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. 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' (Beydane), and members of Sub-Saharan ethnic groups mostly originating in the Senegal River valley (Halpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof).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.


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Location: Western 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: 1,030,700 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 30
Comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries
Total: 5,002 km
Border countries: (4) Algeria 460 km; , Mali 2,236 km; , Senegal 742 km; , Western Sahara 1564 km

Coastline: 754 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

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

Elevation
Mean elevation: 276 m
Elevation extremes: -5 m
Note: lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 38.5% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0.2% (2011 est.)
Other: 61.3% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 450 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

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


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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: 3,840,429 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 129
Growth rate: 2.14% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 41
Below poverty line: 31% (2014 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Mauritanian(s)
Adjective: Mauritanian

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 Beydane) 30%, sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups) 30%

Languages:

Religions: Muslim (official) 100%

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.

Age structure
0-14 years: 38.24% (male 737,570 /female 730,969)
15-24 years: 19.78% (male 372,070 /female 387,375)
25-54 years: 33.44% (male 595,472 /female 688,620)
55-64 years: 4.74% (male 82,197 /female 99,734)
65 years and over: 3.81% (male 62,072 /female 84,350) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 76.5 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 71 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 18.3 (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.7 years
Male: 19.7 years
Female: 21.6 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 186

Population growth rate: 2.14% (2018 est.)
Rank: 41

Birth rate: 29.9 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 38

Death rate: 7.8 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 97

Net migration rate: -0.8 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 132

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 53.7% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 4.28% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 1.205 million NOUAKCHOTT (capital) (2018)

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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 50.5 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 55.3 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 45.6 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 26

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 63.8 years (2018 est.)
Male: 61.4 years (2018 est.)
Female: 66.2 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 194

Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 39

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 17.8% (2015)

Drinking water source
Urban: 41.6% of population
Rural: 42.9% of population
Total: 42.1% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.13 physicians/1000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 42.5% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 86.2% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 60% of population (2015 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2017 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 84
People living with hivaids: 9,000 (2017 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 102
Deaths note: <1000 (2017 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2016)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2016)
Animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
Respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis (2016)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 12.7% (2016)
Rank: 132

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 24.9% (2015)
Rank: 18

Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2016)
Rank: 162

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 52.1% (2015 est.)
Male: 62.6% (2015 est.)
Female: 41.6% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years (2015)
Male: 9 years (2015)
Female: 9 years (2015)

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
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

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Nouakchott
Geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 15 58 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution
History: previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991 (2018)
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one-third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; 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; amended several times, last in 2017 (by referendum) (2018)

Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic and French civil law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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
Head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Salem Ould BECHIR (since 29 October 2018)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers - nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: 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
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%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament or Barlamane consists of the National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (157 seats; 113 members in single- and multi-seat constituencies directly elected by a combination of plurality and proportional representation voting sytems, 40 members in a single, nationwide constituency directly elected by proportional representation vote, and 4 members directly elected by the diaspora; all members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: first held as the unicameral National Assembly in September 2018 (next to be held in 2023)
Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA: note: a referendum held in August 2017 approved a constitutional amendment to change the Parliament structure from bicameral to unicameral by abolishing the Senate and creating Regional Councils for local development

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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; commercial and labor courts; criminal courts; moughataa (district) courts; informal/customary courts

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 Unity, Pacific and Democratic Alternation or CUPAD (coalition of opposition parties, includes APP, El Wiam)Coalition of Majority Parties or CPM (includes UPR, UDP)El Karama Party [Cheikhna Ould Mohamed Ould HAJBOU]El Vadila Party [Ethmane Ould Ahmed ABOULMAALY]El Wiam [Boidiel Ould HOUMEID]National Forum for Democracy and Unity or FNDU [Mohamed Ould MAOLOUD] (coalition includes RNRD-TAWASSOUL)National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD-TAWASSOUL [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould SEYIDI]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 [ Mohamed Ould VALL]Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Mintat Mint HEDEID]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]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamedoun DADDAH (since 27 June 2016)
In the us chancery: 2,129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 232-5,700 through 5,701
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 319-2,623
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael DODMAN (since 5 January 2018)
From the us embassy:
From the us mailing address: same as embassy address
From the us telephone: [222] 4,525-2,660 or [222] 2,660-2,663
From the us FAX: [222] 4,525-1592

Flag description: green with a yellow, five-pointed star above a yellow, upward-pointing crescent; red stripes along the top and bottom edges; 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; red symbolizes the blood shed in the struggle for independence

National symbols: star and crescent; national colors: green, yellow

National anthem
Name: Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)
Lyricsmusic: Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia NIKIPROWETZKY: note: adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem makes it particularly challenging to sing; Mauritania in November 2017 adopted a new national anthem, 'Bilada-l ubati-l hudati-l kiram' (The Country of Fatherhood is the Honorable Gift) composed by Rageh Daoud (sound file of the new anthem is forthcoming)

National heritage


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Economy overview: Mauritania's economy is dominated by extractive industries (oil and mines), fisheries, livestock, agriculture, and services. 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, 2000s, and 2017. 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 2014. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, and fishing accounts for about 15% 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. In December 2017, Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three year agreement under the Extended Credit Facility to foster economic growth, maintain macroeconomic stability, and reduce poverty. Investment in agriculture and infrastructure are the largest components of the country’s public expenditures.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 154

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 99

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 173

Gross national saving:
Rank: 68

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 64.9% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 21.8% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 56.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: -3.2% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 39% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -78.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 27.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 29.3% (2017 est.)
Services: 42.9% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, camel and sheep

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2017 est.)
Rank: 157

Labor force: 1.437 million (2017 est.)
Rank: 133
By occupation agriculture: 50%
By occupation industry: 1.9%
By occupation services: 48.1% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 142

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 31% (2014 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 29.5% (2000)
Highest 10: 29.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 83

Budget
Revenues: 1.354 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 1.396 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -0.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 69

Taxes and other revenues: 27.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 100

Public debt:
Rank: 21

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 117

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 32

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 27

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 149

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 155

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 144

Market value of publicly traded shares: NA

Current account balance:
Rank: 129

Exports:
Rank: 148
Partners: China 31.2%, Switzerland 14.4%, Spain 10.1%, Germany 8.2%, Japan 8.1% (2017)
Commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products, livestock, gold, copper, crude oil

Imports:
Rank: 165
Commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Partners: Belgium 11.5%, UAE 11.3%, US 9.2%, China 7.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.1%, Morocco 6%, Slovenia 4.8%, Vanuatu 4.7%, Spain 4.7% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 138

Debt external:
Rank: 138 (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access population without electricity: 2.8 million (2013)
Access electrification total population: 28% (2013)
Access electrification urban areas: 47% (2013)
Access electrification rural areas: 2% (2013)
Production: 1.139 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 147
Consumption: 1.059 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 154
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 169
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 173
Installed generating capacity: 558,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 144
Generation sources fossil fuels: 65% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 118
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 141
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 100
Generation sources other renewable sources: 20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 39

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 80
Crude oil exports: 5,333 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 65
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 164
Crude oil proven reserves: 20 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 83

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 176
Products consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 150
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 180
Products imports: 17,290 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 133

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 169
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 174
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 150
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 156
Proven reserves: 28.32 billion m³ (1 January 2018 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 70

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 2.615 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 152

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 57,057 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 155
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4,074,157 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 127

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; 3 mobile network operators: Mattel, Mauritel, and Chinguitel (2018)
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 (2018)
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 (2018)

Broadcast media: 10 TV stations: 5 government-owned and 5 private; in October 2017, the government suspended all private TV stations due to non-payment of broadcasting fees; as of April 2018, only one private TV station was broadcasting, Al Mourabitoune, the official TV of the Mauritanian Islamist party, Tewassoul; the other stations are negotiating payment options with the government and hope to be back on the air soon; 18 radio broadcasters: 15 government-owned, 3 (Radio Nouakchott Libre, Radio Tenwir, Radio Kobeni) private; all 3 private radio stations broadcast from Nouakchott; of the 15 government stations, 3 broadcast from Nouakchott (Radio Mauritanie, Radio Jeunesse, Radio Koran) and the other 12 broadcast from each of the 12 regions outside Nouakchott; Radio Jeunesse and Radio Koran are now also being re-broadcast in the regions (2018)

Internet
Country code: .mr
Users total: 661,913 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 18% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 144

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 12,637 (2017 est.)
Date: (2017 est.)
Rank: 165


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 28

Military and security forces

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

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 (2015)
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 248,158 (2015)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0
Note: mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5T (2016)

Airports: 30 (2013)
Rank: 115
With paved runways total: 9 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 21 (2013)
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 10 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 8 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 728 km (2014)
Standard gauge: 728 km
Note: 1.435-m gauge (2014)
Rank: 100

Roadways
Total: 12,253 km (2018)
Paved: 3,988 km (2018)
Unpaved: 8,265 km (2018)
Rank: 130

Waterways
Note: (some navigation possible on the Senegal River) (2011)

Merchant marine
Total: 6 (2017)
By type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 2, other 3 (2017)
Rank: 161

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott


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Disputes international: Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 26,001 (Western Saharan Sahrawis) (2017), 55,866 (Mali) (2018)

Illicit drugs