Mauritania
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Western Africa · MRT
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Mauritania
Mauritania is a desert-first destination for travelers who want Saharan scale, caravan history, and a trip that feels far removed from mainstream tourism. It works best as a focused route around Nouakchott, Chinguetti, and the desert corridor rather than a broad cross-country plan.
Popular For
Things To See
- Nouakchott
- Chinguetti
- Atar
- Terjit
- Ouadane
- Banc d'Arguin National Park
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Winter is the easiest broad season for desert travel.
- Most first trips should stay on one desert or heritage corridor.
- Transport and access can be slow, so give the route plenty of buffer time.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Mauritania.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Mauritania Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Mauritania.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Population
- 4,927,532
- Area
- 1,030,700 km²
- Region
- Western Africa
Languages
- Arabic
Currency
Mauritanian ouguiya (UM)
MRU
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
28.6
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Nouakchott (18.07°N, 15.97°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 0/100
- Lived safety
- 53/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.563
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.002
- 10-year change
- +0.019
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.886
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.603
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.542
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
- 🏛️
Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
Inscribed 1996
- 🌿
Banc d'Arguin National Park
Inscribed 1989
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 0.6%
- Forest cover
- 0.3%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 18
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 24
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
28/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
62/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Reconsider travel to Mauritania due to terrorism and crime. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do Not Travel To: Areas marked off-limits by the Mauritanian military. These areas are unsafe due to security risks and terrorist activities. All areas north of the Tropic of Cancer All areas within 100 KM of the Mali and Algeria Border Country Summary: Violent crimes occur frequently outside the Tevragh Zeina neighborhoods in Nouakchott. They include mugging, armed robbery, and assault. Local police lack the resources to respond quickly and effectively to serious crimes. Transportation options and communication infrastructure are limited outside Nouakchott. little or no warning, targeting places frequented by Westerners. Terrorism Terrorist violence is a risk in Mauritania. This includes potential attacks and other activities. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. U.S. Travel Limits and Emergency Services The U.S. government can only offer limited emergency services to U.S. citizens in Mauritania. This is due to travel rules for U.S. government employees, poor infrastructure, and few health facilities, especially outside of Nouakchott. U.S. government employees can travel outside Nouakchott only during the day. They cannot walk alone outside of specific areas and times. U.S. government employees must get special permission to travel outside Nouakchott. This helps them move smoothly through security checkpoints on major roads. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Mauritania. If you decide to travel to Mauritania: Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and visa (if applicable). Keep original documents in a secure location. Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans. Be aware of your surroundings. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts. It makes it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Mauritania. Prepare a backup plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Areas Designated Off-Limits by the Mauritanian Military – Level 4: Do Not Travel The government of Mauritania designates certain areas off-limits to foreigners and most Mauritanians. These “No Movement Zones” are very dangerous. They are near Mali, where armed groups are fighting an active insurgency. This violence may spill over the border into Mauritania. The government of Mauritania has little presence in these areas. Police cannot respond to most incidents. Cell phone coverage and paved roads are nonexistent in these areas. U.S. officials are unable to travel to these places. The boundaries of these areas often change, so stay informed about restricted entry.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data