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  Mauritania  
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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Mauritania



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Mauritania Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for over two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a coup deposed him and ushered in a military council government. Meanwhile, the country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and White and Black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.
   Geography    Mauritania Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
754 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0.2%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
490 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
11.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%)
per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
   People    Mauritania Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,364,940 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 45.3% (male 763,845/female 759,957)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 872,924/female 894,980)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 29,147/female 44,087) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 17.2 years
male: 16.9 years
female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.852% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
40.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 66.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 53.91 years
male: 51.61 years
female: 56.28 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.9% of GDP (2006)
   Government    Mauritania Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
Democratic Republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
12 July 1991
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ who led a coup that deposed the democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI on 6 August 2008
head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF (since 14 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 11 March 2007 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on 25 March 2007 (next to be held 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members elected by Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 21 January and 4 February 2007 (next to be held 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime) 37, CFCD (coalition of political parties) 15, representatives of the diaspora 3, undecided 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq 51 (independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1), CFCD 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, UCD 1, FP 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Alternative or El-Badil; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists); Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or CFCD (coalition of political parties including APP, Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists), HATEM-PMUC, PUDS, RD, RFD, UFP); Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS; Democratic Renewal or RD; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC; Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA] (formerly ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS); Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Centre or UCD; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima DIA
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
   Economy    Mauritania Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for nearly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt, which now stands at more than three times the level of annual exports. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have failed to materialize. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.974 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$2.756 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
39 (2000)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
412.3 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
383.4 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,990 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23,630 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$184 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.395 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
China 30.5%, France 9.5%, Italy 8.5%, Spain 8.5%, Japan 5.5%, Netherlands 5.3%, Belgium 5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.475 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 16.5%, China 8.1%, Spain 6.7%, US 6.1%, Belgium 5.8%, Brazil 5.7% (2007)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
ouguiya (MRO)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
   Communications    Mauritania Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
34,900 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.3 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line services; fixed-line teledensity 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity approaching 40 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.mr
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
34 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30,000 (2006)
   Transportation    Mauritania Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11,066 km
paved: 2,966 km
unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
   Military    Mauritania Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 740,675
females age 16-49: 744,709 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 463,305
females age 16-49: 484,777 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 38,191
female: 38,638 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.5% of GDP (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Mauritania Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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