Mauritania

Located in northwest Africa, more than three quarters of Mauritania are desert or semi-desert. Only 0.5% of the country’s land is considered useful for agriculture which equals 502,000 ha [1]. Nonetheless, the rural sector is an important pillar of the Mauritanian economy contributing 17% to the GDP and employing 21% of the working population. 62% of the population depend on agriculture, livestock, and fishing for their livelihoods [2] . The country gained independence from France in 1960. Its colonial past is reflected in its legislation that draws on the French Code.

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Socio-economic indicators browse all

103,070,000 ha

32.6

3,683.3 USD

4,403,319

53.7 %

Land-related indicators browse all

38.5 %

72 %

121,198 ha

More on this country

New Protected Area Buffers Mauritania's Shifting Sands

18 October 2021

Mauritania's battle against encroaching desertification, which has damaged ecosystems and endangered species, has received a timely boost with the news that 200,000 hectares will be turned into a protected area to support biodiversity in the country. The new project, implemented by the United…

About 20 Million Hectares of Land Restored in Great Green Wall

3 November 2020

Close to 20 million hectares of land have already been restored, as part of the Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative, according to the implementation report released recently at a virtual meeting of environment ministers from Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan,…

Turning cities’ focus back to land-based finance

29 August 2017

Last month, the South African Independent Electoral Commission announced in frustration that it needs USD 22.9 million to collect addresses ahead of a court-mandated deadline, a problem compounded by the fact that most townships don’t have well-marked street names. Elsewhere, this problem is even…