World Factbook
Mauritania
Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: green with red stripes along the top and bottom edges; on the green field, a five-pointed yellow star is centered over a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; green also represents hope for a bright future; yellow stands for the sands of the Sahara, and red for blood shed in the fight for independence
Capital
name
Nouakchott
etymology
the meaning of the name is unclear; it may derive from the Berber nawakshut , meaning "place of the winds;" other variants could translate as "the place where water appears in a new well," "the land where shells abound," "a place with pasture," "a windy place," or "without ears" (the last referring to a local chieftain who could have been the place's namesake)
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
18 04 N, 15 58 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament
Country name
etymology
named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.); its name derives from the Mauri (Moors) of northwest Africa
local long form
Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form
Muritaniyah
conventional long form
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form
Mauritania
Independence
28 November 1960 (from France)
Legal system
mixed system of Islamic and French civil law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (subdivided into 7 chambers: 2 civil, 2 labor, 1 commercial, 1 administrative, and 1 criminal, each with a chamber president and 2 councilors); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 members)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; courts of first instance, or wilya courts, are established in the regions' headquarters and include commercial and labor courts, criminal courts, Moughataa (district) Courts, and informal/customary courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, 1 by the prime minister, 1 by the leader of the democratic opposition, 1 by the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, and 1 by the second largest party in the National Assembly; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years; High Court of Justice members appointed by Parliament - 6 by the ruling Coalition of Majority Parties and 3 by opposition parties
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president
chief of state
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)
election results
2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 56.1%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 22.1%, Hamadi Sidi el MOKHTAR independent) 12.8%, other 9.0%
head of government
Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024)
most recent election date
29 June 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
June 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
National color(s)
green, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c); Banc d'Arguin National Park (n)
Political parties
Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR El Insaf or Equity Party El Islah or Reform Party El Karama or Dignity Party El Vadila or Virtue Party Mauritanian Party of Union and Change or HATEM National Democratic Alliance or AND National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD or TAWASSOUL Nida El-Watan Party for Conciliation and Prosperity or HIWAR Party of the Mauritanian Masses or Hakam Republican Front for Unity and Democracy or FRUD Sawab Party Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP Union of Planning and Construction or UPC
Legislative branch
note
note: the early parliamentary elections in 2023 were the first to be held under President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI, elected in 2019 in the first peaceful transition of power; the elections followed the agreement between the government and parties in September 2022 to renew the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and hold the elections in the first semester of 2023 for climatic and logistical reasons
chamber name
National Assembly (Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
176 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
Parliament (Barlamane)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/13/2023 to 5/27/2023
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
23.3%
parties elected and seats per party
El Insaf (107); Tawassoul (11); Other (58)
National anthem(s)
title
"National Anthem of Mauritania"
history
adopted 2017
lyrics/music
unknown/Rageh DAOUD
National symbol(s)
five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon
Administrative divisions
15 regions ( wilayas , singular - wilaya ); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 319-2623
chancery
2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 232-5700
chief of mission
Ambassador Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021)
email address and website
ambarimwashington@diplomatie.gov.mr mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[222] 4525-1592
embassy
Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott
telephone
[222] 4525-2660
mailing address
2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC 20521-2430
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Corina R. SANDERS (since September 2025)
email address and website
consularnkc@state.gov https://mr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt