Mauritania
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
CIA 2026
Identity
Name origin: named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.).
CIA 2026
Matchup file
Mauritania vs Western Sahara
20 shared metrics.
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Think you can spot the next winner?
Mauritania leads by 6 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.
Country briefing
What matters for both sides
Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.
Western Sahara
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Name origin: self-descriptive name specifying the territory's western location on the African continent's vast desert.
CIA 2026
Geography
Size snapshot: about the size of Colorado.
CIA 2026
Analysis
Mauritania leads in 13 of 20 shared metrics, while Western Sahara leads in 7.
Mauritania's Electricity Generation is 17.2x that of Western Sahara (1.6 TWh vs 0.09 TWh).
Mauritania's Land Border Length is 1.4x that of Western Sahara (5.0K km vs 2.0K km).
Mauritania has 100% higher Time Zones Count than Western Sahara.
Mauritania has 79% higher Airports than Western Sahara.
Western Sahara has 47% higher Median Age than Mauritania.
Key Comparisons
Electricity GenerationMauritania leads
Mauritania
1.6 TWh
Western Sahara
0.09 TWh
Land Border LengthMauritania leads
Mauritania
5.0K km
Western Sahara
2.0K km
Time Zones CountMauritania leads
Mauritania
2.0 time zones
Western Sahara
1.0 time zones
AirportsMauritania leads
Mauritania
25
Western Sahara
14
Median AgeWestern Sahara leads
Mauritania
17.1 years
Western Sahara
32.0 years
Death RateWestern Sahara leads
Mauritania
5.2 per 1k
Western Sahara
7.7 per 1k
All Metrics
Electricity Generation
MauritaniaMauritania
1.6 TWh
Western Sahara
0.09 TWh
1722% higher
Land Border Length
MauritaniaMauritania
5.0K km
Western Sahara
2.0K km
144% higher
Time Zones Count
MauritaniaMauritania
2.0 time zones
Western Sahara
1.0 time zones
100% higher
Airports
MauritaniaMauritania
25
Western Sahara
14
79% higher
Median Age
Western SaharaMauritania
17.1 years
Western Sahara
32.0 years
47% lower
Death Rate
Western SaharaMauritania
5.2 per 1k
Western Sahara
7.7 per 1k
33% lower
Border Neighbors
MauritaniaMauritania
4.0
Western Sahara
3.0
33% higher
Coastline Length
Western SaharaMauritania
754 km
Western Sahara
1.1K km
32% lower
Fertility Rate
MauritaniaMauritania
4.8 children/woman
Western Sahara
3.6 children/woman
30% higher
Urban Population (%)
Western SaharaMauritania
60.61%
Western Sahara
86.8%
30% lower
Food Waste per Person
Western SaharaMauritania
130.05 kg/person/yr
Western Sahara
178.03 kg/person/yr
27% lower
Electricity Carbon Intensity
Western SaharaMauritania
512.08 gCO2/kWh
Western Sahara
666.67 gCO2/kWh
23% lower
Birth Rate
MauritaniaMauritania
34.01 per 1k
Western Sahara
28 per 1k
21% higher
Highest Elevation
MauritaniaMauritania
915 m
Western Sahara
805 m
14% higher
Coal Electricity Share
Western SaharaMauritania
0%
Western Sahara
0%
ranked lower
Wind Electricity Share
MauritaniaMauritania
4.8%
Western Sahara
0%
ranked higher
Solar Electricity Share
MauritaniaMauritania
7.7%
Western Sahara
0%
ranked higher
Lowest Elevation
MauritaniaMauritania
-5 m
Western Sahara
-55 m
ranked higher
Irrigated Land
MauritaniaMauritania
450 km²
Western Sahara
0 km²
ranked higher
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
MauritaniaMauritania
2.0 sites
Western Sahara
0 sites
ranked higher
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