Mauritania

Mauritania is a country in Africa with its capital in Nouakchott and about 5.3 million people. Mauritania’s towns of Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt and Oualata grew as stops for caravans crossing the Sahara, with mosques and libraries of old manuscripts.

Mauritania in purple, with Nouakchott marked. Outline from the same detailed coastlines the games use.

Capital: Nouakchott
Continent: Africa
Population (2025): 5.3 million
Land area: 1,030,700 km² (397,955 sq mi)

Find it among 54 Africa countries →Explore Mauritania on the map

The story of Mauritania

Where the name comes from

Mauritania means “land of the Moors”, recalling ancient Mauretania in today’s Morocco and Algeria, north of the modern country.

First people

Amazigh, Arab and sub-Saharan African peoples shaped this Saharan crossroads.¹

Known for

Mauritania’s towns of Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt and Oualata grew as stops for caravans crossing the Sahara, with mosques and libraries of old manuscripts.²