16. Mauritania
- Advisory level: Level 3: reconsider travel
- Last updated: Nov. 29, 2018
- Population: 4.3 million
- GDP per capita: $1,130
Like many other countries in the region, the presence of terror groups makes Mauritania an especially unsafe country for American travelers. Dangers include kidnapping and other violent acts. U.S. embassy officials are restricted from traveling outside of the capital of Nouakchott unless they have permission to do so.
They cannot travel after dark nor can they walk alone. Like its neighbor Mali, Mauritania, which is located on the Atlantic Coast, gained independence from France in 1960.