Safest cities in Mauritania
3 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Eastern Mauritania
- Mauritania-Mali border
- Mauritania-Western Sahara border
- Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka provinces
- the areas west of a line running between Choum, Ouadane and where the 10th Meridian West meets latitude 18° 40°
- the town of Ouadane
- the Tidjikja-Tichit road
- the Aleg to Tidjikja road via Moudjeria and all areas of Tagant west of that road
- the Bogue to Kaedi road via Bababe
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in MauritaniaTerrorist attacks in Mauritania cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Demonstrations can happen at any time in Nouakchott. You should avoid political gatherings and demonstrations and follow the advice of local authorities and security forces. Maintain adequate stocks of non-perishable food and water.
Crime
- Crime levels are moderate but steadily increasing.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDYou should always carry copies of your photo ID, especially outside Nouakchott where there are police checkpoints. Follow any directions from the police or other Mauritanian security forces.
- ReligionMauritania recognises Islam as the only religion of its citizens and the state. It is illegal to participate in non-Islamic gatherings and activities that have not been authorised by the Mauritanian authorities. Attempting to convert people to other religions is illegal – those caught doing this can be arrested or deported. Blasphemy is a criminal…
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car.
- Alcohol and pork products banIt is illegal for Muslims and non-Muslims to import or consume alcohol and pork products in Mauritania. The Mauritanian authorities scan all baggage on arrival at Nouakchott International Airport and may search vehicles at land borders. They will confiscate alcohol or pork products and arrest or fine people found carrying them.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesDrug laws in Mauritania are severe. The penalties for possessing illegal drugs include imprisonment.
- Dress codeYou should dress modestly when not on the beach. Women should cover their shoulders and not wear short skirts. Men should not wear sleeveless tops or shorts.
- Using camerasPolice and members of the public can object to photography or filming if you do not get their permission. Do not photograph or film government and military sites or members of the security forces.
- LGBT+ travellersThere are no laws in Mauritania to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination.
- Accessing moneyIt is illegal to take Mauritanian currency (ougiyas) out of the country. The Mauritanian authorities may confiscate money from people trying to do so.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Mauritania, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving standardsDriving standards can be poor in Mauritania, traffic rules are rarely respected and paved roads are generally in poor condition.
- Crossing bordersCrossing the border into Mauritania can be time-consuming, and officials may ask for payments before they allow you to cross. Check local advice before travelling to neighbouring countries in case border crossings are closed or congested.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Mauritania, updated 2026-03-24 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1 /100k2020
- Income inequality
- Gini 32.02019
- Human development
- HDI 0.5632023
- Income
- $7,640/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 25.6 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 56/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 42/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 30/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 5.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.47GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 46.5 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.3 doctors /1k0.4 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 70 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 8.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 6.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 1.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Mauritania, with the death penalty applying in law (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Mauritania compares
| Measure | Mauritania | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.0 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.4 /100k — better for Mauritania |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 32.0 | 35.2 | −3.2 — better for Mauritania |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.563 | 0.763 | −0.200 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 25.6 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +10.2 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 42/100 | 52/100 | −10/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 30/100 | 39/100 | −9/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 46.5 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +26.8 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.3/10 | 3.8/10 | +1.5/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Mauritania | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.0 /100k | 4.7 /100k | −3.7 /100k — better for Mauritania |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 32.0 | 38.5 | −6.5 — better for Mauritania |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.563 | 0.560 | +0.003 — better for Mauritania |
| Road deaths | 25.6 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −2.6 /100k — better for Mauritania |
| Rule of law | 42/100 | 42/100 | ±0/100 |
| Corruption perceptions | 30/100 | 31/100 | −1/100 — better for Africa median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 46.5 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +19.2 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.3/10 | 5.2/10 | +0.1/10 — better for Africa median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 3 cities, safest first
- Nouadhibou77.7 · #2080 worldwide
- Nouakchott74.7 · #2842 worldwide
- Fassala61.5 · #4317 worldwide