area.
- With about 5.2 million people, Mauritania holds the 126th spot in the world population ranking.
- Mauritania is a member state of the United Nations.
- Mauritania shares borders with 4 countries.
Mauritania — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Mauritania?
- The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.
- What is the population of Mauritania?
- Mauritania has a population of approximately 5,169,395 people, ranking 126th in the world.
- Where is Mauritania located?
- Mauritania is located in Western Africa, part of the Africa region.
- What language is spoken in Mauritania?
- The main language spoken in Mauritania is Arabic.
- What currency is used in Mauritania?
- Mauritania uses the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU).
