Mauritania
Africa · Western Africa
Saharan crossroads: iron ore wealth, nomadic culture, improving stability.
At a Glance
📈Mauritania's Human Development Index
0.540
Low human development#162 of 191 countries worldwide, #28 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 15% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Slavery was only officially criminalized in 2007 — among the last countries to do so.
- The Mauritania iron ore train is one of the longest in the world — over 2.5km, and a de facto passenger service.
Quick Facts
Capital
Nouakchott
Language
Arabic
Currency
UM MRU
Area
1.03M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
55Mbps
GDP / Capita
$2K
PPP / Capita
$8K
Inflation
1.5%
Unemployment
10.3%
Innovation (GII)
15.4
GNI / Capita
$2K
FDI Inflows
13.2%
Education Spend
7.6%
Price Level Index
89th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.397 → 0.540 (+0.143)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Mauritania's Human Development Index?
Mauritania's Human Development Index is 0.540 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #162 of 191 countries.
Is Mauritania safe?
Mauritania scores 2.18 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #111 of 160 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.