Mauritania
Mauritania is a vast West African nation situated in the Maghreb region, characterized by its expansive desert landscapes and strategic location along the Atlantic coast. Predominantly covered by the Sahara Desert, the country spans approximately 1,0...
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With a safety index of 62/100, Mauritania offers good safety conditions for expats and their families.
Most international travelers, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and EU countries, require a visa to enter Mauritania. However, a visa on arrival is available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport for up to 30 days as a single-entry permit. This option is convenient for tourists but limited to air arrivals; land border entrants must obtain visas in advance. Passports must have at least six months validity and one blank page, plus a yellow fever vaccination certificate is...
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14% below EU avg
Near EU average
33% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Nouakchott
Timezone
UTC
Area
1,030,700 km²
Population
4,649,660
Mauritania shows a purchasing power index of 47/100, indicating moderate economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$10.38B
HDI
0.6
Quality of Life
N/A
NYC baseline: 43
Purchasing Power
20/100
-22 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Mauritania. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Affordable costs (CPI: 40.9). Groceries (29.1), restaurants (23.6), and rent (5.9) are very low compared to NYC baseline of 100.
Housing Market
Property prices average 35.7 years of household income, making housing very expensive relative to incomes.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power index of 45.6 indicates weak buying power. GDP per capita around $2,128 in 2024.
Tax System
Corporate tax rate 25%, personal income tax up to 35% progressive, sales tax/VAT 18-20%. Relatively simple system with recent revenue growth.
Business Environment
Challenging business environment due to high bureaucracy and regulatory burden in lower-middle-income economy. Growth in non-extractive sectors at 5.9% in 2023.
Social Security
Limited social programs with basic healthcare and pensions; unemployment at 10.4% in 2024 and poverty projected at 31.8% by 2027. Coverage is narrow.
Mauritania features an arid to hyperarid climate dominated by desert conditions, with 90% of its territory in the Sahara. It has two seasons: a hot season from March to October with temperatures exceeding 40°C in deserts, and a cooler season from November to February averaging 25-30°C.
3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
63.2
Population
4,649,660
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Mauritania. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Mauritania operates as a presidential republic under President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who won re-election in 2024 amid efforts to consolidate power. The unicameral National Assembly is dominated by the ruling El Insaf party following 2023 elections. Political stability has improved with electoral reforms, though hyper-presidentialism persists.
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Population
4,649,660
Currency
MRU
Timezone
UTC
Calling Code
+222
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
32.6 (2014)
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.