GeoRealityMatch

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Stunning aerial view of Nouakchott, Mauritania, with vibrant sunset skies and expansive urban landscape.Stunning aerial shot of Nouakchott, Mauritania, showcasing urban sprawl under a bright blue sky.

Mauritania

Africa · Western Africa

Medium safetyMedium development

Access to essential health services is patchy.

Safety

111th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.184lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#111 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.0per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2020
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$2,210national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 69% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 4% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$4.0K$8.0K$7,676 PPP$2,198Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $1,301 a person, $3,342 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2007, $1,405 a person, $3,278 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2008, $1,636 a person, $3,236 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2009, $1,435 a person, $3,159 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2010, $1,660 a person, $3,178 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2011, $1,931 a person, $3,271 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2012, $1,859 a person, $3,465 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2013, $1,936 a person, $3,831 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2014, $1,719 a person, $3,865 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2015, $1,559 a person, $3,978 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2016, $1,568 a person, $4,683 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2017, $1,618 a person, $5,353 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2018, $1,723 a person, $5,429 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2019, $1,767 a person, $5,610 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2020, $1,796 a person, $5,741 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $1,947 a person, $5,837 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2022, $1,961 a person, $6,484 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2023, $2,128 a person, $6,972 at PPP, inflation 5%2024, $2,105 a person, $7,379 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2025, $2,198 a person, $7,676 at PPP, inflation 1.5%$0$4.0K$8.0KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $1,301 a person, $3,342 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2007, $1,405 a person, $3,278 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2008, $1,636 a person, $3,236 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2009, $1,435 a person, $3,159 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2010, $1,660 a person, $3,178 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2011, $1,931 a person, $3,271 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2012, $1,859 a person, $3,465 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2013, $1,936 a person, $3,831 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2014, $1,719 a person, $3,865 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2015, $1,559 a person, $3,978 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2016, $1,568 a person, $4,683 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2017, $1,618 a person, $5,353 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2018, $1,723 a person, $5,429 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2019, $1,767 a person, $5,610 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2020, $1,796 a person, $5,741 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $1,947 a person, $5,837 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2022, $1,961 a person, $6,484 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2023, $2,128 a person, $6,972 at PPP, inflation 5%2024, $2,105 a person, $7,379 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2025, $2,198 a person, $7,676 at PPP, inflation 1.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
68.7years, at birthLow
#142 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
40WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
40.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
10.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
55 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet55 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial shot of Nouakchott, Mauritania, showcasing urban sprawl under a bright blue sky.
How it changed

Mauritania's Human Development Index

0.563Medium human development

163rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 28th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #161Togo0.571
  2. #162Syria0.564
  3. #163Mauritania0.563
  4. #164Nigeria0.560
  5. #165Tanzania0.555
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.396 in 1990 to 0.563 in 2023.

0.350.470.600.56319902000201020231990: 0.3961991: 0.4011992: 0.4091993: 0.4211994: 0.4321995: 0.4391996: 0.4481997: 0.4501998: 0.4601999: 0.4672000: 0.4682001: 0.4702002: 0.4752003: 0.4822004: 0.4942005: 0.5002006: 0.5122007: 0.5122008: 0.5122009: 0.5222010: 0.5252011: 0.5302012: 0.5382013: 0.5442014: 0.5472015: 0.5512016: 0.5482017: 0.5512018: 0.5612019: 0.5662020: 0.5542021: 0.5532022: 0.5622023: 0.5630.350.470.6019902000201020231990: 0.3961991: 0.4011992: 0.4091993: 0.4211994: 0.4321995: 0.4391996: 0.4481997: 0.4501998: 0.4601999: 0.4672000: 0.4682001: 0.4702002: 0.4752003: 0.4822004: 0.4942005: 0.5002006: 0.5122007: 0.5122008: 0.5122009: 0.5222010: 0.5252011: 0.5302012: 0.5382013: 0.5442014: 0.5472015: 0.5512016: 0.5482017: 0.5512018: 0.5612019: 0.5662020: 0.5542021: 0.5532022: 0.5622023: 0.563

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
68.7 years2024at birthUp 4.8 years from 63.9 years in 2005
Internet users
46%2024of people onlineUp 45 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
61%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 20 points from 41% in 2006
Births per woman
4.632024births per womanDown 0.75 from 5.38 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
20%2022of energy usedDown 19 points from 39% in 2004
Access to electricity
52%2024of people with electricityUp 34 points from 18% in 2005
Infant mortality
302024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 22 from 52 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 0.5 t in 2005
Forest area
0%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Saharan crossroads: iron ore wealth, nomadic culture, improving stability. The case against is patchy access to essential health services, polluted air and low incomes.

About Mauritania

Mauritania is a vast West African country where the Sahara dominates, with ancient caravan cities like Chinguetti and Ouadane rising from the sand as UNESCO sites, and a culture that blends Berber, Arab, and sub-Saharan African traditions. The country has one of the most dramatic train journeys in the world, the iron ore train across the Sahara. It is for experienced desert travellers who come for the landscapes, the silence, and the ancient cities.

Practical facts

  • CapitalNouakchott
  • LanguagesArabic
  • CurrencyMauritanian ouguiya (MRU)
  • Area1,030,700 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Mauritania's Human Development Index?

Mauritania's Human Development Index is 0.563 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #163 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Mauritania safe?

Mauritania scores 2.18 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #111 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Mauritania?

Life expectancy at birth in Mauritania is 68.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #142 of 195 countries.