Mauritania (Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

Mauritania Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	186th 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
   1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   2. Gender Equality Datasets
   3. Prejudice Datasets
5. Mauritania's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Mauritania's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Mauritania's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Mauritania's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. 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	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
183	Comoros	123.9
184	Mozambique	124.0
185	Papua New Guinea	124.1
186	Mauritania	125.1
187	Myanmar	126.5
188	Liberia	126.6
189	Central African Rep.	126.7
190	Chad	129.8
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

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 Datasets:

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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
41=	Swaziland	06.6
42=	Central African Rep.	06.8
42=	Sudan	06.8
42=	Mauritania	06.8
42=	Kuwait	06.8
46=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	07.0
46=	Solomon Islands	07.0
46=	Rwanda	07.0
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

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

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
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.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
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)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Cape Verde	66.3
2	S. Africa	70.7
3	Mauritius	74.9
	...
46	Ethiopia	136.3
47	Cameroon	139.3
48	Congo, DR	141.0
49	Angola	143.0
50	Mauritania	144.3
51	Equatorial Guinea	147.3
52	Sudan	153.0
53	Eritrea	161.7
54	Somalia	162.1
	Africa Avg	110.04
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
187	Pakistan	141.3
188	Syria	142.4
189	Angola	143.0
190	Mauritania	144.3
191	Equatorial Guinea	147.3
192	Iran	152.2
193	Sudan	153.0
194	Brunei	153.6
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting 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 Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

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

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #mauritania #politics #slavery

Press Freedom Higher is better21
Pos.		202521
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. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better22
Pos.		Total Per 100022
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
153=	Kuwait	13.00
154	UAE	13.40
155	Tajikistan	14.00
156	Turkey	15.60
157	Saudi Arabia	21.30
158	Mauritania	32.00
159	Eritrea	90.30
160	N. Korea	104.60
	Africa Avg	6.90
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

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"₂₃. In 2015 Mauritania did improve its law, but, the judiciary and the police are reluctant to comply₂₃.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better24
Pos.		2014 Rank24
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
146=	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
130=	Mozambique	4.5
132=	Morocco	5.0
132=	Mauritania	5.0
132=	Jordan	5.0
132=	Pakistan	5.0
132=	Tunisia	5.0
137=	Brunei	5.5
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better25
Pos.		2009 Treaties25
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
122=	Sudan	14
122=	Cameroon	14
122=	Uzbekistan	14
125=	Mauritania	13
125=	Sri Lanka	13
125=	Malawi	13
125=	Zambia	13
125=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	13
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better26
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty26
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.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

Mauritania is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women. Cultural Islamic beliefs are the cause of this.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)
• "Islam and Women" by Vexen Crabtree (2011)

Gender Inequality Lower is better27
Pos.		202227
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

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
128=	Rwanda	1961
128=	Mauritania	1961
128=	Burundi	1961
128=	Malawi	1961
128=	Paraguay	1961
128=	Sierra Leone	1961
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better28
Pos.		Total Score28
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
208	Zambia	-8.40
209	Somalia	-8.49
210	Iran	-9.25
211	Cameroon	-9.45
212	Qatar	-9.59
213	Eritrea	-9.60
214	Mauritania	-9.62
215	Saudi Arabia	-11.30
	Africa Avg	-3.78
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Mauritania’s 1984 Penal Code (Article 308) introduced the death penalty for male same-sex relations under Sharia, but, there's no evidence it has ever been applied. Before that, throughout 1904-1960, Mauritania was part of "French West Africa", which didn't specifically make homosexuality illegal (but some harrassments still occurred).

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Mauritania had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination, and supportive NGOs are banned. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

•  ⇣  Opposed a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and opposed it again in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
•  ⇣  Opposed the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
•  ⇣  Opposed the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights tabled by Argentina.
•  ⇣  Voted against the 2011 Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council posted by South Africa, requesting a report on discrimination and violence against LGBTQ folk.
•  ⇣  In 2022, voted against renewal of the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
•  ⇣  In 2025, voted against renewal of the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better29
Pos.		202129
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
183=	Morocco	4.5
183=	Eritrea	4.5
183=	Malaysia	4.5
186=	Mauritania	4.8
186=	UAE	4.8
186=	Iran	4.8
186=	Brunei	4.8
186=	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)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	Mauritius	71.1
2	Tunisia	75.3
3	Seychelles	77.4
	...
25	Tanzania	129.7
26	Togo	130.6
27	Malawi	130.8
28	Mauritania	131.7
29	Zambia	133.2
30	Comoros	134.8
31	Guinea-Bissau	136.2
32	Ethiopia	136.3
33	Benin	136.7
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
170	Togo	130.6
171	Malawi	130.8
172	Pakistan	130.9
173	Mauritania	131.7
174	Iraq	132.9
175	Zambia	133.2
176	Comoros	134.8
177	Laos	135.1
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₁.

42 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₁, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₁.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mauritania #obesity #overpopulation #smoking

Mauritania is a pretty unhealthy country. Mauritania does the best when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate₃₂. It does better than average in its smoking rate₃₃ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₄. But that's it. Mauritania has problems. It does worse than average when it comes to delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₅, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₆, its average life expectancy₁₁ (still good for Africa), delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₇ and in its adolescent birth rate₃₈. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₉ (one of the highest in Africa) and in its fertility rate₁₅. The number 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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better32
Pos.		2016 Per Capita32
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
9=	Pakistan	0.3
11=	Kiribati	0.4
11=	Iraq	0.4
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better33
Pos.		Total %33
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
26	UAE	9.0%
27	Iceland	9.3%
28	Tanzania	9.3%
29	Mauritania	9.5%
30	Swaziland	9.5%
31	Jamaica	9.7%
32	Malawi	9.7%
33	Ecuador	10.2%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
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 better34
Pos.		1976 %34
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
34=	Congo, DR	9.2
34=	Nigeria	9.2
36	Gambia	9.3
37	Mauritania	9.7
38	Benin	9.8
39	Togo	10.0
40	Cape Verde	10.1
41	China	10.2
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 %40
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
80	Luxembourg	20.2%
81	Andorra	20.5%
82	Tajikistan	20.8%
83	Mauritania	20.8%
84	Montenegro	21.1%
85	Italy	21.6%
86	Solomon Islands	21.6%
87	Pakistan	21.8%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 Per 100038
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better35
Pos.		Total Avg %35
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
137	Guatemala	88.9
138	Kyrgyzstan	88.7
139	St Lucia	88.6
140	Mauritania	88.5
141	Vietnam	88.4
142	Macedonia	88.3
143	Cambodia	88.2
144	Tanzania	88.0
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better37
Pos.		2015 Avg %37
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.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better36
Pos.		Total Per 100036
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
145	Kenya	48.20
146	Yemen	49.34
147	Comoros	49.44
148	Mauritania	49.55
149	Rwanda	50.42
150	Botswana	50.43
151	Papua New Guinea	52.31
152	Namibia	52.36
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

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 #environmentalism #food #internationalism #mauritania #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
44	Liberia	94.2
45	Sudan	97.8
46	Comoros	99.1
47	Mauritania	101.2
48	Seychelles	103.4
49	Angola	109.5
50	Libya	121.4
51	Zimbabwe	121.5
52	Somalia	131.0
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
151	Kuwait	100.5
152	Bahamas	100.9
153	Azerbaijan	101.2
154	Mauritania	101.2
155	Oman	101.8
156	Iraq	102.8
157	Antigua & Barbuda	103.2
158	Seychelles	103.4
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₂. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Mauritania comes 154th in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed from 21 data sets. Mauritania does better than average when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₃ (but high for Africa). However Mauritania performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₄, energy to GDP efficiency₄₅ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of its environmental performance₄₆ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₇.

Environmental Performance Higher is better46
Pos.		201846
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.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better45
Pos.		2022 Avg45
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
105	Ecuador	1.22
106	New Zealand	1.22
107	Georgia	1.22
108	Mauritania	1.24
109	Iraq	1.24
110	Australia	1.25
111	Cuba	1.25
112	Thailand	1.26
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
138	St Vincent & Grenadines	52%
139	Saudi Arabia	52%
140	Central African Rep.	52%
141	Mauritania	51%
142	Lesotho	51%
143	Croatia	51%
144	Djibouti	51%
145	Gabon	51%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better44
Pos.		2011 %44
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 better43
Pos.		2021 kg43
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. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Mauritania's Modernity and Learning

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

Compared to Africa (2025)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	S. Africa	58.2
2	Tunisia	63.4
3	Seychelles	64.9
	...
43	Congo, DR	139.9
44	Angola	140.6
45	Mozambique	141.4
46	Mauritania	143.9
47	Burundi	144.5
48	Gambia	147.8
49	Chad	150.8
50	Sierra Leone	153.8
51	Liberia	160.4
	Africa Avg	119.28
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
176	Cambodia	140.0
177	Angola	140.6
178	Mozambique	141.4
179	Mauritania	143.9
180	Laos	144.3
181	Burundi	144.5
182	Gambia	147.8
183	Bhutan	148.3
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₉. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₉. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₀.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₁

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₉, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₉.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
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.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better52
Pos.		2025 %52
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
157=	Burundi	90
157=	Benin	90
157=	Cambodia	90
157=	Mauritania	90
157=	Bangladesh	90
157=	Brunei	90
157=	Central African Rep.	90
157=	Botswana	90
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Mauritania officially adopted metric in 1960₅₃. Progression:

• 1960 (50%): Traditional units dominant; metric in administration.
• 1970 (65%): Standardization grows in commerce/education.
• 1980 (80%): Metric dominant officially; informal legacy persists.
• 2000 (85%).
• 2025 (90%): High metric usage.

IQ Higher is better54
Pos.		200654
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.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better55
Pos.		201855
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 better56
Pos.		2021 Years56
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better57
Pos.		201657
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 better58
Pos.		201358
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 better59
Pos.		2017 Ratio59
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. Mauritania's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #happiness #internationalism #politics

Corruption Higher is better60
Pos.		2022 Points60
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
128=	Mexico	31.0
128=	Bolivia	31.0
130=	Egypt	30.0
130=	Mauritania	30.0
130=	Togo	30.0
130=	Swaziland	30.0
130=	Djibouti	30.0
130=	Papua New Guinea	30.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better61
Pos.		2024 Score61
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
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.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better62
Pos.		Total Q62
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
142	Uzbekistan	59.0
143=	Burkina Faso	58.8
143=	India	58.8
143=	Mauritania	58.8
146	Tajikistan	58.5
147	Gabon	58.0
148	Ivory Coast	57.3
149	Senegal	56.8
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
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.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

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

Global Peace Index Lower is better63
Pos.		2023 Score63
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
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 better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
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 better64
Pos.		2019 Score64
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.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

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

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better65
Pos.		201965
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
161=	Liberia	29.80
161=	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 better66
Pos.		2023 %66
1	Slovakia	24.1%67
2	Slovenia	24.3%67
3	Belarus	24.4%68
	...
46=	Lebanon	31.8%69
46=	Estonia	31.8%67
48	Egypt	31.9%70
49	Mauritania	32.0%70
50	Seychelles	32.1%71
51	Vanuatu	32.3%70
52=	Germany	32.4%68
52=	UK	32.4%67
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

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

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better72
Pos.		2018 Severity72
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.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #mauritania

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₃:

	2010	2020
Muslim	99.1%	99.2%
Other	0.499%	0.472%
Christian	0.271%	0.234%
Unaffiliated	0.102%	0.107%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	None	None
Buddhist	None	None

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim (official) 100%₇₄.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₇₅, 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 state₇₆. 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)₇₇

Links:

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