What is the capital of Mauritania?

The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott. It is the country’s largest city and lies near the Atlantic coast on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

Before independence, the site was a small settlement, but Nouakchott was selected to become the capital as Mauritania prepared for independence from France. The city was formally established in the late 1950s and became the capital when Mauritania gained independence in 1960. Its location was intended to provide a central political base between the country’s northern and southern regions.

Nouakchott has expanded rapidly despite its harsh desert environment. Sand movement, limited freshwater, drought, and periodic coastal flooding have all shaped urban planning. The city is also Mauritania’s main administrative, commercial, and transport center. Nouadhibou, another important coastal city, is a major port and fishing center, but it is not the national capital.