Capital of Mauritania: Nouakchott — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott. Mauritania sits in Africa, has a population of 4,736,139, and uses the MRU. Official languages include Arabic.
Quick facts
- Capital: Nouakchott
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~4,736,139
- Area: 1,030,700 km²
- Population density: 4.6 people per km²
- Official language: Arabic
- Currency: MRU
- ISO code: MR
How big is Mauritania?
By population, Mauritania ranks 125th in the world, holding roughly 0.06% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 28th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Mauritania has 4.6 people per square kilometre, which is far below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Mauritania is the 39th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Mauritania in population are Oman (4,576,298) and Ireland (5,023,109).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Egypt (1,001,450 km²) and Bolivia (1,098,581 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Arabic is spoken officially in 25 countries in this dataset, including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros and Djibouti, and 19 others.
Mauritania uses the MRU, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Mauritania
Nouakchott was built as a brand-new capital for independence in 1960, on the Atlantic coast. For the flag: the gold crescent and star of the desert, framed top and bottom in red.
The flag of Mauritania: green, gold and red
🇲🇷 The flag is a green flag with a gold crescent and star, and a red stripe along the top and bottom. The green and the gold crescent and star are symbols of Islam, the gold also stands for the sands of the Sahara, and the red stripes, added in 2017, honour those who defended the country.
Region and neighbours
Mauritania is a large country in northwest Africa on the Atlantic coast, mostly covered by the Sahara Desert. It shares land borders with 3 countries: Algeria, Mali and Senegal. It also borders Western Sahara, a disputed territory to the north.
- Algeria 🇩🇿 — capital Algiers
- Mali 🇲🇱 — capital Bamako
- Senegal 🇸🇳 — capital Dakar
Three facts about Mauritania
- The Richat Structure, a huge ring-shaped landform about 40 km across, is known as the 'Eye of the Sahara' and can be seen from space.
- Banc d'Arguin National Park, a coast full of migrating birds, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Iron ore trains in Mauritania are among the longest and heaviest trains in the world.
Sources: Wikipedia: Mauritania, Wikipedia: Flag of Mauritania, Wikipedia: Richat Structure, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Mauritania
- African capitals quiz — match Mauritania to Nouakchott
- African flags quiz — spot the Mauritania flag among its neighbours
Mauritania capital quiz
What is the capital of Mauritania 🇲🇷?
- Nouakchott
- Yaoundé
- Algiers
- Dodoma
Show answer
Nouakchott
What is the capital of Liberia 🇱🇷?
- Abuja
- Dakar
- Monrovia
- Luanda
Show answer
Monrovia
What is the capital of Central African Republic 🇨🇫?
- Antananarivo
- Bangui
- N'Djamena
- Dakar
Show answer
Bangui
What is the capital of Congo 🇨🇬?
- Brazzaville
- Bangui
- Port Louis
- Lomé
Show answer
Brazzaville
What is the capital of Eritrea 🇪🇷?
- Kampala
- Kinshasa
- Asmara
- Libreville
Show answer
Asmara
Mauritania in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Mauritania belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Mauritania.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Mauritania?
The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.
What is the population of Mauritania?
About 4,736,139, making it the 125th most populous country in the world.
How big is Mauritania?
1,030,700 square kilometres, ranking 28th by land area, at a density of 4.6 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Mauritania use?
The MRU, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Mauritania flag?
The flag of Mauritania is a green flag with a gold crescent and star, and a red stripe along the top and bottom. The green and the gold crescent and star are symbols of Islam, the gold also stands for the sands of the Sahara, and the red stripes, added in 2017, honour those who defended the country.
Which countries border Mauritania?
Mauritania shares land borders with Algeria, Mali and Senegal. It also borders Western Sahara, a disputed territory to the north.
How can I remember the capital of Mauritania?
Nouakchott was built as a brand-new capital for independence in 1960, on the Atlantic coast. For the flag: the gold crescent and star of the desert, framed top and bottom in red.
More capitals to learn
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