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Background:
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 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. |
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Location:
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Northern Africa,
bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and
Western Sahara |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total:
1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than three times the size of New Mexico |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km,
Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km |
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Coastline:
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754 km |
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Climate:
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desert;
constantly hot, dry, dusty |
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Terrain:
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mostly barren,
flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, gypsum,
copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land:
0.48%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.51% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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490 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry,
dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and
April; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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most of the
population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and
Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of
the country |
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Population:
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2,998,563 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
45.9% (male 689,371; female 686,486)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 767,551; female 788,520)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 27,106; female 39,529)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
16.9 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 17.2 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.91% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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41.79
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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12.74
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
72.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 75.22 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 52.32 years
male: 50.15 years
female: 54.56 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.8% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,600 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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610 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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mixed Maur/black
40%, Maur 30%, black 30% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 100% |
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Languages:
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Hassaniya Arabic
(official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local short form: Muritaniyah
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al
Muritaniyah |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Nouakchott |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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28 November 1960
(from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
28 November (1960) |
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Constitution:
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12 July 1991 |
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Legal system:
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a combination of
Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'BARECK
(since 6 July 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
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
election results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
reelected for a third term with 60.8% of the vote |
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Legislative branch:
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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)
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)
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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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 |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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] |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Mohamedou Ould MICHEL
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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
FAX: [222] 25-25-92 |
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Economy - overview:
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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.
Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty,
improvement of health and education, and promoting
privatization of the economy. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $5.195 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.5% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $1,800 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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50% (2001 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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786,000 (2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 50%,
services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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21% (1999 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$421 million
expenditures: $378 million, including capital
expenditures of $154 million (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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fish processing,
mining of iron ore and gypsum |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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157.4 million kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
85.9%
hydro: 14.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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146.3 million kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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24,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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dates, millet,
sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep |
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Exports:
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$541 million
f.o.b. (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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iron ore, fish
and fish products, gold |
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Exports - partners:
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Italy 14.2%,
France 13.9%, Spain 11.6%, Germany 10.7%, Belgium 9.8%, Japan
7% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$860 million
f.o.b. (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and
equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs,
consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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France 17.6%,
Belgium 7.4%, China 6.6%, Spain 5.7%, Germany 5% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.5 billion
(2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$220 million
(2000) |
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Currency:
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ouguiya (MRO) |
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Currency code:
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MRO |
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Exchange rates:
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ouguiyas per US
dollar - NA (2003), 271.74 (2002), 255.63 (2001) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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31,500 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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247,200 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: limited 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: country code - 222; satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 14,
shortwave 1 (2001) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2002) |
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Internet country code:
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.mr |
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Internet hosts:
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79 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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10,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
7,720 km
paved: 830 km
unpaved: 6,890 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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note:
ferry traffic on the Senegal River |
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Ports and harbors:
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Bogue, Kaedi,
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso |
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Merchant marine:
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none |
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Airports:
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24 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy
(including Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard (BSSP) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 686,629 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 332,633 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$40.8 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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3.7% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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Mauritanian
claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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