Q 01/05

What is the capital and largest city of Mauritania?

A) Nouakchott

B) Nouadhibou

C) Chinguetti

D) Zouérat

Answer · why

A) Nouakchott

Nouakchott, purpose-built as the capital shortly before independence, is home to roughly a quarter of all Mauritanians.

Q 02/05

Which ocean forms Mauritania's western border?

A) The Indian

B) The Mediterranean Sea

C) The Red Sea

D) The Atlantic

Answer · why

D) The Atlantic

The Atlantic Ocean washes Mauritania's roughly 750 km western coastline; every other border is a land border.

Q 03/05

Roughly what share of Mauritania's territory is Saharan desert?

A) 50%

B) 70%

C) 90%

D) 30%

Answer · why

C) 90%

About 90% of Mauritania lies within the Sahara; most people live in the Sahelian south and the river valley.

Q 04/05

What is Mauritania's official full name?

A) People's Republic

B) Islamic Republic

C) Federal Republic

D) Kingdom

Answer · why

B) Islamic Republic

The country is styled the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; Islam is the state religion and nearly all citizens are Sunni Muslim.

Q 05/05

What is the official language of Mauritania?

A) French

B) Arabic

C) Wolof

D) Berber

Answer · why

B) Arabic

Arabic became the sole official language under the 1991 constitution, which ended French's official status.