Mauritania is located in Northwest Africa, bordered by Western Sahara, Mali, and Senegal. It has a population of around 3.3 million people and its climate is hot and dry, with little rainfall. Mauritania exports fish and fish products as well as copper, and imports machinery, equipment, and fuel. The country struggles with issues like lack of access to clean water, desertification due to overgrazing and deforestation, and waste management problems.