The TOEFL iBT test is offered in this location.
The list below shows testing regions, fees and dates as of February 15, 2019, but availability may change when you register. Fees are shown in US$ and are subject to change without notice.
| Region | Testing Format | Fee | Test Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouakchott | TOEFL iBT | $180 $180 |
Sat., Mar 16, 2019 Fri., Jul 12, 2019 |
Mauritania Overview
Mauritania, republic in northwest Africa with a predominantly Moorish (Arab-Berber) population. Mauritania extends to the Atlantic Ocean. It mainly belongs to the western Sahara, the south to the thorn savannah of the Sahel zone. Rice is grown in the Senegal Valley on the southwestern border. Date palms grow in the oases. The nomads keep camels, cattle, sheep and goats. Mauritania is Africa’s third largest iron ore supplier after South Africa and Liberia; Iron ore and fishery products are the most important export goods.
History: In the 4th century AD, Berbers immigrated from the north into present-day Mauritania, which belonged to the Islamic Almoravid Empire from 1061–1147. After that, northern Mauritania remained loosely dependent on Morocco, while the south belonged to Mali. In 1904 Mauritania became a French protectorate, a French colony in 1920, and an autonomous republic within the French community in 1958. Mauritania has been independent since 1960.
Country facts
- Official name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
- License plate: RIM
- ISO-3166: MR, MRT (478)
- Internet domain:.mr
- Currency: 1 Ouguiya (MRU) = 5 Khoums
- Area: 1,030,700 km²
- Population (2019): 4.5 million
- Capital: Nouakchott
- Official language (s): Arabic
- Form of government: Presidential Republic
- Administrative division: 12 regions and capital district
- Head of State: President Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani (since 1.8.2019)
- Head of Government: Mohamed Ould Bilal (since August 6, 2020)
- Religion (s): Muslims (Sunni)
- Time zone: Central European Time -1 hour
- National holiday: November 28th
Location and infrastructure
- Location (geographical): North West Africa
- Location (coordinates): between 14 ° 30 ‘and 27 ° 30’ north latitude and 4 ° 40 ‘and 17 ° 30’ west longitude
- Climate: desert climate
- Highest mountain: Kediet ej-Jill (915 m)
- Road network (2018): 3 988 km (paved), 8 265 km (unpaved)
- Railway network (2014): 728 km
Population
- Annual population growth (2020): 2.1%
- Birth rate (2020): 29 per 1000 residents.
- Death rate (2020): 7.5 per 1000 residents.
- Average age (2020): 21 years
- Average life expectancy (2020): 64.5 years (men 62.1; women 67)
- Age structure (2020): 37.6% younger than 15 years, 3.9% older than 65 years
- Literacy rate (15-year-olds and older) (2017): 53.5%
- Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2018): 104 per 100 residents
- Internet users (2017): 21 per 100 residents
Economy
- GDP per capita (2019): US $ 1,392
- Total GDP (2019): $ 5.651 billion
- GNI per capita (2019): US $ 1,660
- Education expenditure (2016): 2.6% of GDP
- Military expenditure (2019): 2.8% of GDP
- Unemployment rate (15 years and older) (2019): 9.5%
Education
There is general compulsory schooling from 6 to 14 years of age. The school system is divided into a three-year pre-school, a six-year elementary school and a two-stage seven-year secondary school. School attendance is significantly lower in rural areas than in cities. In addition to state schools, there are also Koran schools. The languages of instruction are Arabic and French. Nouakchott has national schools of administration and engineering and a university (founded in 1981).
Transportation
Only the area around Nouakchott and the agricultural cultivation zone in Senegal have relatively good transport links. A 728 km long railway line connects the ore mining area around Zouérate with the ore export port Point-Central 10 km south of Nouadhibou on the border with Western Sahara. Around a third of the approximately 12,300 km long road network is paved, including the “Road of Hope” between Nouakchott and Néma. Since 2006 there has been a 470 km long asphalt road between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. Inland navigation in Senegal is only possible all year round in the lower reaches. The most important ports are Nouadhibou and Nouakchott with the deep-water port Port de l’Amitié, since its completion in 1986 Mauritania has been independent of transit imports. International airports have Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and Néma, and there are also several regional airports.
Tourism
Tourism still plays a marginal role. In addition to the lack of infrastructure, the tense domestic political climate is a hindrance to tourist development. The Banc d’Arguin National Park and the caravan towns of Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt and Oualata (all UNESCO World Heritage Sites) are ideal destinations for tourism.
Climate
Mauritania has a largely dry, subtropical desert climate with occasional rainfall in winter. Only a small area on the southwest border in the floodplain of Senegal (border river), the actual habitat of the country, and a south-west-east fringe in the Hodh receive around 200–500 mm of precipitation in summer thanks to winds from the Gulf of Guinea; both areas already belong to the peripheral tropics. In winter the harmattan is feared. On the coast the temperatures are lower due to the cooling by the Canary Current; often dew formation.
Vegetation
In Senegal there is flood savannah (with dump palms, palmyra palms, baobabs), to the north, thorn bush savannah (with acacias); the desert begins even further north; Cultivated plants ( date palms ) dominate the oases.
Wildlife
In particular, the coastal and floodplains are used intensively by breeding birds. The Banc d’Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, impresses with the contrast between the ocean coast and the desert landscape and is home to numerous migrating birds on their winter hikes. The cold ocean current attracts many species of fish and amphibians (e.g. giant tortoises) as well as dolphins.