List of Mauritania Regions and Capitals

Mauritania, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country located in Northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest. Mauritania is divided into fifteen regions, which are further divided into departments. Here is a list of the fifteen regions of Mauritania:

Mauritania is a large country in Northwest Africa bordered by Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, and Senegal, with coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The country is divided into 15 regions, known locally as wilayas, and one capital district for administrative governance. Nouakchott is the national capital and also the largest city in Mauritania.

The country includes Sahara desert landscapes, coastal plains, river valleys, oases, and nomadic grazing areas spread across the western Sahel. Different regions are known for mining, fishing, livestock, desert trade routes, and Islamic cultural heritage.

Key Facts

• National capital: Nouakchott
• Total population: 5,200,000 (Official estimate 2025)
• Total area: 1,030,700 km² (397,955 sq miles)
• Currency: Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
• Bordering countries: Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, Senegal
• Total Regions and Capital District: 16
• Total Departments: 50+

List of Regions and Capitals of Mauritania

Total administrative divisions shown: 16 | Combined population: 5,200,000 | Combined area: 1,030,700 km²

Largest Regions by Area

• Tiris Zemmour - 97,645 sq mi (252,900 km²)
• Adrar - 90,734 sq mi (235,000 km²)
• Hodh Ech Chargui - 70,541 sq mi (182,700 km²)
• Tagant - 37,452 sq mi (97,000 km²)
• Trarza - 26,178 sq mi (67,800 km²)
• Dakhlet Nouadhibou - 24,324 sq mi (63,000 km²)
• Hodh El Gharbi - 20,618 sq mi (53,400 km²)
• Inchiri - 16,101 sq mi (41,700 km²)

Most Populous Regions

• Nouakchott Metropolitan District - Population: 1,440,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
• Hodh Ech Chargui - Population: 520,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
• Nouakchott-Sud - Population: 520,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
• Trarza - Population: 460,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
• Nouakchott-Nord - Population: 450,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
• Assaba - Population: 420,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
• Brakna - Population: 410,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
• Gorgol - Population: 390,000 (Official Estimate 2025)

Smallest Regions by Area

• Nouakchott-Ouest - 56 sq mi (146 km²)
• Nouakchott-Sud - 64 sq mi (166 km²)
• Nouakchott-Nord - 118 sq mi (306 km²)
• Nouakchott Metropolitan District - 386 sq mi (1,000 km²)
• Guidimaka - 3,977 sq mi (10,300 km²)
• Gorgol - 5,251 sq mi (13,600 km²)

Regions by Regional Grouping

• Atlantic Coast: Dakhlet Nouadhibou
• Capital Region: Nouakchott Metropolitan District, Nouakchott-Nord, Nouakchott-Ouest, Nouakchott-Sud
• Central Plateau: Tagant
• Eastern Mauritania: Hodh Ech Chargui
• Eastern Sahel: Hodh El Gharbi
• Northern Mining Region: Tiris Zemmour
• Northern Sahara: Adrar
• Senegal River Valley: Gorgol
• Southern Borderlands: Guidimaka
• Southern Mauritania: Brakna
• Southern Sahel: Assaba
• Southwestern Mauritania: Trarza
• Western Sahara: Inchiri

Landlocked Regions

• Adrar
• Assaba
• Brakna
• Gorgol
• Guidimaka
• Hodh Ech Chargui
• Hodh El Gharbi
• Tagant
• Tiris Zemmour

Regions with Coastline

• Dakhlet Nouadhibou
• Inchiri
• Nouakchott Metropolitan District
• Nouakchott-Nord
• Nouakchott-Ouest
• Nouakchott-Sud
• Trarza

Regions Sharing Borders with Other Countries

• Western Sahara: Adrar, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Tiris Zemmour
• Algeria: Adrar, Hodh Ech Chargui, Tiris Zemmour
• Mali: Assaba, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi
• Senegal: Brakna, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Trarza

Sources

• National Statistics Office Mauritania
• World Bank - Mauritania Data
• CIA World Factbook - Mauritania
• Encyclopaedia Britannica - Mauritania
• Government of Mauritania