16 Regions of Mauritania

Mauritania is divided into 15 regions:

Adrar is a large administrative region in Mauritania, named for the Adrar Plateau. The capital is Atar. Other major towns include Choum, Chinguetti and Ouadane. The region borders Western Sahara and the Mauritanian region of Tiris Zemmour to the north, Mali and the Mauritanian region of Hodh Ech Chargui to the east, the Mauritanian regions of Trarza and Tagant to the south and the Mauritanian region of Inchiri to the west.

Assaba is a region in southern Mauritania, covering an area of 36,600 square km. It had a population of 325,897 at the 2013 Census. Its capital is Kifa. Other major cities/towns include Guerou. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Brakna and Tagant to the north, the Mauritanian region of Hodh El Gharbi to the east, Mali to the south, and the Mauritanian regions of Gorgol and Guidimaka to the west. The Aoukar basin, which formerly gave name to the greater region, is located in the north and the east of the central part of Assaba.

Brakna is a region in south-west Mauritania. Its capital is Aleg. Other major cities/towns include Boghé. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Tagant to the north-east, Assaba and Gorgol to the south-east, and Trarza to the north-west. The Sénégal River in the south-west runs along the region's border with Senegal.

Dakhlet Nouadhibou Region is an administrative division of Mauritania. Its regional capital is Nouadhibou, which is located at its northwestern end and is home to nearly 95% of the region's population. The rest of the shoreline is sparsely populated with villages, but the east of the region is mostly uninhabited.

Gorgol is a region in southern Mauritania. Its capital is Kaédi and the Gorgol River forms parts of the landscape. Other major cities/towns include Mbout and Maghama. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Brakna and Assaba to the north, the Mauritanian region of Guidimaka to the south-east and Senegal to the south-west. The Senegal River runs along the region's border with Senegal.

Guidimaka is the southernmost region of Mauritania. Its capital is Sélibaby. The region borders the Mauritanian region of Assaba to the north-east, Mali to the south-east, Senegal to the south-west and the Mauritanian Gorgol Region to the west.

Hodh Ech Chargui is a large region in eastern Mauritania, with an area of 182,700 km2. Its capital is Néma, but the largest town, in Bassiknou Department, is Fassala at the extreme southeast of Mauritania, with 65,927 inhabitants at the 2013 census. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Adrar, Tagant and Hodh El Gharbi to the west and Mali to the east and south. The Aoukar basin, which formerly gave name to a greater region, is located in the western part of Hodh Ech Chargui.

Hodh El Gharbi is a region in southern Mauritania, with an area of 53,400 square km. The population at the 2013 census was 294,109. Its capital is Aïoun. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Tagant to the north, Hodh Ech Chargui to the east and Assaba to the west. To the south in borders Mali, and a part of Malian territory protrudes into the region. The Aoukar basin, which formerly gave name to a greater region, is located in the northern and central part of Hodh El Gharbi, extending eastwards.

Inchiri is a region in western Mauritania. Its capital and only city is Akjoujt. It borders the regions of Adrar to the east, Trarza to the south, and Dakhlet Nouadhibou to the north and west, along with a short Atlantic Ocean coastline. The region is known for its rich copper deposits, and therefore is heavily mined. According to the World Health Organization, there is a malaria risk during the rainy season, which lasts from July to October. President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was born and raised in Akjoujt.

Nouakchott-Nord is a region in Mauritania. It comprises the three northwestern departments of Mauritania's capital city Nouakchott: Dar-Naim, Teyarett and Toujouonine. The capital is at Dar-Naim and Nouakchott International Airport was located within its borders.

Nouakchott-Ouest is a region in Mauritania. It comprises the three northeastern departments of Mauritania's capital city Nouakchott: Ksar, Sebkha and Tevragh-Zeina. Its headquarters are at Tevragh-Zeina and the Presidential Palace is located within its borders.

Nouakchott-Sud is a region in Mauritania. It comprises the three southern departments of Mauritania's capital city Nouakchott: Arafat, El Mina and Riyad. Its headquarters are at Arafat and Nouakchott's deep-water port is located within its borders.

Tagant is a region in south-central Mauritania named for the Tagant Plateau. Its capital is Tidjikdja. Other major cities/towns include Tichit and Rachid, Nbeika. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Adrar to the north, Hodh Ech Chargui to the east, Hodh El Gharbi and Assaba to the south and Brakna to the west. The Aoukar basin, which formerly gave name to the greater region, is located in the southern part of Tagant.

Tiris Zemmour is the northernmost region of Mauritania. Its capital is Zouérat. Other major cities/towns include F'dérik and Bir Moghrein. The region borders Algeria to the north-east, Mali to east, the Mauritanian region of Adrar to the south and Western Sahara to west and north-west.

Trarza is a region in southwest Mauritania. Its capital is Rosso. Other major cities and towns include Mederdra and Boutilimit. Trarza borders the regions of Inchiri and Adrar to the north, Brakna to the east, and the country of Senegal to the south. Its western coastline on the Atlantic Ocean is interrupted only by the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, which the region completely surrounds.