What every visitor should know about Mauritania:

Money
The currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRO). 100 MRO is worth about US$0.39, or €0.27.
Crime
CrimeSafe Travel Score™: 4 out of 5 (Safe)

Areas of concern:

  • Mugging
  • Pick-pocketing / bag-snatching
Capital
Nouakchott
Tap water
Very dangerous. Water-borne disease is widespread and purification is unreliable. Drink boiled or bottled water only.

Mauritania facts and figures:

People

Population
3,129,486
Language
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Ethnicity
Mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

Economy

GDP
US$1,900 (per capita)
Income equality
High
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. More guides: ►Africa ►Americas ►Asia ►Europe ►Middle East ►Pacific