AfricaMauritania
Nouakchott
Mauritania · Africa
About Nouakchott
Nouakchott sits on the route: 10 minutes from Arafat.
Nouakchott is in Mauritania, with about 1.2 million people. The nearest town is Arafat, about 4 km away.
Nouakchott ( nwa(h)k-SHOT) is the capital and largest city of Mauritania. Located in the southwestern part of the country, it is one of the largest cities in the Sahara. The city also serves as the administrative and economic center of Mauritania.
Once a mid-sized coastal village, Nouakchott was selected as theRead more
capital for the nascent nation of Mauritania, with construction beginning in 1958. It was originally designed to accommodate a population of 15,000, but experienced significant population growth in the 1970s when many Mauritanians fled their home villages due to drought and increasing desertification. Many of the newcomers settled in slum areas of the city that were poorly maintained and extremely overcrowded. By the mid-1980s, Nouakchott's population was estimated to be between 400,000 and 500,000.
As of 2023, the city had a population of nearly 1.5 million people and serves as the hub of the Mauritanian economy. It is home to a deepwater port and Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport, one of the country's two international airports. It also hosts the University of Nouakchott and several other more specialized institutions of higher learning.
Where to Stay in Nouakchott
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Nouakchott.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Nouakchott.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nouakchott?
Nouakchott is in Mauritania, about 4 km from Arafat.
Road trip
Drive to Nouakchott
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Nouakchott. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,184,530
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Mauritania
- Timezone
- Africa/Nouakchott
- Coordinates
- 18.0858, -15.9785
Tags
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Nouakchott.
No nearby destinations found within 200 km.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Nouakchott.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.