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.

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N 12 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Coastline: 754 km

Climate: desert; constantly hot dry dusty

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

Natural resources: iron ore gypsum fish copper phosphate

Irrigated land: 490 km² (1993 est.)

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

Population: 2,667,859 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 2.94% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)

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

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

Religions: Muslim 100%

Population growth rate: 2.94% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 43.36 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 13.97 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate: 78.15 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.29 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

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 French civil law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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)

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

Political parties and leaders: Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Assembly for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA]; National Avant-Garde Party or PAN [Khattry Ould JIDDOU]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Union of Democratic Forces-New Era or UFD/NE [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]

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

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

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 buildup of foreign debt. In March 1999 the government signed an agreement with a joint World Bank-IMF mission on a $54 million enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF). The economic objectives have been set for 1999-2002. Privatization remains one of the key issues. Mauritania is unlikely to meet ESAF's annual GDP growth objectives of 4%-5%.

Real gdp growth rate: 3.7% (1999 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1910 (1999 est.)

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: 39%
By occupation industry: 14%

Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 9.8% (1998)

Exports: $425 million (f.o.b. 1997)
Commodities: fish and fish products iron ore gold
Partners: Japan 24% Italy 17% France 14% Spain 8% (1997)

Imports: $444 million (f.o.b. 1997)
Commodities: machinery and equipment petroleum products capital goods foodstuffs consumer goods
Partners: France 26% Spain 8% Germany 7% Benelux 7% (1997)

Debt external: $2.5 billion (1997)

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 219.560 (December 1999) 209.514 (1999) 188.476 (1998) 151.853 (1997) 137.222 (1996) 129.768 (1995)

Electricity
Production: 152 million kWh (1998)
Consumption: 141 million kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 9,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 0 (1995)

Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines minor microwave radio relay links and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made)

Internet
Service providers isps: NA

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $41 million (FY97)
Percent of gdp: 2.7% (FY97)

Airports: 26 (1999 est.)

Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Disputes international: none