Islamic Republic of Mauritania | |
---|---|
Motto: شرف، إخاء، عدل "Honour, Fraternity, Justice" | |
Anthem: النشيد الوطني الموريتاني "Land of the Proud, Guided by Noblemen" | |
Capital and largest city | Nouakchott 18°09′N 15°58′W / 18.150°N 15.967°W |
Official languages | Arabic |
Recognised national languages | French |
Recognised regional languages | Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof, Zenaga |
Other languages | English, Italian, Spanish |
Ethnic groups | |
Religion | Islam (Sunni) |
Demonym(s) | Mauritanian |
Government | Unitary semi-presidential Islamic republic |
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani | |
Mokhtar Ould Djay | |
Mohamed Ould Meguett[1] | |
Legislature | National Assembly |
Independence | |
• Republic established | 28 November 1958 |
• Independence from France | 28 November 1960 |
• Current constitution | 12 July 1991 |
Area | |
• Total | 1,030,000 km2 (400,000 sq mi)[2] (28th) |
• Water (%) | 0.03 |
Population | |
• 2021 estimate | 4,614,974[3][4] |
• 2013 census | 3,537,368[2] |
• Density | 3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi) |
GDP (PPP) | 2018 estimate |
• Total | $18.117 billion[5] (134th) |
• Per capita | $4,563[5] (140th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2018 estimate |
• Total | $5.200 billion[5] (154th) |
• Per capita | $1,309[5] (149th) |
Gini (2014) | 32.6[6] medium |
HDI (2019) | 0.546[7] low · 157th |
Currency | Ouguiya (MRU) |
Time zone | UTC (GMT) |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +222 |
ISO 3166 code | MR |
Internet TLD | .mr |
Mauritania is a country in northwest Africa. The capital city, which is also the biggest city in the country, is Nouakchott. It is on the Atlantic coast. Its president is General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
At 1,030,700 km² (397,929 mi²),[8] Mauritania is the world's 29th-largest country (after Bolivia). It is similar in size to Egypt. The land is flat in most places.