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Photos of Mauritania

A remarkably clear satellite image of northwestern Africa vividly displays the extent of the Sahara. To the north are the dark brown Atlas Mountains of Morocco, to the west is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south is the semi-arid (light brown) Sahelian region. The largely desert composition of Mauritania restricts human settlement. Population centers are mostly confined to the Atlantic coast or along the Senegal River in the southwest. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Introduction

World Factbook Glyph

Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 30

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Languages

Arabic audio sample:

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 185

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 43

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 37

Death rate

comparison ranking: 115

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 133

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 16

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 19

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 38

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 133

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 189

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 174

Government

National anthem

"Bilāda l-ʾubāti l-hudāti l-kirām" (Land of the Proud, Guided by Noblemen):

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 22

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 168

Labor force

comparison ranking: 142

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 166

Public debt

comparison ranking: 25

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 31

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 140

Exports

comparison ranking: 147

Imports

comparison ranking: 148

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 84

Energy

Communications

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 130

Railways

comparison ranking: total 98

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 130

Waterways

comparison ranking: 67

Merchant marine

comparison ranking: total 158

Military and Security

Military expenditures

comparison ranking: 46

Terrorism

Transnational Issues