Map of Mauritania | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Independent from France in 1960 Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976 but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as being flawed; Mauritania remains in reality a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black minority population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.


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

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 1,030,700 km²
Land: 1,030,400 km²
Water: 300 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries
Total: 5,074 km
Border countries: (4) Algeria 463 km; , Mali 2,237 km; , Senegal 813 km; , Western Sahara 1,561 km

Coastline: 754 km

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

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
Extremes highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 38%
Forests and woodland: 4%
Other: 58% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 490 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

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


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Population: 2,581,738 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.99% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Mauritanian(s)
Adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

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

Religions: Muslim 100%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225)
15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951)
65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.99% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 44.1 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.2 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 76.46 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 50.48 years
Male: 47.39 years
Female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 37.7%
Male: 49.6%
Female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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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

Government type: republic

Capital: Nouakchott

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution: 12 July 1991

Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)
Head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 16 November 1998)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90% of the vote

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: Senate_last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000); National Assembly_last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
Election results: Senate_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_NA; National Assembly_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

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

Political parties and leaders

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU
In the us chancery: 2,129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 232-5,700
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 319-2,623
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER
From the us embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott
From the us mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
From the us telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63
From the us FAX: [222] (2) 515-92

Flag description: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are uncertain because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,890 (1998 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 26%
Industry: 31%
Services: 43% (1996)

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

Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)

Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.), 45,000 wage earners (1980)
By occupation agriculture: 47%
By occupation services: 29%
By occupation industry and commerce: 14%
By occupation government: 10%

Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $329 million
Expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $562 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold
Partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%

Imports: $552 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods
Partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US 3%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $2.5 billion (1995)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1_204.600 (January 1999), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)


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Electricity
Production: 150 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 80%
Production by source hydro: 20%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 150 million kWh (1996
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made)
Domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
International: satellite earth stations_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $30 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 2.5% (1996)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 26 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 8
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 18
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 704 km (single track); note_owned and operated by government mining company
Standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Roadways

Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs