01Free
The 30-second card
Visa · United States passport
Online visa or authorisationSource: U.S. Department of State · Checked 25 Oct 2026 ↗SIM and eSIM
Local operators sell prepaid plans, with 3G/4G coverage and good data speeds.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Apps locals use
Classride is a local ride-hailing app for getting around the capital.
Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Cards or cash
Mostly cashMostly cards
Step 1 of 5: Almost everything is paid for in cash.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Money in Mauritania
Mauritanian Ouguiya · MRU
Some menus and hotel rates still use old ouguiya, so a price that looks far too high may be in the old unit.
Carry enough cash, as cash machines outside the big cities often run dry.
Always haggle: opening prices can be several times what an item is worth.
Bring euros or US dollars; they are easy to exchange in the capital.
Collect Mauritanian Ouguiya in CointryOur sister app for coin and banknote collectors · cointry.appOpenPublic holidays in the next 12 months
Sat, 28 Nov 2026 · Independence Day
Fri, 1 Jan 2027 · New Year's Day
Mon, 8 Feb 2027–8 Mar · Ramadan (expected date)
Tue, 9 Mar 2027 · Eid al-Fitr (expected date)
Sat, 1 May 2027 · Labour Day
Sun, 16 May 2027 · Eid al-Adha (expected date)
Tue, 25 May 2027 · Africa Day
02Free
Safety today
Germany, the US and the UK publish their travel advice openly. Here is what those that cover Mauritania say, side by side, checked daily.
German Foreign Office says
Travel warning for some regions
Calm
Caution ●
Serious
Don’t go
Some regions differ, see the official page.
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
U.S. Department of State says
Reconsider travel
Calm
Caution
Serious ●
Don’t go
Level 3 of 4
Source: travel.state.gov
Updated 17 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 17 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
UK Foreign Office says
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
Some regions differ, see the official page.
Source: GOV.UK
Updated 19 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 19 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Countrywise is a summary. The official page is authoritative.
03Free
Health
Malaria in some regions. Yellow fever jab advised south of the Sahara; hepatitis A/B and typhoid also advised.
Vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccine is advised for anyone from 9 months old heading to areas south of the Sahara; hepatitis A and B, typhoid, routine shots and, in the dry season, meningococcal vaccine are also recommended.
Malaria
In some regionsTalk to a travel clinic 4–8 weeks before you go.
Source: CDC
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Summarised from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages. Using them does not mean the CDC endorses Countrywise.
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Deep facts
| GDP | ≈ $11.7 billionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Per person | ≈ $2,198Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Top exports | gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Population | 5.3 millionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 18.6 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Life expectancy | 65.9 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2024 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Religions | Muslim (official) 100%Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Area | 1,030,700 km²Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Climate | desert; constantly hot, dry, dustySource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Terrain | mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hillsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Type of government | presidential republicSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Calling code | +222Source: libphonenumber · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗ |
About the data
Written from the sources we link, and checked against them before each release. Countrywise summarises public sources. We are not an official source. For safety and entry rules, always follow the official page we link to.
From your foreign ministry when it publishes its advice openly (Germany, the US, the UK). Otherwise we show those three side by side. Checked daily, with the date next to every entry.
CDC · 24 Oct 2026 ↗GOV.UK · 24 Oct 2026 ↗IANA Time Zone Database · 23 Oct 2026 ↗libphonenumber · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Nager.Date · 23 Oct 2026 ↗The World Factbook (archive) · 23 Oct 2026 ↗U.S. Department of State · 25 Oct 2026 ↗Umm al-Qura calendar (computed with ICU) · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Unicode CLDR · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikidata · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikivoyage · 24 Oct 2026 ↗World Bank · 23 Oct 2026 ↗
Flag artwork from flag-icons (MIT licence).
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