2000 Edition

Background

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. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as being flawed; Mauritania remains, in reality, a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black minority population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.

Area

land

1,030,400 sq km

total

1,030,700 sq km

water

300 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Climate

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Coastline

754 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Kediet Ijill 910 m

lowest point

Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

20 00 N, 12 00 W

Geography - note

most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Irrigated land

490 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

total

5,074 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forests and woodland

4%

other

58% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

38%

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 hazards

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Terrain

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Age structure

0-14 years: 46% (male 617,077; female 614,961) 15-64 years: 52% (male 677,238; female 697,524) 65 years and over: 2% (male 25,417; female 35,642) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

43.36 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

13.97 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Infant mortality rate

78.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official), French

Life expectancy at birth

female

52.87 years (2000 est.)

male

48.7 years

total population

50.76 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

26.3% (1995 est.)

male

49.6%

total population

37.7%

Nationality

adjective

Mauritanian

noun

Mauritanian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

2,667,859 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.94% (2000 est.)

Religions

Muslim 100%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.29 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Nouakchott

Constitution

12 July 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

conventional short form

Mauritania

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

local short form

Muritaniyah

Data code

MR

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER

embassy

Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott

mailing address

B. P. 222, Nouakchott

telephone

(2) 526-60, 526-63

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Ahmed Ben Khalifa BEN JIDDOU

telephone

(202) 232-5700

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers

chief of state

President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)

election results

President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90.9% of the vote

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 16 November 1998)

FAX

(202) 319-2623

(2) 515-92

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system

a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

elections

Senate - last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Assembly for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) ; National Avant-Garde Party or PAN ; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD ; Union of Democratic Forces-New Era or UFD/NE

note

parties legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based

Political pressure groups and leaders

General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]; B'athists; Arab nationalists; Islamists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep; fish products

Budget

expenditures

$265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$329 million

Currency

1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Debt - external

$2.5 billion (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$227.9 million (1995)

Economy - 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 buildup of foreign debt. In March 1999, the government signed an agreement with a joint World Bank-IMF mission on a $54 million enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF). The economic objectives have been set for 1999-2002. Privatization remains one of the key issues. Mauritania is unlikely to meet ESAF's annual GDP growth objectives of 4%-5%.

Electricity - consumption

141 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

152 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

80.26%

hydro

19.74%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 219.560 (December 1999), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995)

Exports

$425 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products, iron ore, gold

Exports - partners

Japan 24%, Italy 17%, France 14%, Spain 8% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.9 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

25%

industry

31%

services

44% (1997)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,910 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)

Imports

$444 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners

France 26%, Spain 8%, Germany 7%, Benelux 7% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

7.2% (1994)

Industries

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.8% (1998)

Labor force

465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 47%, services 39%, industry 14%

Population below poverty line

57% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate

23% (1995 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

360,000 (1997)

Telephone system

poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made)

domestic

mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals

international

satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Telephones - main lines in use

9,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

62,000 (1997)

Airports

26 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

866 km

total

7,660 km

unpaved

6,794 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Railways

standard gauge

704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

total

704 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government mining company

Waterways

mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$41 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (FY97)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 605,124 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 293,445 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

MAURITIUS