Quick facts
Nouakchott overview
Nouakchott (orange) and the other large cities of Mauritania
Nouakchott lies in Mauritania at 18.09°N, 15.98°W, about 10 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Nouakchott (UTC+0); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Mauritania: the next largest cities are Nouadhibou (146,048), Kiffa (62,051), Dar Naim (61,089). Together, the three largest cities hold 25.3% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Tevragh Zeina, about 2 km away, followed by Ksar (3 km).
Mauritania as a whole has a live population of 5,504,697 (+2.7% a year) and ranks #124 of 238 countries — see the Mauritania population page for the full statistics and the Mauritania atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Nouakchott
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Tevragh Zeina Nouakchott West | 2 km | 48,093 |
| Ksar Nouakchott West | 3 km | 57,758 |
| Dar Naim Nouakchott North | 6 km | 61,089 |
| Boutilimitt Trarza | 148 km | 27,170 |
| Rosso Trarza | 176 km | 15,870 |
| Tékane Trarza | 178 km | 22,041 |
Largest cities in Mauritania
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NouakchottCapital | 1,184,530 | |
| 2 | Nouadhibou | Dakhlet Nouadhibou | 146,048 |
| 3 | Kiffa | Assaba | 62,051 |
| 4 | Dar Naim | Nouakchott North | 61,089 |
| 5 | Néma | Hodh Ech Chargi | 60,000 |
| 6 | Mbera | Hodh Ech Chargi | 58,985 |
| 7 | Ksar | Nouakchott West | 57,758 |
| 8 | Kaédi | Gorgol | 56,283 |
| 9 | Zouérat | Tiris Zemmour | 55,183 |
| 10 | Tevragh Zeina | Nouakchott West | 48,093 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nouakchott?
Nouakchott has about 1,184,530 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Nouakchott the capital of Mauritania?
Yes — Nouakchott is the national capital of Mauritania.
How big is Nouakchott compared with the rest of Mauritania?
Its 1,184,530 residents are 21.5% of the 5,504,697 people living in Mauritania today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Nouakchott?
In Mauritania, at latitude 18.09 and longitude -15.98, 10 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Tevragh Zeina (2 km), Ksar (3 km), Dar Naim (6 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Nouakchott Population 2026 — Mauritania. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/mauritania/nouakchott/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/mauritania/nouakchott/">Nouakchott Population 2026 — Mauritania</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.