!Mauritania Mauritania is a country, Region - Western Africa, Capital - Nouakchott, Population in 2003 - 2,893,000, Population density - 3 per sq km, Surface area - 1,025,520 sq km and Currency - ouguiya. Mauritania was also the old name of the African country W. of the Muluya River and N. of the Atlas Mountains, from which supplies of corn and timber were obtained.