Mauritania: capital, population, area and flag
Mauritania is a country in Western Africa (Africa). Its capital is Nouakchott. The population is about 5.32M (#123 of 193) and the area is about 1,030,700 km² (#28 of 193).
Key facts
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Region
- Africa / Western Africa
- Population
- 5,315,065 (2025) #123 of 193
- Total area
- 1,030,700 km² (2024) #28 of 193
- Population density
- 5.0 people/km² (2024) #184 of 193
- GDP (total)
- $11.7B (2025) #148 of 189
- GDP per capita
- $2,198 (2025) #152 of 189
- Life expectancy
- 68.7 years (2024) #140 of 193
- Distance from Japan
- 13,509 km #39 of 192
- Area compared with Japan
- about 2.7 times that of Japan
- Population compared with Japan
- about 1/23 that of Japan
- Main languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
- Calling code
- +222
- Time zone (capital)
- UTC+0
- Time difference from Japan (standard time)
- 9 h behind Japan
- Driving side
- Right
- Capital location
- 18.09°N 15.98°W
Population of Mauritania, 1950–2100 (Japanese)
See past estimates, future projections and the population pyramid in the World Population Time Machine.
Map of Mauritania
Capital: Nouakchott
Mauritania: number one in the world
Mauritania ranks first in the world for these crops, animals, seafood and farm products (latest FAO data). Select one to see the whole ranking.
Mauritania: in the world’s top 10 for food & farming
Mauritania ranks among the world’s top 10 for these crops, animals, seafood and farm products (latest FAO data).
Neighbors by land
Top rankings
Mauritania is in the top 10 for:
Mauritania in world rankings
How Mauritania compares with other countries, indicator by indicator. Click an indicator to see the full ranking.
Questions about Mauritania
What is the capital of Mauritania?
The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.
What is the population of Mauritania?
Mauritania has a population of about 5.32M (2025), #123 of 193 among countries.
How big is Mauritania?
Mauritania covers about 1,030,700 km², #28 of 193 among countries.
Which continent is Mauritania in?
Mauritania is in Africa, in the region of Western Africa.
What is Mauritania number one in the world for in food and farming?
Mauritania ranks first in the world for: Common octopus 28K t (FAO data).
What currency and languages are used in Mauritania?
The currency is the Mauritanian Ouguiya. Main languages: Arabic.
How does Mauritania compare with Japan in size and population?
The area of Mauritania is about 2.7 times that of Japan, and its population is about 1/23 that of Japan.
How far is Mauritania from Japan?
The capital, Nouakchott, is about 13,509 km from Tokyo, the capital of Japan, in a straight line.
What is the time difference between Mauritania and Japan?
The capital, Nouakchott, is on UTC+0 in standard time: 9 h behind Japan.
More countries in Western Africa
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