Mauritania

Current head of state

Mohamed Ould Ghazouani President of Mauritania In office 2019–present · 7.2y PartyUnion for the Republic Born 1956 · took office at 62 European Union · Attribution

Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

President of Mauritania

Since 2019 7.2 years in office

Governance indicator

-0.8

−2.50+2.5

World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, composite of six dimensions · 2024

Chamber

Member of the National Assembly of Mauritania

Seats

—

Speaker

—

Active alliances

29

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Moktar Ould Daddah Moktar Ould Daddah President of Mauritania In office 1960–1978 · 17.6y PartyMauritanian People's Party Born 1924 · took office at 35 European Communities, 1978 / EC - Audiovisual Service · CC BY 4.0

Mustafa Ould Salek Mustafa Ould Salek President of Mauritania In office 1978–1979 · 0.9y Partyindependent politician Born 1935 · took office at 42 Took power coup 1978-07-10 Unknown authorUnknown author · CC BY 4.0

Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly President of Mauritania In office 1979–1980 · 0.6y Born 1942 · took office at 36 Voice of America · Public domain

Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla President of Mauritania In office 1980–1984 · 4.9y Partyindependent politician Born 1939 · took office at 40 Took power coup 1980-01-04 Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya President of Mauritania In office 1984–2005 · 20.6y PartyRepublican Party for Democracy and Renewal Born 1941 · took office at 43 Took power coup 1984-12-12 VOA News · Public domain

Ely Ould Mohamed Vall Ely Ould Mohamed Vall President of Mauritania In office 2005–2007 · 1.7y Partyindependent politician Born 1952 · took office at 52 Took power coup 2005-08-03 Denis Closon / European Communities, 2006 / EC - Audiovisual Service · CC BY 4.0

Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi President of Mauritania In office 2007–2008 · 1.3y Partyindependent politician Born 1937 · took office at 69 Marcello Casal Jr./Abr · CC BY 3.0 br

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz President of Mauritania In office 2008–2009 · 0.7y PartyUnion for the Republic Born 1956 · took office at 51 Took power coup 2008-08-06 Office of the White House (Amanda Lucidon) · Public domain

Ba Mamadou Mbaré Ba Mamadou Mbaré President of Mauritania In office 2009–2009 · 0.3y Born 1945 · took office at 63

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz President of Mauritania In office 2009–2019 · 10y PartyUnion for the Republic Born 1956 · took office at 52 Office of the White House (Amanda Lucidon) · Public domain

Mohamed Ould Ghazouani Mohamed Ould Ghazouani President of Mauritania In office 2019–present · 7.2y PartyUnion for the Republic Born 1956 · took office at 62 European Union · Attribution

1978-07-10 1979-04-06 1980-01-04 1984-12-12 2005-08-03 2008-08-06

Term Began with a realized coup In office Realized coup — dated

The scale spans every dated record held for this country, so it may begin before the first leader on file — a gap at the left means coups are recorded for years where no office-holder is. Coup markers link to the Cline Center source.

1. 2019– Mohamed Ould Ghazouani President of Mauritania In office 2019–present · 7.2y PartyUnion for the Republic Born 1956 · took office at 62 European Union · Attribution Mohamed Ould Ghazouani In office 7.2y
2. 2009–2019 Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz President of Mauritania In office 2009–2019 · 10y PartyUnion for the Republic Born 1956 · took office at 52 Office of the White House (Amanda Lucidon) · Public domain Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz 10y
3. 2009–2009 BM Ba Mamadou Mbaré President of Mauritania In office 2009–2009 · 0.3y Born 1945 · took office at 63 Ba Mamadou Mbaré 0.3y
4. 2008–2009 Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz President of Mauritania In office 2008–2009 · 0.7y PartyUnion for the Republic Born 1956 · took office at 51 Took power coup 2008-08-06 Office of the White House (Amanda Lucidon) · Public domain Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Coup 2008 0.7y
5. 2007–2008 Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi President of Mauritania In office 2007–2008 · 1.3y Partyindependent politician Born 1937 · took office at 69 Marcello Casal Jr./Abr · CC BY 3.0 br Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi 1.3y
6. 2005–2007 Ely Ould Mohamed Vall President of Mauritania In office 2005–2007 · 1.7y Partyindependent politician Born 1952 · took office at 52 Took power coup 2005-08-03 Denis Closon / European Communities, 2006 / EC - Audiovisual Service · CC BY 4.0 Ely Ould Mohamed Vall Coup 2005 1.7y
7. 1984–2005 Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya President of Mauritania In office 1984–2005 · 20.6y PartyRepublican Party for Democracy and Renewal Born 1941 · took office at 43 Took power coup 1984-12-12 VOA News · Public domain Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya Coup 1984 20.6y
8. 1980–1984 Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla President of Mauritania In office 1980–1984 · 4.9y Partyindependent politician Born 1939 · took office at 40 Took power coup 1980-01-04 Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla Coup 1980 4.9y
9. 1979–1980 Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly President of Mauritania In office 1979–1980 · 0.6y Born 1942 · took office at 36 Voice of America · Public domain Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly 0.6y
10. 1978–1979 Mustafa Ould Salek President of Mauritania In office 1978–1979 · 0.9y Partyindependent politician Born 1935 · took office at 42 Took power coup 1978-07-10 Unknown authorUnknown author · CC BY 4.0 Mustafa Ould Salek Coup 1978 0.9y
11. 1960–1978 Moktar Ould Daddah President of Mauritania In office 1960–1978 · 17.6y PartyMauritanian People's Party Born 1924 · took office at 35 European Communities, 1978 / EC - Audiovisual Service · CC BY 4.0 Moktar Ould Daddah 17.6y

• 2008
  2008-08-06 Military
• 2005
  2005-08-03 Military Leader exiled
• 1984
  1984-12-12 Military
• 1980
  1980-01-04 Palace
• 1979
  1979-04-06 Palace
• 1978
  1978-07-10 Military

Source: Cline Center Coup d’État Project — realized events only.

• 2023
  Mauritania National Assembly May 2023 Election

  Seats

  176

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 2018
  Mauritania National Assembly September 2018 Election Union for the Republic Party (UPR)7648.4% National Rally for Reform and Development (Tawassoul)1610.2% El WIAM party106.4% People's Progressive Alliance (APP)74.5%

  Seats

  157

  Turnout

  73.4%

  Women

  20.3%

  Parties won

  —

• 2013
  Mauritania National Assembly November 2013 Election National Rally for Reform and Development (Tawassoul)1610.9% El WIAM party106.8% People's Progressive Alliance (APP)74.8% Union for the Republic Party (UPR)64.1%

  Seats

  147

  Turnout

  75.5%

  Women

  25.2%

  Parties won

  18

• 2009
  Mauritania National Assembly November 2009 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 2007
  Mauritania National Assembly January 2007 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 2006
  Mauritania National Assembly November 2006 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 2001
  Mauritania National Assembly October 2001 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 1996
  Mauritania National Assembly October 1996 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

Source: ipu_parline.

Fertility rate

4.6 2024

Life expectancy at birth

68.7 2024

Population growth

2.9 2024

Total population

5.2M 2024

Urban population percent

60.6 2024

Adult literacy rate

59.5 2020

Government expenditure on education percent of GDP

7.6 2024

Primary net enrollment ratio

79.6 2018

Secondary net enrollment ratio

31.0 2018

Ethnic groups

Religion

Composition: CIA World Factbook. Shares are reproduced as published and are not renormalised, so a country may total slightly under or over 100%.

Regional & continental

• AfCFTA
• African Union 1963
• AFRISTAT 1998
• ECOWAS left 2000
• La Francophonie 1980
• OIC 1969

Global bodies & treaties

• African Development Bank
• Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
• Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
• Arab League
• Arab Maghreb Union
• Arab Monetary Fund
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
• International Civil Defence Organisation
• International Development Association
• International Finance Corporation
• International Telecommunication Union
• Interpol
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
• Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
• UNESCO
• United Nations
• Universal Postal Union
• World Customs Organization
• World Health Organization
• World Meteorological Organization
• World Trade Organization

Register

Every party the observatory holds for this country, historical and current — the register is not filtered to parties currently holding seats.

• Action for Change
• African Liberation Forces of Mauritania
• Alliance for a Democratic Mauritania
• Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal minority rights; social democracy Ibrahima Moctar Sarr
• Alternative
• Burst of Youth for the Nation
• Centre through Action for Progress
• Coalition of Forces for Democratic Change
• Democratic Justice Party
• Democratic People's Party
• Democratic Renovation
• Dignity and Action Party
• El Islah
• El Karama
• El Ravah
• El Vadila Islamism
• El Wiam PEDS Islamic democracy; civic nationalism; populism; social liberalism
• Equity Party El Insaf
• Mauritanian National Renaissance Party Arab nationalism
• Mauritanian National Union
• Mauritanian Party for Renewal
• Mauritanian Party of Union and Change Saleh Ould Hanenna
• Mauritanian People's Party authoritarianism
• Mauritanian Popular Front
• Mauritanian Progressive Union
• Mauritanian Regroupment Party
• National Cohesion for Rights and the Construction of Generations
• National Democratic Alliance
• National Rally for Democracy, Liberty and Equality
• National Rally for Reform and Development Tewassoul Islamic democracy; Sunni Islamism; religious conservatism Hamadi Ould Sid'El Moctar
• National Vanguard Party
• Nida El Watan
• Party of Conciliation and Prosperity
• Party of Construction and Progress
• Party of Mauritanian Authenticity
• Party of the Mauritanian Masses
• Party of Unity and Development
• People's Progressive Alliance social democracy Messaoud Ould Boulkheir
• Q22684892
• Rally for Democracy and Unity
• Rally of Democratic Forces التكتل democratic socialism; secularism; social democracy
• Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar
• Sawab Ba'athism
• Social-Democratic Unionist Party Ba'athism
• Socialist Union of Mauritanian Muslims
• Union for Democracy and Progress Hamdi Ould Mouknass
• Union for the Republic populism
• Union of Democratic Forces
• Union of the Democratic Center
• Union of the Forces of Progress Mohamed Ould Maouloud

Census, population and demographic documents the observatory has located for this country. These are links to the publishers’ own files — the library does not rehost them.

• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — Anthropometry Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — DHS Mobile Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — DHS Quickstats Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — Adult Mortality Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — Child Mortality Rates Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — IYCF Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — FP2020 Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — PMI/RBM Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — MICS indicators Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — MDGs Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — Access to Health Care Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - National Demographic and Health Data — SDGs Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — DHS Mobile Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — FP2020 Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Access to Health Care Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — MDGs Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — PMI/RBM Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Anthropometry Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — DHS Quickstats Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — SDGs Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Diarrhea Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Child Mortality Rates Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — IYCF Data for Mauritania hdx csv
• Mauritania - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — MICS indicators Data for Mauritania hdx csv