Mauritania | History, Population, Capital, Flag, & Facts

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data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania">Mauritania</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Mauritania">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref54998"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref54998">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283191"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref283191">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283192"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref283192">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283193"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref283193">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55000"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref55000">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55001"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55003"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life#ref55003">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283194"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life#ref283194">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283195"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life#ref283195">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55005"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Religion">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55002"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Religion#ref55002">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283196"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Religion#ref283196">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55006"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55007"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref55007">Agriculture and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55008"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref55008">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283197"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref283197">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55009"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref55009">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342242"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283198"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade#ref283198">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283199"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade#ref283199">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55010"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade#ref55010">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55011"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283200"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283200">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283201"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283201">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283202"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283202">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283203"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283203">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283204"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283204">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55014"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref55014">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55013"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref55013">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55015"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref55015">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283205"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283205">The arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283206"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283206">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283207"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283207">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283208"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283208">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref214465"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283209"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref283209">Early history</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283210"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref283210">European intervention</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283211"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref283211">Struggle for postindependence stability</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref343434"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref343434">Presidency of Maaouya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya (1984–2005)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref343435"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref343435">Coups of 2005 and 2008 and the return to stability</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Mauritania">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a 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src="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/184536-049-F62E196B/World-Data-ethnic-composition-pie-chart-Mauritania.jpg" alt="Mauritania: Ethnic composition" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/370109/224673" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/184537-049-A7B6FA31/World-Data-religious-affiliation-pie-chart-Mauritania.jpg" alt="Mauritania: Religious affiliation" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/370109/224674" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/184534-049-169B5B89/World-Data-pie-chart-Mauritania.jpg" alt="Mauritania: Urban-rural" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/370109/224675" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/184535-049-1470F710/age-breakdown-bar-graph-Mauritania.jpg" alt="Mauritania: Age breakdown" height="50" /> </a> <a 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/mr-intro.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">GlobalSecurity.org - Mauritania</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mauritania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Mauritania</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/mr.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">CRW Flags - Flag of Mauritania</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13881985" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">BBC News - Mauritania country profile</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/mauritania" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Michigan State University - globalEDGE - Mauritania: Introduction</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Mauritania/345741" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mauritania - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Mauritania/275741" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mauritania - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Islāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mūrītānīyā, Mauritanie, République Islamique de Mauritanie</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Alfred-G-Gerteiny/3540" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Alfred G. Gerteiny</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Former Professor of Middle-Eastern and African Studies, University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Author of <i>Mauritania.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Alfred G. Gerteiny</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Charles-Henri-Toupet/2983" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Charles Henri Toupet</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black"> Emeritus Professor of Tropical Geography, University of Lyon III. Author of <i>Étude du milieu physique de massif de l'Assaba, Mauritanie </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Charles Henri Toupet</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-10-18T00:00:00CDT" >Oct 18, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref533205"></span>Mauritania</strong>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> on the Atlantic coast of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Africa</a>. Mauritania forms a geographic and cultural bridge between the North African <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Maghreb" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Maghrib</a> (a region that also includes <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Morocco" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Morocco</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Algeria</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tunisia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tunisia</a>) and the westernmost portion of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/sub-Saharan-Africa" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sub-Saharan Africa</a>. Culturally, it forms a transitional zone between the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arab" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arab</a>-Amazigh (Berber) populations of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Africa" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">North Africa</a> and the African peoples in the region to the south of the Tropic of Cancer known as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sudan-region-Africa" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sudan</a> (a name derived from Arabic <em>bilād al-sūdān</em>, “land of the Blacks”). Much of Mauritania <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="encompasses" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompasses" data-type="MW">encompasses</a> part of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sahara-desert-Africa" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sahara</a> desert, and, until the drought conditions that affected most of that zone of Africa in the 1970s, a large proportion of the population was nomadic. The country’s mineral wealth includes large reserves of iron ore, copper, and gypsum, all of which are now being exploited, as well as some oil resources.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208672" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/183704-050-486CC6F0/World-Data-Locator-Map-Mauritania.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/370109/208672"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/183704-050-486CC6F0/World-Data-Locator-Map-Mauritania.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/183704-050-486CC6F0/World-Data-Locator-Map-Mauritania.jpg?w=300" alt="Mauritania" data-width="1600" data-height="1532" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/183704-050-486CC6F0/World-Data-Locator-Map-Mauritania.jpg" data-href="/media/1/370109/208672">Mauritania</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Mauritania was administered as a French colony during the first half of the 20th century and became independent on November 28, 1960. By the terms of the constitution, Islam is the official state religion, but the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/republic-government" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">republic</a> guarantees freedom of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conscience" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscience" data-type="MW">conscience</a> and religious liberty to all. <span id="ref516774"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arabic-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arabic</a> is the official language; Fula, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Soninke" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Soninke</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wolof-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Wolof</a> are national languages. The capital, <span id="ref1047136"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nouakchott" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nouakchott</a>, is located in the southwestern part of the country.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/5064-050-C2F7A773/Flag-Mauritania.jpg" data-href="/media/1/370109/61952" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/5064-050-C2F7A773/Flag-Mauritania.jpg" alt="Mauritania" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Mauritania">flag of Mauritania</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <audio src="https://cdn.britannica.com/39/145739-005-CDD203BD/instrumental-national-anthem-Mauritania.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" controls=""></audio> <div class="text-center font-12 mt-5"> <span>Audio File:</span> National anthem of Mauritania</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Mauritanie</dd> <dd>Mūrītānīyā</dd> <dd>République Islamique de Mauritanie</dd> <dd>Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Islāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah</dd> <dd>Islamic Republic of Mauritania</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of State And Government: </dt> <dd>President: Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, assisted by Prime Minister: Mokhtar Ould Diay</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Nouakchott">Nouakchott</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2024 est.) 4,582,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Form Of Government: </dt> <dd>republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [157])</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Language: </dt> <dd>Arabic<sup>1</sup></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Religion: </dt> <dd>Islam</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Name: </dt> <dd>Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Islāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah (Arabic) (Islamic Republic of Mauritania)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>1,030,700</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>397,953</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>ouguiya (UM)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Rank: </dt> <dd>(2023) 127</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Projection 2030: </dt> <dd>5,284,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: </dt> <dd>(2024) 11.5</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Km: </dt> <dd>(2024) 4.4</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Urban-Rural Population: </dt> <dd>Urban: (2024) 58.5%</dd> <dd>Rural: (2024) 41.5%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Life Expectancy At Birth: </dt> <dd>Male: (2022) 62.8 years</dd> <dd>Female: (2022) 67.8 years</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: </dt> <dd>Male: (2021) 72%</dd> <dd>Female: (2021) 62%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): </dt> <dd>(2023) 10,454</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): </dt> <dd>(2023) 2,150</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="footnotes mb-15"> <ol> <li>The 1991 constitution named Arabic as the official language and Arabic, Fula, Soninke, and Wolof as national languages.</li> </ol> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Mauritania"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref54998"><h2 class="h1">Land</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Mauritania is bounded to the northwest by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Sahara" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Western Sahara</a> (formerly the Spanish Sahara), to the northeast by Algeria, to the east and southeast by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mali" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mali</a>, and to the southwest by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Senegal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Senegal</a>. Its <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atlantic Ocean</a> coastline, to the west, extends for 435 miles (700 km) from the delta of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Senegal-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sénégal River</a> northward to Cape Nouâdhibou (Cape Blanco) Peninsula.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="2" id="ref283191"><h2 class="h2"><span id="ref516775"></span>Relief</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Both Mauritania’s relief and its drainage are influenced by the aridity that characterizes the greater part of the country. The impression of immensity given by the landscape is reinforced by its flatness. The coastal plains are lower than 150 feet (45 metres), while the higher plains of the interior vary from 600 to 750 feet (180 to 230 metres). The interior plains form a plateau of which the culminating heights, occurring at different levels, form many tablelands joined to one another by very long, gentle slopes of about 2°. The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="topography" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topography" data-type="MW">topography</a> is relieved by vestiges of cliffs (generally <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/cuesta" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cuestas</a>); by sloping plains that terminate at one end of the slope with a steep cliff or faulted scarp, which may reach heights of 900 feet (275 metres); or by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/inselberg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">inselbergs</a> (steep-sided residual hills), of which the highest is <span id="ref516776"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Ijill" class="md-crosslink ">Mount Ijill</a> at 3,002 feet (915 metres), an enormous block of hematite.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Mauritania may be divided into three principal geologic zones. The first of these, located in the north and northwest, consists of underlying <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Precambrian" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Precambrian</a> rock (about 2.7 billion years old), which emerges to form not only the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="backbone" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/backbone" data-type="EB">backbone</a> of northern Mauritania’s Reguibat ridge region but also the Akjoujt rock series that forms a vast <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/peneplain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">peneplain</a> (a land surface worn down by erosion to a nearly flat plain) studded with inselbergs. The second zone is located partly in the extreme north but mostly in the centre and east. In the north it consists of primary sandstone, which covers the <span id="ref516777"></span>Tindouf Syncline (a fold in the rocks in which the strata dip inward from both sides toward the axis); in the centre is the vast synclinal basin of <span id="ref516778"></span>Taoudeni, bounded by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Adrar-plateau-Mauritania" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Adrar</a>, Tagant, and ʿAçâba (Assaba) plateaus. The basin is scarcely indented to the south by the Hodh Depression, with the <span id="ref516779"></span>Affollé Anticline (a fold in which the rock strata incline downward on both sides from a central axis) lying in its centre. The third zone is formed by the Senegalese-Mauritanian sedimentary basin, which includes coastal Mauritania and the lower Sénégal River valley of the southwest.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/guess-the-country-by-its-neighbors-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/247338-131-37776892/passport-visas-stamps-world-map.jpg" alt="Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283192"><h2 class="h2">Drainage</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="122362" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/23/58623-050-A8E7DB6B/Boats-Senegal-River-Mauritania-Kaedi.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/370109/122362"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/23/58623-050-A8E7DB6B/Boats-Senegal-River-Mauritania-Kaedi.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/23/58623-050-A8E7DB6B/Boats-Senegal-River-Mauritania-Kaedi.jpg?w=300" alt="Kaédi, Mauritania: Sénégal River" data-width="1600" data-height="1056" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/23/58623-050-A8E7DB6B/Boats-Senegal-River-Mauritania-Kaedi.jpg" data-href="/media/1/370109/122362">Kaédi, Mauritania: Sénégal River</a><span>Boats traveling on the Sénégal River past Kaédi, Mauritania (far shore).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The drainage system is characterized by a lack of pattern. Normal drainage is limited to inland southwestern Mauritania, where tributaries of the <span id="ref516782"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Senegal-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sénégal River</a>, which forms the frontier between Mauritania and Senegal, flow southward and are subject to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="ephemeral" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ephemeral" data-type="MW">ephemeral</a> flooding in summer. In the greater part of the country, however, the plateaus are cut into by wadis (dry riverbeds), where the rare floods that occur dissipate their waters into a few permanent drainage basins called <em>guelt</em> (singular <em>guelta</em>). In the wastes of the north and the east, precipitation is so rare and slight that there is practically no runoff.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283193"><h2 class="h2">Soils</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">As a result of the arid phases it underwent during the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Quaternary" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Quaternary Period</a> (2.58 million years ago to the present), the Mauritanian landscape in general presents three different aspects; these are represented by skeletal soils, <span id="ref516780"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/reg" class="md-crosslink ">regs</a> (desert surfaces consisting of small, rounded, tightly packed pebbles), and dunes.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Skeletal soils are formed where outcrops of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="underlying" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/underlying" data-type="EB">underlying</a> rock have been slightly weathered or where they have been covered with a patina or chalky crust. To these may be added the saline soils of the salt flats, formed from the caking of gypsum or of salt derived from the evaporation of former lakes. The regs form plains often of great extent, carpeted with pebbles and boulders. The dunes cover about half of the total area of the country. They are stretched out, often for several dozen miles, in long ridges known as <em><span id="ref516781"></span>ʿalâb</em>, which are sometimes 300 feet (90 metres) high; they frequently overlap with one another, forming a network of domes and basins.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">It is only in the country’s southern regions that the sands bear a brown type of soil. This soil is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="characteristic" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/characteristic" data-type="EB">characteristic</a> of the steppe (treeless plains) and contains 2 percent humus. It is only in the extreme southern part of the country that the iron-bearing lateritic soils of the Sudanic zone begin; in the lowest places occur patches of hydromorphic soils—that is to say, soils that have been altered by waterborne materials.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref55000"><h2 class="h2">Climate</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The climate owes its aridity to the northeastern <span id="ref516783"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/trade-wind" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">trade winds</a>, which blow constantly in the north and throughout most of the year in the rest of the country; the drying effect produced by these winds is increased by the <span id="ref516784"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/harmattan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">harmattan</a>, a hot, dry wind that blows from the northeast or east. With the exception of the few winter rains that occur as a result of climatic disturbances originating in the mid-latitude regions, precipitation essentially results from the rain-bearing southwesterly winds, which progressively extend throughout the southern half of the country at the height of the summer. The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="duration" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/duration" data-type="EB">duration</a> of the rainy season, as well as the total annual amount of precipitation, diminishes progressively from south to north. Thus, Sélibabi in the extreme south receives about 25 inches (635 mm) between June and October; Kiffa, farther north, receives about 14 inches (355 mm) between mid-June and mid-October; Tidjikdja receives about 7 inches (180 mm) between July and September; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Atar-Mauritania" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atar</a> receives 7 inches between mid-July and September; and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nouadhibou" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nouâdhibou</a> (formerly Port-Étienne) receives between 1 and 2 inches (between 25 and 50 mm), usually between September and November. Because of opposition between the wet southwesterlies and the harmattan, precipitation often takes the form of stormy showers or squalls.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The strength of the sun and the lack of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="haze" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/haze" data-type="EB">haze</a> in these latitudes result in high temperatures. In the summer months, afternoon temperatures may reach the low 100s F (high 30s C) in most areas, and daily highs in the 110s F (40s C) are not uncommon in the interior. The average temperature in the coldest month at most stations is in the high 60s F (low 20s C), while the average temperature during the hottest month rises to the mid-70s F (mid-20s C) at Nouakchott in September, to the high 70s F (mid-20s C) at Kiffa in May, to the low 80s F (high 20s C) at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Atar-Mauritania" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atar</a> in July, and to the mid-80s F (high 20s C) at Néma in May.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span></section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":7,"pageId":370109,"pageLength":1299,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Mauritania | History, Population, Capital, Flag, & Facts | Britannica