geography
Mauritania contains the Richat Structure, a huge circular rock formation nicknamed the "Eye of the Sahara," visible from space and easily spotted by astronauts.
Mauritania
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Population, GDP, and key facts about Mauritania — updated for 2026.
Capital · NOUAKCHOTTContinent · AFRICAISO · MRT
Mauritania quick facts
- Population
- 5,169,395
- Area
- 1,030,700 km²
- Population density
- 5 people/km²
- GDP
- US$ 10.9 Billion
- GDP per capita
- US$ 2.1K
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Currency
- Mauritanian ouguiya (UM, MRU)
- Minimum wage
- US$ 81.2/month · UM 3,000/month (2022)
- Language
- Arabic
Mauritania at human scale
Where does Mauritania rank in the world?
Compare Mauritania with other countries
🇲🇷 vs 🇨🇫Compare Mauritania vs Central African Republic🇲🇷 vs 🇹🇬Compare Mauritania vs Togo1.6× difference in population🇲🇷 vs 🇨🇷Compare Mauritania vs Costa Rica
Compare Mauritania with any country →Mauritania's energy mix
Fossil fuels · 77%Renewables · 23%
- Oil77%
- Hydropower10%
- Solar8%
- Wind5%
Share of Mauritania's own electricity generation by source, 2024. Source: Our World in Data (Ember Yearly Electricity Data and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy).
Everything we know about Mauritania
Countries near Mauritania
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Fill the Country →Frequently asked questions about Mauritania
What is the capital of Mauritania?
The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.
What is Mauritania's population?
Mauritania has a population of 5,169,395.
What is Mauritania's GDP per capita?
Mauritania's GDP per capita is US$ 2.1K.
What is the currency of Mauritania?
The currency of Mauritania is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU).
What is the minimum wage in Mauritania?
Mauritania's statutory minimum wage is about US$ 81.2 per month (as of 2022) — UM 3,000 per month in local currency.
Is Mauritania bigger than Central African Republic?
Mauritania is about 1.7× the size of Central African Republic by land area.
Data from the World Bank, updated November 2026.