Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country of the Sahel (a belt across Africa between the arid Sahara to the north and the belt of humid savannas to the south). The largely-desert country, 90% of Mauritania's land is within the Saharan Desert, has a clear cultural contrast, with an Arab population in the north and black Africans in the south. Many of its people are nomads.
Nouakchott, Mauritania's capital city has a population of 786,000 and is situated on the Atlantic coast. The overall population is 3.5 million and although a former French colony, Arabic is the official language.
Mauritania has an abundance of natural resources including iron ore, gold, copper, gypsum, and phosphate rock. Exploration is ongoing for oil reserves and overall, extractive commodities make up 75% of Mauritania's total exports, with fishing making up another 20%. The nation's coastal waters are said to be among the richest fishing areas in the world.
Australia is accredited to Mauritania through our Embassy in Paris, Mauritania isaccredited to Australia from their Embassy in Japan.
Economic and trade information
Travel information
- Before you travel, visit smartraveller.gov.au
- Read the travel advice for Mauritania
- Subscribe to updates
- Get the right travel insurance
- For how we can help Australians overseas, see the Consular services charter
- Australian Passports Office
- Visa information
Heads of Government
Embassies and consulates
Australia
- The Australian Embassy in France is responsible for Mauritania