180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Recommend CautionLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended
Riding the iron-ore train across the Sahara, sitting on top of the ore with a scarf wrapped against the dust, is one of travel's great free rides. Add the ancient caravan libraries of Chinguetti and millions of birds at Banc d'Arguin, and Mauritania will hook a certain kind of traveller completely. Everyday crime is rare, but this is a strict, conservative state — and homosexuality can carry the death penalty. LGBT+ travellers must not go.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Mauritania: 1.0
Ranked 39th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
1 homicides per 100,000 people in 2020 — killings here are genuinely rare.
Lower than 77% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Mauritania: 2.2
Ranked 54th least peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 33% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 2.204.
Down 8 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Mauritania: 5.5
Ranked 49th least free country in the world.
Less free than 76% of the 165 countries measured — 5.54 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 5.15; doing business and owning property, 6.09.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Mauritania: Stoning
Ranked 5th least equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Homosexuality is criminalised here, with a maximum penalty of death by stoning.
Public attitudes score 16 out of 100 — the law and public opinion are not the same thing.