2008 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. 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.

Area

total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 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

lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Environment - current issues

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%) per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2002)

Land boundaries

total: 5,074 km border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

Land use

arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005)

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

11.4 cu km (1997)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

40.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

11.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,500 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Languages

Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.91 years male: 51.61 years female: 56.28 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.2% male: 59.5% female: 43.4% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases

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)

Median age

total: 17.2 years male: 16.9 years female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

3,364,940 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.852% (2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2006)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.69 children born/woman (2008 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

name: Nouakchott geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima DIA chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701

Executive branch

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%

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2623

[222] 525-1592

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

Democratic Republic

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Political parties and leaders

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $421 million expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA

Currency (code)

ouguiya (MRO)

Currency code

MRO

Current account balance

-$184 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$190.4 million (2005)

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

383.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

412.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 85.9% hydro: 14.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)

Exports

$1.395 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Exports - partners

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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.756 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.974 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)

Imports

$1.475 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 16.5%, China 8.1%, Spain 6.7%, US 6.1%, Belgium 5.8%, Brazil 5.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2000 est.)

Industries

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force

786,000 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2001 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

19,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

23,630 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

14,990 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (2004 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

NA (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

20% (2004 est.)

Internet country code

.mr

Internet hosts

34 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2001)

Internet users

30,000 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

410,000 (2001)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

34,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.3 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2002)

Televisions

98,000 (2001)

Airports

25 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Railways

717 km standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 11,066 km paved: 2,966 km unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 740,675 females age 16-49: 744,709 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 463,305 females age 16-49: 484,777 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 38,191 female: 38,638 (2008 est.)

Mauritanian Armed Forces

Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2008)

Military expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008