Data protection law in Mauritania: registration and research permits
What a survey team needs to know about personal data and survey authorization in Mauritania.
Summary for planning; confirm requirements with the regulator before fieldwork.
operational regulator
Data protection law
Law 2017-020 of 22 July 2017 on personal data protection (2017)
Registration
declaration/authorization regime before the APD
National statistics office
Note
APD became operational in 2022-23; strategic plan 2023-2026 published.
Mauritania research rules: common questions
Is there a data protection law in Mauritania?
Law 2017-020 of 22 July 2017 on personal data protection (2017).
Who regulates personal data in Mauritania?
APD (Autorite de Protection des Donnees a caractere Personnel), operational since decree 2022-13 of 18 February 2022.
Do I need to register to collect personal data in Mauritania?
Declaration/authorization regime before the APD.
Do I need a permit to run a survey in Mauritania?
ONS authorization required under Ordinance 2005-026 on statistics.
Sources: the regulator and statistics office pages linked above, retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.