2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 46% (male 671,080; female 668,408) 15-64 years: 51.8% (male 743,573; female 764,358) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 26,669; female 38,496) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep

Airports

26 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m

3 (2002) Military Mauritania

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

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 flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. 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. Geography Mauritania

Birth rate

42.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million (2002 est.)

revenues

$421 million

Capital

Nouakchott

Climate

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Coastline

754 km

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

Currency

ouguiya (MRO)

Currency code

MRO

Death rate

13.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$2.5 billion (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON

embassy

Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott

mailing address

BP 222, Nouakchott

telephone

[222] 25-26-60, 25-26-63, 25-11-41, 25-11-45

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohamedou Ould MICHEL

Disputes - international

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.3 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$220 million (2000)

Economy - overview

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 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 the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. 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. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. 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. Substantial oil production and exports probably will not begin until 2005.

Electricity - consumption

146.3 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

157.4 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

85.9%

hydro

14.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

ouguiyas per US dollar - ouguiyas per US dollar - 254.350 (December 2001), 238.923 (2000), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers

chief of state

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

election results

President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected for a third term with 60.8% of the vote

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be held NA 2009); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'BARECK (since 6 July 2003)

Exports

$355 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Exports - partners

Italy 14.3%, France 14%, Spain 11.7%, Germany 10.9%, Belgium 9.9%, Japan 7.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2623

[222] 25-25-92

telephone

[1] (202) 232-5700

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Mauritania

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 Economy Mauritania

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.891 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

25%

industry

29%

services

46% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2002 est.)

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 People Mauritania

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

830 km

total

7,720 km

unpaved

6,890 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.8% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

610 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,600 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.2% (2000)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Imports

$360 million f.o.b. (2000)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 18.5%, Belgium 7.8%, China 7%, Spain 5.9%, Germany 5.2% (2002)

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2000 est.)

Industries

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Infant mortality rate

female

70.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

76.62 deaths/1,000 live births

total

73.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.mr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2001)

Internet users

7,500 (2001) Transportation Mauritania

Irrigated land

490 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts

Labor force

786,000 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 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

0.48%

other

99.51% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.01%

Languages

Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French

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, a part of the seats up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRDS 54, RFD 1, UNDD 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PRDS 79%, RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%, AC 5%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%; seats by party - PRDS 64, UDP 3, RDU 3, AC 4, RFD 3, UFP 3, and FP 1

elections

Senate - last held 12 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2004); National Assembly - last held 19 and 26 October 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

54.13 years (2003 est.)

male

49.78 years

total population

51.93 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

31.9% (2003 est.) Government Mauritania

male

51.8%

total population

41.7%

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

Median age

female

17.2 years (2002)

male

16.6 years

total

16.9 years

Merchant marine

none (2002)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$37.11 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.7% (FY02) Transnational Issues Mauritania

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

665,112 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

322,288 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Nationality

adjective

Mauritanian

noun

Mauritanian(s)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Alliance for Justice and Democracy or AJD [Kebe ABDOULAYE]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA]; Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Concorde or PMRC [Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID]; National Union for Democracy and Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality and Justice or PLEJ [Daouda M'BAGNIGA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progress Alliance or APP [Mohamed El Hafed Ould ISMAEL]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Progress Force Union or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]

note

the Action for Change party was banned in January 2002; parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Population

2,912,584 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.91% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

410,000 (2001)

Railways

717 km

standard gauge

717 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

Religions

Muslim 100%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

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

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

26,500 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

35,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2002)

Televisions

98,000 (2001)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

6.08 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (1999 est.)

Waterways

note

ferry traffic on the Senegal River