Christianity is a small minority religion in Mauritania (about 1%).
In 2020, the estimated Christian population amount was only 0.23% of the population.World Religion Database at the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08 There are between 10,000 and 11,000 Christians in Mauritania in 2023, mostly foreign expatriates.Open Doors website, retrieved 2023-08-08
All of the roughly 4,000 Catholics in Mauritania are within the country's only diocese, the Diocese of Nouakchott. In 2020, there were 11 priests and 34 nuns serving 5 parishes.Catholics And Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
There are several expatriate African churches in Mauritania, though there are no more than 200 Protestants in the country, including foreigners.
In spite of a strict law against evangelism the Mauritanian Christian community has allegedly grown and there were estimated to be 400–1,000 ethnic Mauritanian Christians in 2010.World Watch List 2010: #8. Mauritania For a short period of eight months the Miracle Channel, a Norwegian/Swedish Christian channel, broadcast clandestine Christian gatherings in the Mauritanian desert containing over 160 people.
On 7 April 2025, a mob protested against the existence of Mauritanian Christians in Sélibaby. They also desecrated the grave of a Mauritanian convert from Islam to Christianity, and exhumed his body.Middle East Concern website, retrieved 2025-04-011
Issues The distribution of Christian literature and the evangelizing of non-Muslims are prohibited by law. Bibles are rarely printed or distributed and are difficult to bring into the country.US State Dept 2022 report
In 2023, the country was ranked as the 20th worst place in the world to be a Christian by Open Doors.Open Doors website, retrieved 2023-08-08
See also Religion in Mauritania Status of religious freedom in Mauritania
References
Sources US State Dept 2006 report (archived)