2017 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 more than 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 military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ deposed him and installed a military council government. AZIZ was subsequently elected president in July 2009 and sworn in the following month. AZIZ sustained injuries from an accidental shooting by his own troops in October 2012 but has continued to maintain his authority. He was reelected in 2014 to a second and final term as president (according to the present constitution). The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among three major groups: Arabic-speaking descendants of slaves (Haratines), Arabic-speaking "White Moors" (Bidhan), and members of Sub-Saharan ethnic groups mostly originating in the Senegal River valley (Halpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof). Mauritania confronts a terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb, which launched successful attacks between 2005 and 2011. The activities of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and similar groups, pose a severe security threat to Mauritanians and foreign visitors. AQIM launched a series of attacks in Mauritania between 2005 and 2011, murdering American and foreign tourists and aid workers, attacking diplomatic and government facilities, and ambushing Mauritanian soldiers and gendarmes. A successful strategy against terrorism that combines dialogue with the terrorists and military actions has prevented the country from further terrorist attacks since 2011.

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. Maaouy

Arabic-speaking descendants of slaves (Haratines), Arabic-speaking "White Moors" (Bidhan), and members of Sub-Saharan ethnic groups mostly originating in the Senegal River valley (Halpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof). Mauritania confronts a terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb, which launched successful attacks between 2005 and 2011.

Area

1,030,700 sq km 1,030,700 sq km 0 sq km

land

1,030,700 sq km

total

1,030,700 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Climate

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Coastline

754 km

Elevation

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

elevation extremes

lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m

highest point

Kediet Ijill 915 m

mean elevation

276 m

Environment - current issues

overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected 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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 N, 12 00 W

Geography - note

Mauritania is considered both a part of North Africa's Maghreb region and West Africa's Sahel region; most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Irrigated land

450 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

5,002 km Algeria 460 km, Mali 2,236 km, Senegal 742 km, Western Sahara 1,564 km

border countries (4)

Algeria 460 km, Mali 2,236 km, Senegal 742 km, Western Sahara 1,564 km

total

5,002 km

Land use

38.5% arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 38.1% 0.2% 61.3% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

38.5%

forest

0.2%

other

61.3% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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 primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

with most of the country being a desert, vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are without sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal

Terrain

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

Age structure

38.56% (male 727,855/female 721,508) 19.81% (male 364,570/female 379,866) 33.21% (male 578,422/female 669,628) 4.67% (male 79,162/female 96,297) 3.76% (male 59,928/female 81,335) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

38.56% (male 727,855/female 721,508)

15-24 years

19.81% (male 364,570/female 379,866)

25-54 years

33.21% (male 578,422/female 669,628)

55-64 years

4.67% (male 79,162/female 96,297)

65 years and over

3.76% (male 59,928/female 81,335) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

30.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

24.9% (2015)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

17.8% (2015)

Death rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Demographic profile

With a sustained total fertility rate of about 4 children per woman and almost 60% of the population under the age of 25, Mauritania’s population is likely to continue growing for the foreseeable future. Mauritania’s large youth cohort is vital to its development prospects, but available schooling does not adequately prepare students for the workplace. Girls continue to be underrepresented in the classroom, educational quality remains poor, and the dropout rate is high. The literacy rate is only about 50%, even though access to primary education has improved since the mid-2000s. Women’s restricted access to education and discriminatory laws maintain gender inequality – worsened by early and forced marriages and female genital cutting. The denial of education to black Moors also helps to perpetuate slavery. Although Mauritania abolished slavery in 1981 (the last country in the world to do so) and made it a criminal offense in 2007, the millenniums-old practice persists largely because anti-slavery laws are rarely enforced and the custom is so ingrained. Up to 20% of Mauritania’s population is estimated to be enslaved, the highest rate worldwide. Drought, poverty, and unemployment have driven outmigration from Mauritania since the 1970s. Early flows were directed toward other West African countries, including Senegal, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, and Gambia. The 1989 Mauritania-Senegal conflict forced thousands of black Mauritanians to take refuge in Senegal and pushed labor migrants toward the Gulf, Libya, and Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Mauritania has accepted migrants from neighboring countries to fill labor shortages since its independence in 1960 and more recently has received refugees escaping civil wars, including tens of thousands of Tuaregs who fled Mali in 2012. Mauritania was an important transit point for sub-Saharan migrants moving illegally to North Africa and Europe. In the mid-2000s, as border patrols increased in the Strait of Gibraltar, security increased around Spain’s North African enclaves (Ceuta and Melilla), and Moroccan border controls intensified, illegal migration flows shifted from the Western Mediterranean to Spain’s Canary Islands. In 2006, departure points moved southward along the West African coast from Morocco and Western Sahara to Mauritania’s two key ports (Nouadhibou and the capital Nouakchott), and illegal migration to the Canaries peaked at almost 32,000. The numbers fell dramatically in the following years because of joint patrolling off the West African coast by Frontex (the EU’s border protection agency), Spain, Mauritania, and Senegal; the expansion of Spain’s border surveillance system; and the 2008 European economic downturn.

Dependency ratios

76.5 5.5 18.3 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

5.5

potential support ratio

18.3 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

76.5

youth dependency ratio

71

Drinking water source

urban: 58.4% of population rural: 57.1% of population total: 57.9% of population urban: 41.6% of population rural: 42.9% of population total: 42.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural

42.9% of population

total

42.1% of population (2015 est.)

urban

41.6% of population

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

black Moors (Haratines - Arab-speaking slaves, former slaves, and their descendants of African origin, enslaved by white Moors) 40%, white Moors (of Arab-Berber descent, known as Bidhan) 30%, Sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, Halpulaar, Soninke, Wolof, and Bamara ethnic groups) 30%

Health expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2016 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

51.9 deaths/1,000 live births 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births 46.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

46.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

56.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

51.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French the spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from the modern standard Arabic used for official written purposes or in the media; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Berber words, is referred to as Hassaniya

note

the spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from the modern standard Arabic used for official written purposes or in the media; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Berber words, is referred to as Hassaniya

Life expectancy at birth

63.4 years 61.1 years 65.8 years (2017 est.)

female

65.8 years (2017 est.)

male

61.1 years

total population

63.4 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 52.1% 62.6% 41.6% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

41.6% (2015 est.)

male

62.6%

total population

52.1%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and dengue fever meningococcal meningitis rabies (2016)

animal contact disease

rabies (2016)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

Major urban areas - population

NOUAKCHOTT (capital) 968,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

602 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

20.5 years 19.5 years 21.4 years (2017 est.)

female

21.4 years (2017 est.)

male

19.5 years

total

20.5 years

Nationality

Mauritanian(s) Mauritanian

adjective

Mauritanian

noun

Mauritanian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

12.7% (2016)

Physicians density

0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

3,758,571 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

with most of the country being a desert, vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are without sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal

Population growth rate

2.17% (2017 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 100%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 57.5% of population rural: 13.8% of population total: 40% of population urban: 42.5% of population rural: 86.2% of population total: 60% of population (2015 est.)

rural

86.2% of population

total

60% of population (2015 est.)

urban

42.5% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 9 years 9 years (2015)

female

9 years (2015)

male

9 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 0.82 male(s)/female 0.74 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.96 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.86 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.82 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.86 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Urbanization

61% of total population (2017) 3.2% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.2% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

61% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

15 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Capital

Nouakchott 18 04 N, 15 58 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

18 04 N, 15 58 W

name

Nouakchott

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania no 5 years

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991 proposed by the president of the republic or by either house of Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one-third of the membership of either house; a referendum is held only if it is approved by two-thirds majority vote in both houses; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament in joint session; amended 2004, 2006, 2017 (2017)

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic or by either house of Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one-third of the membership of either house; a referendum is held only if it is approved by two-thirds majority vote in both houses; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament in joint session; amended 2004, 2006, 2017 (2017)

history

previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991

Country name

Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mauritania Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah Muritaniyah named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.), which existed further north in present-day Morocco; the name derives from the Mauri (Moors), the Berber-speaking peoples of northwest Africa

conventional long form

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

conventional short form

Mauritania

etymology

named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.), which existed further north in present-day Morocco; the name derives from the Mauri (Moors), the Berber-speaking peoples of northwest Africa

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

local short form

Muritaniyah

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Larry Edward ANDRE, Jr. (since 3 November 2014) 288, rue 42-100 (rue Abdallaye), Nouakchott B.P. 222, Nouakchott [222] 4525-2660 or [222] 2660-2663 [222] 4525-1592

chief of mission

Ambassador Larry Edward ANDRE, Jr. (since 3 November 2014)

embassy

288, rue 42-100 (rue Abdallaye), Nouakchott

FAX

[222] 4525-1592

mailing address

B.P. 222, Nouakchott

telephone

[222] 4525-2660 or [222] 2660-2663

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Mohamedoun DADDAH (since 27 June 2016) 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701 [1] (202) 319-2623

chancery

2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohamedoun DADDAH (since 27 June 2016)

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2623

telephone

[1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701

Executive branch

President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August 2009); note - AZIZ deposed President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and installed himself as president in August 2008; he subsequently retired from the military, stepped down from the appropriated presidency in April 2009 to run for the legitimate presidency; he was elected president in July 2009 and reelected in June 2014 Prime Minister Yahya Ould HADEMINE (since 21 August 2014) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 June 2014 (next to be held by 2019); prime minister appointed by the president Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ elected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (UPR) 81.9%, Biram Dah ABEID (IRA) 8.7%, Boidiel Ould HOUMEIT (El Wiam) 4.5%, Ibrahima Moctar SARR (SJD/MR) 4.4%, other 0.5%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August 2009); note - AZIZ deposed President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and installed himself as president in August 2008; he subsequently retired from the military, stepped down from the appropriated presidency in April 2009 to run for the legitimate presidency; he was elected president in July 2009 and reelected in June 2014

election results

Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ elected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (UPR) 81.9%, Biram Dah ABEID (IRA) 8.7%, Boidiel Ould HOUMEIT (El Wiam) 4.5%, Ibrahima Moctar SARR (SJD/MR) 4.4%, other 0.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 June 2014 (next to be held by 2019); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Yahya Ould HADEMINE (since 21 August 2014)

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; green also represents hope for a bright future; the yellow color stands for the sands of the Sahara

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU (candidate), EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MIUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (subdivided into 1 criminal and 2 civil chambers, each with a president and 5 counselors); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 members) Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 1 by the president of the Senate; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years High Court of Justice (cases involving treason and criminal acts of high government officials, including the president); courts of appeal; wilaya (regional) courts (located at the headquarters of each of the 13 regions); commercial and labor courts; criminal courts; moughataa (district) courts; informal/customary courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (subdivided into 1 criminal and 2 civil chambers, each with a president and 5 counselors); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 1 by the president of the Senate; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years

subordinate courts

High Court of Justice (cases involving treason and criminal acts of high government officials, including the president); courts of appeal; wilaya (regional) courts (located at the headquarters of each of the 13 regions); commercial and labor courts; criminal courts; moughataa (district) courts; informal/customary courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic and French civil law

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Barlamane consists of the National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (147 seats; 107 members directly elected in single- and two-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed and 40 directly elected in constituencies with 3 or more seats by proportional representation vote; members serve a 5-year term); note - a referendum held in August 2017 approved a constitutional amendment to change the Parliament structure from bicameral to unicameral by abolishing the Senate Senate - last held on 23 November 2013 (next election scheduled for 2015 but delayed because of opposition party threats to boycott election); National Assembly - first round last held on 23 November and second round on 21 December 2013 (next to be held in 2018) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPR 75, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 16, El Wiam 10, APP 7, El Karama Party 6, UDP 6, AJD/MR 4, Burst of Youth for the Nation 4, El Vadila Party 3, PRDR 3, PUD 3, Ravah Party 3, other 6; note - parties winning fewer than 3 seats sit as independents unless they join a coalition

description

unicameral Parliament or Barlamane consists of the National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (147 seats; 107 members directly elected in single- and two-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed and 40 directly elected in constituencies with 3 or more seats by proportional representation vote; members serve a 5-year term); note - a referendum held in August 2017 approved a constitutional amendment to change the Parliament structure from bicameral to unicameral by abolishing the Senate

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPR 75, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 16, El Wiam 10, APP 7, El Karama Party 6, UDP 6, AJD/MR 4, Burst of Youth for the Nation 4, El Vadila Party 3, PRDR 3, PUD 3, Ravah Party 3, other 6; note - parties winning fewer than 3 seats sit as independents unless they join a coalition

elections

Senate - last held on 23 November 2013 (next election scheduled for 2015 but delayed because of opposition party threats to boycott election); National Assembly - first round last held on 23 November and second round on 21 December 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

"Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania) Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia NIKIPROWETZKY adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem makes it particularly challenging to sing

lyrics/music

Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia NIKIPROWETZKY

name

"Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

note

adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem makes it particularly challenging to sing

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

National symbol(s)

star and crescent; national colors: green, yellow

star and crescent; national colors

green, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR [Ibrahima Moctar SARR] Burst of Youth for the Nation [Lalla CHERIVA] Coalition for Pacific Alternation or CAP (coalition of opposition parties, including APP, El Wiam) Coalition of Majority Parties or CPM (includes UPR, UDP) Coordination of Democratic Opposition or COD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH] (coalition includes RNRD-TAWASSOUL) El Karama Party [Cheikhna Ould Mohamed Ould HAJBOU] El Vadila Party [Ethmane Ould Ahmed ABOULMAALY] El Wiam [Boidiel Ould HOUMEIT] Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement [Biram Dah ABEID] National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD-TAWASSOUL [Mohamed Jamil Ould MANSOUR] Party for Liberty, Equality and Justice [Ba ALASSANE] Party of Unity and Development or PUD [Mohamed BARO] Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messaoud Ould BOULKHEIR] Ravah Party Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Sidi Mohamed Ould Mohamed VALL] Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS] Union for Progress [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD] Union for the Republic or UPR [Sidi Mohamed Ould MAHAM]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Association of Women Heads of Household [Aminetou Mint ElMOCTAR] General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED] Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM and El Hor [Samory Ould BEYE] (civil society organization, anti-slavery) Initiative for Resurgent Abolitionist Movement or IRA-Mauritania [Biram Dah ABEID] (US-based, anti-slavery group) Mauritanian Human Rights Association or AMDH [Fatimata M'BAYE] Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM] National Forum for Democracy and Unity [Mohamed Jamil Ould MANSOUR] SOS-Esclaves [Boubacar Ould MESSAOUD] (anti-slavery) Arab nationalists; Ba'athists; Islamists; Nasserists

other

Arab nationalists; Ba'athists; Islamists; Nasserists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$1.25 billion $1.322 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$1.322 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$1.25 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009) 12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2016 est.) 17% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-707 million (2016 est.) $-1.066 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$3.899 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $3.691 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (2014) 39 (2006 est.)

Economy - overview

Mauritania's economy is dominated by extractive industries (oil and mines), fisheries and agriculture. Half the population still depends on farming and raising livestock, even though many nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s, 1980s and 2000s. Recently, GDP growth has been driven largely by foreign investment in the mining and oil sectors. Mauritania's extensive mineral resources include iron ore, gold, copper, gypsum, and phosphate rock, and exploration is ongoing for tantalum, uranium, crude oil, and natural gas. Extractive commodities make up about three-quarters of Mauritania's total exports, subjecting the economy to price swings in world commodity markets. Mining is also a growing source of government revenue, rising from 13% to 30% of total revenue from 2006 to 2016. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, and fishing accounts for about 20% of budget revenues, 45% of foreign currency earnings. Mauritania processes a total of 1,800,000 tons of fish per year, but overexploitation by foreign and national fleets threaten the sustainability of this key source of revenue. The economy is highly sensitive to international food and extractive commodity prices. Other risks to Mauritania's economy include its recurring droughts, dependence on foreign aid and investment, and insecurity in neighboring Mali, as well as significant shortages of infrastructure, institutional capacity, and human capital. Mauritania has sought additional IMF support by focusing efforts on poverty reduction. Investment in agriculture and infrastructure are the largest components of the country’s public expenditures.

Exchange rates

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 352.37 (2016 est.) 352.37 (2015 est.) 319.7 (2014 est.) 299.5 (2013 est.) 296.6 (2012 est.)

Exports

$1.401 billion (2016 est.) $1.389 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

iron ore, fish and fish products, livestock, gold, copper, crude oil

Exports - partners

China 36.9%, Switzerland 13.5%, Spain 8.9%, Japan 7.5%, Russia 4.8%, Nigeria 4.1%, Italy 4.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

52.8% 18.8% 45.1% 19.6% 26.9% -63.2% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

26.9%

government consumption

18.8%

household consumption

52.8%

imports of goods and services

-63.2% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

45.1%

investment in inventories

19.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

21.9% 38.4% 39.7% (2016 est.)

agriculture

21.9%

industry

38.4%

services

39.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,300 (2016 est.) $4,400 (2015 est.) $4,400 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2016 est.) 0.9% (2015 est.) 5.6% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.729 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$16.45 billion (2016 est.) $15.96 billion (2015 est.) $15.65 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

24.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 18.9% of GDP (2015 est.) 25% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.5% 29.5% (2000)

highest 10%

29.5% (2000)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Imports

$1.9 billion (2016 est.) $1.948 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 13.4%, UAE 11.9%, Belgium 9.2%, China 8.9%, Netherlands 7.1%, France 6.6%, Morocco 6.3%, Vanuatu 5% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.2% (2016 est.)

Industries

fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper) gypsum deposits have never been exploited

note

gypsum deposits have never been exploited

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2016 est.) 0.5% (2015 est.)

Labor force

1.186 million (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

50% 1.9% 48.1% (2014 est.)

agriculture

50%

industry

1.9%

services

48.1% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

31% (2014 est.)

Public debt

99.6% of GDP (2016 est.) 98.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.495 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.539 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.7% (2016 est.) 11.1% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.4 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

6,750 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

5,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

20 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

1.108 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

63.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

23.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

16.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

412,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

1.191 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

2,800,000 28% 47% 2% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

2% (2013)

electrification - total population

28%

electrification - urban areas

47%

population without electricity

2,800,000

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

16,390 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV (Television de Mauritanie) and one state-run radio network (Radio de Mauritanie); Television de Mauritanie has three channels, Al Mahadra station (for Islamic content) and Channels 1 and 2, which cover news, sports, and other programming; Radio de Mauritanie runs 12 regional stations, as well as a radio station for youth and the Holy Quran station; five private TV channels and five private radio stations also broadcast from Mauritania; six private international radio stations broadcast in Mauritania on the FM band; with satellite connections, Mauritanians also have access to hundreds of foreign TV channels (2013)

Internet country code

.mr

Internet users

661,913 18.0% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

18.0% (July 2016 est.)

total

661,913

Telephone system

limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly fixed-line teledensity 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of roughly 100 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat); fiber-optic and asymmetric digital subscriber line cables for Internet access (2016)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of roughly 100 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a 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; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly

international

country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat); fiber-optic and asymmetric digital subscriber line cables for Internet access (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

53,191 1 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

53,191

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,614,172 98 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

98 (July 2016 est.)

total

3,614,172

Airports

30 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

4 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

total

9

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

10

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

8

total

21

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5T (2016)

National air transport system

248,158 0 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

248,158

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4

number of registered air carriers

1

Ports and terminals

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

major seaport(s)

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Railways

728 km 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

728 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

728 km

Roadways

10,628 km 3,158 km 7,470 km (2010)

paved

3,158 km

total

10,628 km

unpaved

7,470 km (2010)

Waterways

(some navigation possible on the Senegal River) (2011)

Military branches

Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Republic of Mauritania Air Group (Groupement Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, GAIM) (2013)

Mauritanian Armed Forces

Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Republic of Mauritania Air Group (Groupement Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, GAIM) (2013)

Military expenditures

2.97% of GDP (2016) 2.75% of GDP (2015) 2.7% of GDP (2014) 2.56% of GDP (2013) 2.72% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Disputes - international

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

Refugees and internally displaced persons

26,001 (Western Saharan - Sahrawis) (2016); 51,599 (Mali) (2017)

refugees (country of origin)

26,001 (Western Saharan - Sahrawis) (2016); 51,599 (Mali) (2017)

Trafficking in persons

Mauritania is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; adults and children from traditional slave castes are subjected to slavery-related practices rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships; Mauritanian boy students called talibes are trafficked within the country by religious teachers for forced begging; Mauritanian girls, as well as girls from Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, and other West African countries, are forced into domestic servitude; Mauritanian women and girls are forced into prostitution domestically or transported to countries in the Middle East for the same purpose, sometimes through forced marriages Tier 3 - Mauritania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts were negligible; one slavery case identified by an NGO was investigated, but no prosecutions or convictions were made, including among the 4,000 child labor cases NGOs referred to the police; the 2007 anti-slavery law remains ineffective because it requires slaves, most of whom are illiterate, to file their own legal complaint, and the government agency that can submit claims on them did not file any in 2014; authorities arrested, prosecuted, and convicted several anti-slavery activists; NGOs continued to provide the majority of protective services to trafficking victims without support from the government; some steps were taken to raise public awareness about human trafficking (2015)

current situation

Mauritania is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; adults and children from traditional slave castes are subjected to slavery-related practices rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships; Mauritanian boy students called talibes are trafficked within the country by religious teachers for forced begging; Mauritanian girls, as well as girls from Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, and other West African countries, are forced into domestic servitude; Mauritanian women and girls are forced into prostitution domestically or transported to countries in the Middle East for the same purpose, sometimes through forced marriages

tier rating

Tier 3 - Mauritania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts were negligible; one slavery case identified by an NGO was investigated, but no prosecutions or convictions were made, including among the 4,000 child labor cases NGOs referred to the police; the 2007 anti-slavery law remains ineffective because it requires slaves, most of whom are illiterate, to file their own legal complaint, and the government agency that can submit claims on them did not file any in 2014; authorities arrested, prosecuted, and convicted several anti-slavery activists; NGOs continued to provide the majority of protective services to trafficking victims without support from the government; some steps were taken to raise public awareness about human trafficking (2015)