Mauritania (Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

Mauritania Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	182nd best
Capital	Nouakchott
Land Area	1 030 700km21
Location	Africa
Population	4.4m2
Life Expectancy	64.36yrs (2017)3
GNI	$5 075 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	MR, MRT, 4785
Internet Domain	.mr6
Currency	Ouguiya (MRO)7
Telephone	+2228

1. Overview
2. Mauritania National and Social Development
3. Mauritania's Demographics and Migration
4. Mauritania's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Mauritania's Health
6. Mauritania's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Mauritania's Modernity and Learning
8. National Culture
9. Peace Versus Instability
10. Economic Inequality and Poverty
11. Religion and Beliefs
12. Links

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1. Overview

#france #spain

“Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976 but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ deposed him and installed a military council government. AZIZ was subsequently elected president in July 2009 and sworn in the following month. AZIZ sustained injuries from an accidental shooting by his own troops in October 2012, but has continued to maintain his authority. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“A seemingly endless realm of Saharan sands, lapped by the Atlantic, Mauritania is a bridge between North Africa and sub-Saharan regions. If West Africa is a playground for overlanders, then Mauritania often seems to be little more than a transit between the better-known attractions of Marrakesh, Dakar or Bamako. As the safest trans-Saharan route for overlanders, Mauritania has long been regarded as a waystation en route from Europe to West Africa. That´s a shame because Mauritania has some tremendous secrets to reveal.

Just as impressive as the cultural diversity is some of the continent´s grandest scenery. The Adrar region offers epic sand dunes, eye-popping plateaus and Africa´s biggest monolith. The Tagânt has similar charms, and both hide ancient caravan towns - Chinguetti, Ouadâne and Oualâta. The World Heritage feast continues along the coast at Parc National du Banc d´Arguin, which attracts millions of migratory birds and is a renowned birdwatching site.

If you just breeze through, you´ll miss out on a truly incredible country. No one in Mauritania is in a rush, and you shouldn´t be either.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Mauritania National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
155	Solomon Islands	0.564
156=	Comoros	0.558
156=	Papua New Guinea	0.558
158	Mauritania	0.556
159	Ivory Coast	0.550
160	Tanzania	0.549
161	Pakistan	0.544
162	Togo	0.539
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
136	Samoa	$5 308
137	Honduras	$5 298
138	Ivory Coast	$5 217
139	Mauritania	$5 075
140	Djibouti	$5 025
141	Venezuela	$4 811
142	Nigeria	$4 790
143	Pakistan	$4 624
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	24.9
2	Norway	25.3
3	Sweden	27.7
	...
179	Iraq	128.6
180	Guinea	128.8
181	Congo, (Brazzaville)	129.3
182	Mauritania	129.4
183	Guinea-Bissau	129.9
184	Burundi	130.3
185	Comoros	132.1
186	Niger	132.7
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Mauritania's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Mauritania's population is predicted to rise to 5.2 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.34. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
123	Ireland	4.8m
124	New Zealand	4.7m
125	Central African Rep.	4.7m
126	Mauritania	4.4m
127	Panama	4.2m
128	Croatia	4.2m
129	Kuwait	4.1m
130	Moldova	4.1m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
151	Ethiopia	65.0
152	Tuvalu	64.5
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
158	Nauru	63.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
187	Senegal	4.31
188	S. Sudan	4.34
189=	Ivory Coast	4.34
189=	Mauritania	4.34
191	Cameroon	4.38
192	Sudan	4.38
193	Uganda	4.47
194	Afghanistan	4.52
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
41	Swaziland	06.6
42	Central African Rep.	06.8
43=	Sudan	06.8
43=	Mauritania	06.8
43=	Kuwait	06.8
46	Congo, (Brazzaville)	07.0
47=	Solomon Islands	07.0
47=	Rwanda	07.0
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
91	Czechia	4.1%
92	Uganda	3.9%
93	Dominican Rep.	3.9%
94	Mauritania	3.8%
95	Namibia	3.8%
96	Burkina Faso	3.7%
97	Trinidad & Tobago	3.7%
98	Togo	3.6%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
130	Chile	3.7%
131	Peru	3.7%
132	Czechia	3.6%
133	Mauritania	3.5%
134	Canada	3.5%
135	Algeria	3.4%
136	Sweden	3.4%
137	Ghana	3.4%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Mauritania's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #mauritania #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Africa (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Mauritius	63.7
2	S. Africa	64.3
3	Cape Verde	68.0
	...
46	Swaziland	138.1
47	Congo, DR	141.3
48	Angola	141.9
49	Mauritania	143.8
50	Chad	144.9
51	Equatorial Guinea	146.0
52	Sudan	150.2
53	Eritrea	153.3
54	Somalia	165.8
	Africa Avg	110.0
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
186	Congo, DR	141.3
187	Angola	141.9
188	Saudi Arabia	143.6
189	Mauritania	143.8
190	Chad	144.9
191	Palestine	145.3
192	Myanmar (Burma)	145.3
193	Turkmenistan	145.8
	World Avg	86.6
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway₁₉. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan₁₉.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₉, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia₁₉.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Press Freedom Higher is better20
Pos.		202520
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
46	Tonga	68.39
47	Belize	68.32
48	Italy	68.01
49	Mauritania	67.52
50	Mauritius	67.31
51	Ghana	67.13
52	Panama	66.75
53	Liberia	66.61
	Africa Avg	52.30
	World Avg	54.65
q=179.

Slavery Lower is better21
Pos.		2018 % Victims21
1	Japan	0.03
2=	Canada	0.05
2=	Taiwan	0.05
	...
159	Cambodia	1.68
160=	Pakistan	1.68
161	S. Sudan	2.05
162	Mauritania	2.14
163	Afghanistan	2.22
164	Central African Rep.	2.23
165	Burundi	4.00
166	Eritrea	9.30
	Africa Avg	0.96
	World Avg	0.65
q=167.

The life-destroying practice of slavery is "entrenched in Mauritanian society with slave status being inherited, and deeply rooted in social castes and the wider social system. Those owned by masters often have no freedom to own land, cannot claim dowries from their marriages nor inherit property or possessions from their families"₂₂. In 2015 Mauritania did improve its law, but, the judiciary and the police are reluctant to comply₂₂.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better23
Pos.		2014 Rank23
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
140	Nigeria	140
141	China	141
142	Ethiopia	142
143	Mauritania	143
144=	Egypt	144
144=	Saudi Arabia	144
146	Chad	146
147=	Pakistan	146
	Africa Avg	114.2
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
130	Lebanon	4.5
131=	Mozambique	4.5
132	Morocco	5.0
133=	Mauritania	5.0
133=	Jordan	5.0
133=	Pakistan	5.0
133=	Tunisia	5.0
137	Brunei	5.5
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better24
Pos.		2009 Treaties24
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
122	Sudan	14
123=	Cameroon	14
123=	Uzbekistan	14
125	Mauritania	13
126=	Sri Lanka	13
126=	Malawi	13
126=	Zambia	13
126=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	13
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better25
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty25
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
159	Ireland	13.38
160	Oman	13.46
161	Uzbekistan	13.53
162	Mauritania	13.56
163	Liberia	13.61
164	San Marino	13.63
165	Saudi Arabia	13.73
166	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	13.73
	Africa Avg	9.88
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

Mauritania is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women. Traditional Islamic beliefs are squarely to blame for this situation.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree
• "Islam and Women" by Vexen Crabtree

Gender Inequality Lower is better26
Pos.		202226
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
146	Malawi	0.58
147	Congo, (Brazzaville)	0.58
148	Gambia	0.59
149	Mauritania	0.60
150	Congo, DR	0.61
151	Mali	0.61
152	Burkina Faso	0.61
153	Sierra Leone	0.61
	Africa Avg	0.53
	World Avg	0.34
q=166.

Data doesn't exist for the 1990s, but in the 2000s Mauritania was (temporarily) amongst the worst 10 countries in the world for Gender Inequality. It improved slightly in the 2010s.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
127=	Gambia	1960
128	El Salvador	1961
129=	Rwanda	1961
129=	Mauritania	1961
129=	Burundi	1961
129=	Malawi	1961
129=	Paraguay	1961
129=	Sierra Leone	1961
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality Higher is better27
Pos.		2017 Score27
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
178=	Uzbekistan	-30
178=	Tonga	-30
178=	Tuvalu	-30
181	Mauritania	-32
182	UAE	-34
183=	Kuwait	-37
183=	Algeria	-37
185	Tunisia	-39
	Africa Avg	-10.4
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better28
Pos.		202128
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
183	Morocco	4.5
184=	Eritrea	4.5
184=	Malaysia	4.5
186	Mauritania	4.8
187=	UAE	4.8
187=	Iran	4.8
187=	Brunei	4.8
187=	Sudan	4.8
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Mauritania's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mauritania #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Tunisia	69.2
2	Mauritius	69.2
3	Seychelles	84.8
	...
14	Rwanda	134.4
15	Sao Tome & Principe	134.9
16	Ghana	135.9
17	Mauritania	140.8
18	Comoros	141.5
19	Namibia	141.7
20	Gambia	141.9
21	Gabon	142.7
22	Senegal	144.7
	Africa Avg	111.1
q=54.

Health (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
169	Laos	135.6
170	Ghana	135.9
171	Iraq	139.7
172	Mauritania	140.8
173	Comoros	141.5
174	Namibia	141.7
175	Gambia	141.9
176	Gabon	142.7
	World Avg	96.7
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₃₀.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₀, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Mauritania is a pretty unhealthy country. Mauritania performs the best for its alcohol consumption rate₃₁. It does better than average in its smoking rate₃₂. However Mauritania performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in its average life expectancy₁₁ (still good for Africa), its immunizations take-up₃₃ and in its adolescent birth rate₃₄. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₅ (one of the highest in Africa) and in its fertility rate₁₄. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Mauritania improved by +5.9yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Mauritania's peak fertility rate was 6.7 in 1974.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
151	Ethiopia	65.0
152	Tuvalu	64.5
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
158	Nauru	63.6
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better31
Pos.		2016 Per Capita31
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
6	Yemen	0.1
7=	Afghanistan	0.2
7=	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9	Syria	0.3
10=	Pakistan	0.3
11	Kiribati	0.4
12=	Iraq	0.4
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
187	Senegal	4.31
188	S. Sudan	4.34
189=	Ivory Coast	4.34
189=	Mauritania	4.34
191	Cameroon	4.38
192	Sudan	4.38
193	Uganda	4.47
194	Afghanistan	4.52
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better32
Pos.		201432
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
29	Ghana	121
30	Benin	122
31	Zimbabwe	134
32	Mauritania	135
33	Bhutan	155
34	Chad	156
35	Zambia	165
36	Gambia	166
	Africa Avg	340
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
156	Libya	156
157	Papua New Guinea	157
158	Belize	158
159	Algeria	159
160	Senegal	160
161	Mauritania	161
162	St Vincent & Grenadines	162
163	Angola	163
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better36
Pos.		2016 %36
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
55	N. Korea	32.4
56	Thailand	32.6
57	Cameroon	33.6
58	Mauritania	34.4
59	Cape Verde	34.8
60	Sao Tome & Principe	35.4
61	Seychelles	36.8
62	Zimbabwe	38.2
	Africa Avg	33.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better34
Pos.		2022 Per 100034
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
158	Honduras	71.3
159	Laos	71.8
160	Bangladesh	73.3
161	Mauritania	76.8
162	Togo	77.0
163	Sao Tome & Principe	77.4
164	Sudan	77.6
165	Afghanistan	79.7
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better33
Pos.		2015 Avg %33
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
156=	Benin	80.1
156=	Guinea-Bissau	80.1
158	Tonga	80.0
159	Mauritania	79.9
160	Lebanon	79.4
161	San Marino	79.3
162	Gabon	78.7
163	Micronesia	78.2
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Mauritania was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19).

6. Mauritania's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #mauritania #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2023)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Tunisia	56.1
2	Morocco	58.8
3	Cape Verde	64.3
	...
45	Botswana	125.7
46	Comoros	126.0
47	Namibia	126.4
48	Liberia	130.7
49	Zimbabwe	133.1
50	Equatorial Guinea	135.5
51	Mauritania	138.3
52	Gabon	140.3
53	Eritrea	167.3
	Africa Avg	90.1
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Uruguay	46.1
2	Cuba	52.0
3	Fiji	53.7
	...
183	New Caledonia	133.5
184	Antigua & Barbuda	134.0
185	Myanmar (Burma)	135.2
186	Equatorial Guinea	135.5
187	Mauritania	138.3
188	Gabon	140.3
189	Samoa	142.7
190	Eritrea	167.3
	World Avg	94.3
q=190.

Mauritania ranks 4th-worst in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 5 data sets. Mauritania does better than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₈ (but bad for Africa). But unfortunately Mauritania gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₃₉ and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for its environmental performance₄₀ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁.

Environmental Performance Higher is better40
Pos.		201840
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
163	Djibouti	40.0
164	Papua New Guinea	39.4
165	Eritrea	39.3
166	Mauritania	39.2
167	Benin	38.2
168	Afghanistan	37.7
169	Pakistan	37.5
170	Angola	37.4
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		Total Signed
1=	China	1993 Dec 29
1=	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
1=	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
155	Kyrgyzstan	1996 Nov 04
156=	Iran	1996 Nov 04
157	S. Sudan	2014 May 18
158	Mauritania	1996 Nov 14
159	Qatar	1996 Nov 19
160	Bahrain	1996 Nov 28
161	Turkmenistan	1996 Dec 17
162	Laos	1996 Dec 19
	Africa Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better39
Pos.		2011 %39
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
72	France	38.4%
73	Mongolia	38.4%
74	Hungary	38.0%
75	Mauritania	38.0%
76	Croatia	37.8%
77	Cambodia	37.1%
78	Namibia	36.6%
79	Germany	36.1%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better38
Pos.		2021 kg38
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
58	Iran	31.6
59	Morocco	32.1
60	Tajikistan	32.4
61	Mauritania	32.4
62	Philippines	32.9
63	Burkina Faso	33.3
64	Central African Rep.	34.4
65	Comoros	34.5
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Mauritania's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	S. Africa	56.9
2	Tunisia	70.8
3=	Mauritius	79.6
	...
39	Mozambique	142.4
40	Madagascar	146.6
41=	Comoros	147.0
41=	Mauritania	147.0
43	Djibouti	148.0
44	Burundi	148.5
45=	Gambia	155.6
46	Equatorial Guinea	156.7
47	Central African Rep.	160.3
	Africa Avg	120.2
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
172	Mozambique	142.4
173	Madagascar	146.6
174=	Comoros	147.0
174=	Mauritania	147.0
176	Afghanistan	147.7
177	Djibouti	148.0
178	Burundi	148.5
179	Solomon Islands	154.5
	World Avg	86.3
q=190.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education Higher is better43
Pos.		201843
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
153	Malawi	21.8%
154	Cambodia	21.3%
155	Mozambique	19.3%
156	Mauritania	18.8%
157	Senegal	17.6%
158	Sudan	17.5%
159	Ethiopia	17.1%
160	Rwanda	16.3%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better44
Pos.		2021 Years44
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
176	Sierra Leone	9.6
177	Gambia	9.4
178	Tuvalu	9.4
179	Mauritania	9.4
180	Tanzania	9.2
181	Syria	9.2
182	Burkina Faso	9.1
183	Yemen	9.1
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
138	Congo, DR	138
139	Ecuador	139
140	Syria	140
141	Mauritania	141
142	Nigeria	142
143	Mali	143
144	Congo, (Brazzaville)	144
145	Qatar	145
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

IQ Higher is better45
Pos.		200645
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
101=	Guatemala	79
101=	Sri Lanka	79
103	Nepal	78
104	Mauritania	76
105	Uganda	73
106=	Tanzania	72
106=	Kenya	72
106=	S. Africa	72
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better46
Pos.		201646
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
158	Cameroon	18%
159	Pakistan	18%
160	Nepal	17%
161=	Mauritania	17%
161=	S. Sudan	17%
163	Gambia	17%
164	Laos	16%
165	Namibia	16%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better47
Pos.		201347
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
50	Italy	1.15
51	Vietnam	1.15
52	Nigeria	1.18
53	Mauritania	1.19
54	Azerbaijan	1.21
55	Belarus	1.22
56	Armenia	1.22
57	Malawi	1.23
	Africa Avg	1.07
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better48
Pos.		2017 Ratio48
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
140=	Sao Tome & Principe	0.0
140=	Kiribati	0.0
140=	Ivory Coast	0.0
140=	Mauritania	0.0
140=	Iraq	0.0
140=	Oman	0.0
140=	Papua New Guinea	0.0
140=	French Polynesia	0.0
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #happiness #politics

Corruption Higher is better49
Pos.		2022 Points49
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
128	Mexico	31.0
129=	Bolivia	31.0
130	Egypt	30.0
131=	Mauritania	30.0
131=	Togo	30.0
131=	Swaziland	30.0
131=	Djibouti	30.0
131=	Papua New Guinea	30.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better50
Pos.		2024 Score50
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
111	Ukraine	4.7
112	Morocco	4.6
113	Tunisia	4.6
114	Mauritania	4.5
115	Kenya	4.5
116	Uganda	4.5
117	Gambia	4.4
118	India	4.4
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
53	UAE	53
54	Thailand	54
55	Macedonia	55
56	Mauritania	56
57	India	57
58	Philippines	58
59	Uruguay	59
60	Samoa	60
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
155	Grenada	155
156	Venezuela	156
157	Bahrain	157
158	Mauritania	158
159	Brunei	159
160	Algeria	160
161	Papua New Guinea	161
162	Brazil	162
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better51
Pos.		2023 Score51
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
111	Lesotho	2.19
112	Djibouti	2.20
113	Congo, (Brazzaville)	2.21
114	Mauritania	2.23
115	Philippines	2.23
116	Belarus	2.25
117	Kenya	2.25
118	Mozambique	2.26
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
92	Pakistan	92
93	Estonia	93
94	Bahamas	94
95	Mauritania	95
96	Nicaragua	96
97	Peru	97
98	Czechia	98
99	Lithuania	99
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
140	Haiti	140
141	Mongolia	141
142	Syria	142
143	Mauritania	143
144	Rwanda	144
145	Chad	145
146	Central African Rep.	146
147	El Salvador	147
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better52
Pos.		2019 Score52
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
4	Equatorial Guinea	0.00
5	Cambodia	0.00
6	Portugal	0.00
7	Croatia	0.00
8	Benin	0.00
9	Mauritania	0.00
10	Slovenia	0.00
11	Costa Rica	0.00
12	Romania	0.00
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better53
Pos.		201953
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
161	Liberia	29.80
162=	Mozambique	29.80
163	Pakistan	29.90
164	Mauritania	30.00
165	Togo	30.50
166	Niger	30.90
167	Guinea	31.30
168=	Burkina Faso	32.00
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better54
Pos.		2023 %54
1	Slovakia	24.1%55
2	Slovenia	24.3%55
3	Belarus	24.4%56
	...
46=	Lebanon	31.8%57
46=	Estonia	31.8%55
48	Egypt	31.9%58
49	Mauritania	32.0%58
50	Seychelles	32.1%59
51	Vanuatu	32.3%58
52=	Germany	32.4%56
52=	UK	32.4%55
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Mauritania - only for 8 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better60
Pos.		2018 Severity60
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
73	Malawi	.243
74	Togo	.249
75	Rwanda	.259
76	Mauritania	.261
77	Zambia	.261
78	Uganda	.269
79	Afghanistan	.272
80	Tanzania	.273
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #mauritania #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)61
Pos.		Higher is better %61
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
122=	Niger	0
122=	Saudi Arabia	0
122=	Rwanda	0
122=	Cameroon	0
122=	Philippines	0
122=	Kuwait	0
122=	Madagascar	0
122=	Nigeria	0
122=	Malawi	0
122=	Chad	0
122=	Nepal	0
122=	Morocco	0
122=	Mauritania	0
122=	Mali	0
122=	Senegal	0
122=	Oman	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₆₂:

Christian	0.3%
Muslim	99%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.5%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim (official) 100%₆₃.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₆₄, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Mauritania states:

“The constitution and other laws and policies restrict freedom of religion or belief and the 1991 constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and recognizes Islam as the sole religion of its citizens and the state₆₅. Due to this stance, all non-Muslims are restricted from being citizens of the country, and Mauritanians who leave Islam for another religion or no religion lose their citizenship. In addition, Article 306 of the penal code outlaws apostasy: anyone found guilty of converting from Islam will be given the opportunity to repent within three days and if the person does not repent, the individual will be sentenced to death and the person's property will be confiscated by the Treasury.

Sharia (Islamic law) provides legal principles upon which the law and legal procedures are based. The government and citizenry consider Islam to be the essential cohesive element unifying the country's various ethnic groups. There is a cabinet-level Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Traditional Education. The High Council of Islam, consisting of six imams, advised the government on conformance of legislation to Islamic precepts. The judiciary consists of a single system of courts that uses principles of Sharia in matters concerning the family and modern legal principles in all other matters.

The government requires members of the Constitutional Council and the High Council of Magistrates to take an oath of office that includes a promise to God to uphold the law of the land in conformity with Islamic precepts. Both public schools and private Islamic schools include classes on Islam, and attendance at these religious classes is required.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₆₆

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?