Essential reference points
Mauritania on the map: a first guide for your trip
A brief guide to locating Mauritania, identifying its capital and clarifying which practical details are supported before you plan.
Mauritania is in West Africa, and its capital is Nouakchott. This guide brings together reliable reference points on location, language and currency, while distinguishing these stable facts from travel details that should be checked separately.
Where is Mauritania?
Mauritania is in West Africa and is not landlocked. These reference points help locate it on the map, but they are not enough to choose a route or estimate travel times within the country: the information available here does not document itineraries, tourist distances or connections.
Nouakchott, the capital
The capital is Nouakchott, also transcribed as Nuakchot. The name identifies the country’s main urban reference point, but it should not be taken as a description of its neighbourhoods, services or attractions: the sources consulted do not document those details.
Language and currency
Arabic is listed as a language of the country, and its currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya, with the code MRU and the symbol UM. Check the latest information before travelling if you need details about payments, exchange or whether particular payment methods are accepted; the information available here identifies only the currency.
What to check before planning
Geographical and national reference points are a starting point, not a practical travel guide. Check current sources for entry requirements, transport, available services and any relevant local conditions. There is not enough evidence here to recommend a season, route or specific way of getting around.
References consulted during editorial review. Times, requirements and advisories may change: always confirm with the official source.
- Mauritania WikidataCC0 1.0 Wikidata · Q1025
- Mauritania WikidataCC0 1.0 Wikidata · Q309272
- Mauritania World Countries — mledozeODbL 1.0 World countries dataset by mledoze and contributors · ODbL 1.0
- Nouakchott GeoNamesDatos geográficos bajo CC BY 4.0; requiere atribución a GeoNames. Fuente: GeoNames
- Nouakchott, تفرغ زينة, Nouakchott-Ouest Region, Mauritania OpenStreetMapODbL 1.0; atribución y obligación de compartir bases derivadas. Fuente: OpenStreetMap
- Mauritania World Bank Open DataCC BY 4.0 World Bank
- El camino de los lenguajes asociativos en Mauritania: La diversidad cultural como instrumento OpenAlexCC0 1.0 OpenAlex