People and Society of Mauritania

Nationality

Mauritanian(s)

Ethnic Groups

mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Population

4,934,983

Population in Major Urban Areas

NOUAKCHOTT (capital) 786,000

Medical facilities in Mauritania are limited. There are few modern clinics or hospitals beyond the capital and a few major towns. At local pharmacies, some medicines are difficult to obtain or may be counterfeit; travelers are advised to carry their own medical supplies and medications (over-the-counter and prescription). There are no modern mortuary services available in Mauritania. Procurement of caskets and materials to ship the remains of deceased citizens internationally are not available in Mauritania. Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum malaria is a severe form of the disease that is found in many parts of western Africa, including Mauritania. Because travelers to Mauritania are at high risk for contracting malaria, they should take one of the following anti-malarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam™), doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone™). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined that a traveler who is on an appropriate anti-malarial drug has a greatly reduced chance of contracting the disease. In addition, other personal protective measures, such as the use of insect repellents, may help to reduce malaria risk. Travelers, who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and the names of the anti-malarial drugs they have been taking. For additional information on malaria, please visit the CDC travelers’ health website. The latest outbreak of Rift Valley Fever occurred in October 2012 in the Tagant region of Mauritania. The first outbreak was recorded in December 2010 and subsequently detected in the Adrar and Inchiri regions of Mauritania. According to the CDC, Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease that primarily affects animals, but also has the capacity to infect humans. Infection can cause severe disease and death in both animals and humans. Humans usually get Rift Valley Fever through bites from infected mosquitoes and other insects. Humans can also get the disease if they are exposed to the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Mauritania has shown meaningful improvement over recent decades, reflecting gradual advances in healthcare access, public health infrastructure, and nutrition programs. As of the most recent available data, the average life expectancy at birth stands at approximately 67 years, with women typically outliving men by several years — a pattern consistent with global trends. In the early 1960s, life expectancy in Mauritania hovered around 40 years, making the gains achieved over the past six decades a significant public health accomplishment. However, the country still lags behind the global average of roughly 73 years, and the gap with higher-income nations remains considerable. Several factors continue to challenge longevity in Mauritania. The country faces persistent issues with infant and child mortality, maternal health complications, and the prevalence of communicable diseases including malaria and respiratory infections. Access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation, particularly in rural and nomadic communities spread across the vast Sahara and Sahel regions, remains uneven and directly affects health outcomes. Malnutrition is another contributing factor, especially among children under five. While government initiatives and international development programs have helped reduce stunting and wasting rates, food insecurity tied to drought cycles and desertification continues to pose ongoing challenges for the broader population's health. Urban residents, particularly in the capital Nouakchott, tend to have better access to hospitals, clinics, and trained medical personnel, which contributes to somewhat longer life expectancies in those areas compared to rural populations. The public health system, while expanding, is still under-resourced relative to demand. International organizations including UNICEF and the World Health Organization have partnered with the Mauritanian government to improve vaccination coverage, prenatal care, and disease prevention programs — efforts that are gradually reflected in improving life expectancy figures. Continued investment in these areas is considered essential for further progress in the coming decades.

Infant Mortality Rate

Mauritania faces significant challenges in reducing infant mortality, though the country has made measurable progress over recent decades. The infant mortality rate — defined as the number of deaths among children under one year of age per 1,000 live births — stood at approximately 51 deaths per 1,000 live births in recent years, placing Mauritania among the higher-burden countries in West Africa, though well below its peak rates from earlier generations. Several interconnected factors drive this elevated rate. Access to skilled healthcare workers during and after childbirth remains limited, particularly in rural and desert regions where the population is dispersed across a vast and challenging landscape. Neonatal infections, preterm birth complications, and pneumonia are among the leading direct causes of infant deaths. Malnutrition compounds these risks considerably, as undernourished infants have weaker immune systems and are more vulnerable to common illnesses that would otherwise be survivable. Geographic and infrastructural barriers play a substantial role. Many communities in Mauritania's interior lie far from functioning health facilities, and transportation infrastructure can be inadequate, particularly during seasonal weather extremes. This means families may be unable to reach emergency obstetric care or pediatric services in time to prevent deaths that might be averted in better-resourced settings. Progress has nonetheless been documented. Between 1990 and the early 2020s, Mauritania's infant mortality rate dropped by more than half, reflecting improvements in vaccination coverage, oral rehydration therapy for diarrheal diseases, and expanded access to prenatal care in urban centers such as Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. Immunization campaigns supported by international health organizations have helped reduce deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis. Ongoing efforts by the Mauritanian government, in partnership with international organizations and NGOs, aim to further expand community health worker programs, improve nutrition interventions, and strengthen the cold chain for vaccines in remote areas. Achieving continued reductions will require sustained investment in both health infrastructure and maternal education, particularly in reaching pastoralist and other nomadic communities that have historically had limited contact with formal healthcare systems.

Major Infectious Diseases

very high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Muslim100.0%

Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French

• French

Crime Information

Overall, crime in Mauritania is not unlike crime in any major city in the United States. Most incidents occur in the cities and larger towns and are petty crimes, such as pick-pocketing and the theft of improperly secured or openly visible valuables left in vehicles. To reduce exposure to theft and increase personal safety, lock up valuable items and keep them out of sight. Walking alone at any time is discouraged, especially for Western women. Residential burglaries and robberies, particularly at the beaches in Nouakchott, are not uncommon. In Nouakchott, travelers should avoid the beach at night. Violent crimes and crimes involving the use of weapons are rare. Rapes and assaults have occurred and, in some instances, involved U.S. citizens. The majority of sexual assaults have occurred at night in taxi cabs. Combined with the lack of government regulation of taxi fares and poor regular maintenance, Westerners should avoid taxis and public transportation. Foreign tourists, including U.S. citizens, might be targeted for kidnapping in Mauritania. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, purchasing them may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While traveling in Mauritania, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Mauritania, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.