Is It Safe to Travel to Mauritania in 2026?
Mauritania - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Mauritania due to elevated risks. Key factors: terrorism, crime.
Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in Northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest.
Is It Safe to Travel to Mauritania in 2026?
Mauritania is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Reconsider travel to Mauritania due to terrorism and crime, with some areas having increased risk. Violent crimes occur frequently outside the Tevragh Zeina neighborhoods in Nouakchott, including mugging, armed robbery, and assault.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- terrorism
- crime
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Reconsider travel to Mauritania due to terrorism and crime, Violent crimes occur frequently outside the Tevragh Zeina neighborhoods in Nouakchott, Limited emergency services may affect traveler safety.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crime, particularly outside the Tevragh Zeina neighborhoods in Nouakchott, where mugging and armed robbery are prevalent.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to poor infrastructure and limited emergency services, particularly outside Nouakchott, where travel restrictions apply.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access, especially pediatric care, and the risk of violent crime in areas outside safe zones.
Remote workers may find reliable WiFi in urban areas like Nouakchott, but should avoid rural regions where connectivity is poor and safety is a concern.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Mauritania.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- All areas north of the Tropic of Cancer
- All areas within 100 KM of the Mali and Algeria Border
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel2 regions
▶All areas north of the Tropic of Cancer
Designated off-limits by the Mauritanian military due to security risks.
▶All areas within 100 KM of the Mali and Algeria Border
Designated off-limits by the Mauritanian military due to security risks.
Mauritania has 2 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Mauritania has an overall threat severity of 7.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 7.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 39/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Ouguiya (MRU)
Language
Arabic
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Dengue: Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites.
- alertGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Mauritania
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Mauritania?
▶Is it safe to travel to Mauritania right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Mauritania?
▶What vaccines do I need for Mauritania?
▶Is Mauritania safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Mauritania?
More Mauritania Data
Partly Free — 39/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.