Mauritania

republicIndependence 28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritania as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 121 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNouakchott

LocationNorthern Africa, along the North Atlantic Ocean, between Western

Populationas each edition published it

2.19 million July 1994 est. · 1.93m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.16% 1994 est. · 3.14% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 47.59 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.99 children per woman 1994 est. · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

85.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 96 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,050 1992 est. · $555 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.3% 1993 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

Northern Africa, along the North Atlantic Ocean, between Western | Sahara and Senegal

25 fields

Coastline

754km

Land boundaries

5,074km

total · Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

Irrigated land

120sq km

(1989 est.)

Location

Northern Africa, along the North Atlantic Ocean, between Western Sahara and Senegal

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

1,030,700 sq km

land area

1,030,400 sq km

comparative area

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or the edge of continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Terrain

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

Natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

38%

forest and woodland

other

56%

current issues

overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification;
water scarcity away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river

natural hazards

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April

international agreements

party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Note

most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

People

22 fields

Population

2,192,777

(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 3.16% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth

47.65Death

16.09Net migration

Ethnic divisions

mixed Maur/black 40%Maur 30%black 30%

Labor force

465,000

(1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)

Literacy

10and over can read and write

age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

85.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

48.06 years

male

45.23 years

female

51.01 years (1994 est.)

noun

Mauritanian(s)

adjective

Mauritanian

Languages

Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)

total population

34%

male

47%

female

21%

by occupation

agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%

note

53% of population of working age (1985)

Government

Republic

32 fields

conventional long form

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

conventional short form

Mauritania

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

local short form

Muritaniyah

Administrative divisions

12 regions (regions, singular - region); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

note

there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott

Legal system

three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)

chief of state and head of government

President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); election last held January 1992 (next to be held January 1998); results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA elected

cabinet

Council of Ministers

Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh)

elections last held 15 April 1994 (one-third of the seats up for re-election in 1996)

National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)

elections last held 6 and 13 March 1992 (next to be held March 1997)

legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces - New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH;

Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI

Other political or pressure groups

Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)

Member of

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohamed Fall Ould AININA

chancery

2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 232-5700

chief of mission

Ambassador Gordon S. BROWN

embassy

address NA, Nouakchott

mailing address

B. P. 222, Nouakchott

telephone

[222] (2) 526-60 or 526-63

FAX

[222] (2) 515-92

Flag

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

25 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,050

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

3.3%

(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

11.5%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

20%

(1991 est.)

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.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.2 billion (1992 est.)

revenues

$280 million

expenditures

$346 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1989 est.)

Exports

$432 million (f.o.b., 1992 est)

commodities

iron ore, fish and fish products

partners

Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

Imports

$413 million (c.i.f., 1992 est)

commodities

foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods

partners

Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy

External debt

$1.9 billion (1992 est.)

capacity

190,000 kW

production

135 million kWh

consumption per capita

70 kWh (1991)

Industries

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Agriculture

accounts for 25% of GDP (including fishing);
largely subsistence farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in Senegal river valley;
crops - dates, millet, sorghum, root crops;
fish products number-one export;
large food deficit in years of drought

recipient

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.3 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $277 million;
Arab Development Bank (1991), $20 million

Currency

1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates

ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 124.480 (December 1993), 87.082 (1992), 81.946 (1991), 80.609 (1990), 83.051 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

14 fields

Railroads

690 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, single track, owned and operated by government mining company

total

7,525 km

paved

1,685 km

unpaved

gravel, crushed stone, otherwise improved 1,040 km; unimproved earth 4,800 km (roads, trails, tracks)

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radio communications stations (improvements being made);
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

Defense Forces

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National | Police, Presidential Guard

3 fields

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →

Geography

total area

land area

comparative area

contiguous zone

continental shelf

exclusive economic zone

territorial sea

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

other

current issues

natural hazards

international agreements

People

total population

male

female

noun

adjective

total population

male

female

by occupation

note

Government

conventional long form

conventional short form

local long form

local short form

note

chief of state and head of government

cabinet

chief of mission

chancery

chief of mission

embassy

mailing address

Economy

revenues

expenditures

commodities

partners

commodities

partners

capacity

production

consumption per capita

recipient

Communications

total

paved

unpaved

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Defense Forces

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