Moving to Mauritania from South Africa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Africa to Mauritania — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Africa to Mauritania, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Africa to Mauritania.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Mauritania performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mauritania leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa generally does better on environment, though Mauritania leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Mauritania leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Mauritania generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa performs better than Mauritania across all family life metrics.
Data: South African Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Mauritania. To live, work, or study long-term in Mauritania, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Mauritania's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Mauritania
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Mauritania passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Mauritania?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Mauritania has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Mauritania safe for expats?
Mauritania performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Mauritania is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa.
How is healthcare in Mauritania compared to South Africa?
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mauritania leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Mauritania, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Mauritania scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What language do they speak in Mauritania?
The official language in Mauritania is Arabic. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Mauritania
At a Glance
ZA
|
MR
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 4,161,925 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Arabic |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +222 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | — |