Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Mauritania: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna grade (MCC, ranked #156 of 195).
Mauritania is a presidential republic in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Moroccan Sahara. The country's capital is Nouakchott; it covers 1,030,700 sq km. Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France). Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills. Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty. Population: 5.2 million (2025 estimate). Population growth: +2.88% per year. Median age: 18.6 years. Life expectancy: 65.9 years (2024 est.). Languages: Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French Religions: Muslim (official) 100% Urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023). Major urban areas…
| Capital | Nouakchott |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,202,109 (2025 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $33.069 billion (2024 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $6,400 (2024 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 5.2% (2024 est.) |
| Inflation | 2.5% |
| Unemployment | 10.4% |
| Public debt | 100% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Exports | $3.955 billion (2023 est.) |
| Imports | $5.271 billion (2023 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 65.9 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 18.6 |
| Urbanization | 57.7% of total population (2023) |
| Government | presidential republic |
| Independence | 28 November 1960 (from France) |
| Languages | Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French |
MCC · 40/100 — The Magna grade is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
A neutral quarter in the truest sense: nothing happened that altered the country's course or standing.
The score records absence of momentum honestly — the deeper currents continue, unmoved by the calendar.
Iron ore, Gypsum, Copper, Phosphates, Diamonds, Gold, Oil.
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani — President. President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)
Mauritania maintains 39 embassies and 1 consulates abroad, hosts 33 foreign diplomatic missions, holds permanent missions to UN New York, AU Addis Ababa. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 39 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 1 |
| Foreign missions hosted | 33 |
| Multilateral missions | UN New York, AU Addis Ababa |
Source: Consular Affairs Center, Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings, January 2026 (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0). https://zenodo.org/records/18109976
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 754 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 25 + 3 heliports (registration prefix 5T) |
| Major seaports | Nouadhibou, Nouakchott |
| Railways | 728 km |
Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB) — Nouadhibou; Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) — Nouakchott; Tazadit Airport (OUZ) — Zouérate.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28)
| Political system | presidential republic |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
MCC · 40 Ranked #156 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Mauritania.
