1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 1,030,700 sq km land area: 1,030,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Climate
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Coastline
754 km
Environment
current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea
International disputes
boundary with Senegal in dispute
Irrigated land
120 sq km (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 5,074 km, Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 38% forest and woodland: 5% other: 56%
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Note
most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
Terrain
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 48% (female 544,674; male 551,099) 15-64 years: 49% (female 574,282; male 542,762) 65 years and over: 3% (female 28,955; male 21,430) (July 1995 est.)
Birth rate
47.32 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
15.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Infant mortality rate
83.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980) by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
Languages
Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 48.54 years male: 45.66 years female: 51.54 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1988) total population: 35% male: 46% female: 25%
Nationality
noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
2,263,202 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
3.17% (1995 est.)
Religions
Muslim 100%
Total fertility rate
6.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
12 regions (regions, singular - region); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza note: there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott
Capital
Nouakchott
Constitution
12 July 1991
Digraph
MR
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Ismail Ould IYAHI (since 22 September 1994) chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
Executive branch
chief of state and head of government: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); election last held NA January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA elected cabinet: Council of Ministers
FAX
[222] (2) 515-92
Flag
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
Independence
28 November 1960 (from France)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Legal system
three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)
Legislative branch
bicameral legislature
Member of
ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah
National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)
elections last held 6 and 13 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) UFD/NE 67, PMR 1, RDU 1, independents 10
National holiday
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Other political or pressure groups
Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
Political parties and leaders
legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI
Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh)
elections last held 15 April 1994 (nex to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (56 total, with 17 up for election every two years) PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS embassy: address NA, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 25% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in Senegal river valley; crops - dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish products number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought
Budget
revenues: $280 million expenditures: $346 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1989 est.)
Currency
1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $277 million; Arab Development Bank (1991), $20 million
Electricity
capacity: 110,000 kW production: 135 million kWh consumption per capita: 61 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 125.910 (January 1995), 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993),87.027 (1992), 81.946 (1991), 80.609 (1990)
Exports
$401 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products partners: Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg
External debt
$1.9 billion (1992 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$378 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods partners: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy
Industrial production
growth rate NA%; accounts for almost 30% of GDP
Industries
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10% (1993)
National product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$1,110 (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate
5% (1993 est.)
Overview
A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many 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 almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. 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 recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are gloomy because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.
Unemployment rate
20% (1991 est.)
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
NA telephones; poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radio communications stations (improvements being made) local: NA intercity: mostly cable and open wire lines international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 ARABSAT earth stations, with six planned
Television
broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
total: 28 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
Highways
total: 7,525 km paved: 1,685 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, otherwise improved 1,040 km; unimproved earth 4,800 km (roads, trails, tracks)
Inland waterways
mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Merchant marine
none
Ports
Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Railroads
total: 690 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government mining company standard gauge: 690 km 1.435-m gauge
Military and Security
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 2.7% of GDP (1994) ________________________________________________________________________ MAURITIUS
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 483,916; males fit for military service 236,323