Culture of Mauritania

Islamic Republic of Mauritania الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية (Arabic) al-Jumhūrīyah al-Islāmīyah al-Mūrītānīyah
Flag Seal
Motto: شرف إخاء عدل (Arabic) "Honor, Fraternity, Justice"
Anthem: نشيد وطني موريتاني "National anthem of Mauritania"
Location of  Mauritania  (green) in Africa  (dark grey)
Capital and largest city	Nouakchott 18°09′N 15°58′W / 18.150°N 15.967°W / 18.150; -15.967
Official languages	Arabica
Recognised national languages	Hassaniya Arabic Pulaar Soninke Wolof a
Other languages	French Zenaga Berber
Religion	Islam
Demonym	Mauritanian
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republicb
• President	Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
• Prime Minister	Yahya Ould Hademine
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Independence
• from France	28 November 1960
• Current Constitution of Mauritania	12 July 1991
Area
• Total	1,030,000 km2 (400,000 sq mi) (29th)
• Water (%)	0.03
Population
• 2015 estimate	4,067,564
• 2013 census	3,537,368
• Density	3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2016 estimate
• Total	$16.710 billion (134th)
• Per capita	$4,404 (140th)
GDP (nominal)	2016 estimate
• Total	$4.718 billion (154th)
• Per capita	$1,243 (149th)
Gini (2008)	40.5 medium
HDI (2014)	0.506 low · 156th
Currency	Ouguiya (MRO)
Time zone	GMT (UTC+0)
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+222
ISO 3166 code	MR
Internet TLD	.mr
According to Article 6 of the Constitution: "The national languages are Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof; the official language is Arabic." Not recognized internationally (see main article).

Coordinates: 20°N 12°W / 20°N 12°W / 20; -12

in Africa  (dark grey)

Mauritania ⁱ/mɔːrɪˈteɪniə/ (Arabic: موريتانيا‎‎ Mūrītānyā; Berber: Muritanya or Agawej; Wolof: Gànnaar; Soninke: Murutaane; Pulaar: Moritani; French: Mauritanie), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in the Maghreb region of western Africa. It is the eleventh largest country in Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Morocco and the remnants of Western Sahara in the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mali in the east and southeast, and Senegal in the southwest.