Africa · Western Africa
Capital: Nouakchott
Mauritania
Explore the facts and rankings that shape Mauritania in Country Blitz, from its population and economy to its military, innovation, manufacturing, and neighboring countries.
Country Blitz power profile
Overall rank #150
Mauritania's Country Blitz power profile compares population, GDP, military expenditure, research-and-development spending, and manufacturing output across every playable country. A lower numerical rank represents a stronger position in that category.
Population
5.3M
#124 of 196
37th percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI / UN population sources
View data source ↗GDP (Nominal)
$11.68B
#152 of 196
23rd percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Military Expenditure
$260.1M
#123 of 196
37th percentile
2024 · SIPRI via World Bank WDI
View data source ↗R&D Spending
$761,750.526
#144 of 196
27th percentile
2018 · UNESCO UIS and World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Manufacturing Output
$540.6M
#147 of 196
25th percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Quick facts
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Region
- Africa
- Subregion
- Western Africa
- Country code
- MRT
Three interesting facts
Mauritania shares land borders with 4 countries: Algeria, Mali, Senegal, and ESH.
Mauritania has a low average population density, with large areas containing relatively few residents.
Mauritania’s position in Western Africa places it within a distinctive network of regional trade routes and migration paths.
Geography
Mauritania on the map
Mauritania is located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara. Its terrain is mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara, some central hills. The climate is desert, constantly hot, dry, dusty. In area, the country is slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico, about six times the size of Florida.
Economy
Economic profile
Mauritania's economy is characterized by 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. Major industries include fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper). Important agricultural products include rice, milk, goat milk, sorghum, sheep milk, lamb/mutton, beef, camel meat, camel milk, dates (2023). Notable exports include gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023).
Demographics
People and population
Mauritania has an estimated population of 4,927,532. Language and cultural traditions vary across Mauritania. The population includes 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%. The urban population represents 57.7% of total population (2023).
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