Page last updated on February 08, 2019

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 1,030,700 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 30

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 5,002 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (4): Algeria 460 km, Mali 2236 km, Senegal 742 km, Western Sahara 1564 km

Coastline:
754 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation:
mean elevation: 276 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: -5 m lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha
915 highest point: Kediet Ijill

Natural resources:
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Land use:
agricultural land: 38.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 38.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 0.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 61.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
450 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
with most of the country being a desert, vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are without sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
Mauritania is considered both a part of North Africa's Maghreb region and West Africa's Sahel region; most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country