Mauritania

Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

republicIndependence 28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritania as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 95 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

Position20 00 N, 12 00 W

Area1,030,700 sq km

LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between

Populationas each edition published it

2.41 million July 1997 est. · 1.93m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.17% 1997 est. · 3.14% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

49.49 years 1997 est. · 47.59 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.76 children per woman 1997 est. · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

80 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 96 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,200 1995 · $555 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6% 1995 · 3% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 1,030,700 sq km

permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 38%forests and woodland 4%other 58% (1993 est.)arable land 0% in all · irrigated 490 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

1,030,700sq km

land: 1,030,400 sq kmwater: 300 sq kmslightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Coastline

754km

contiguous zone : 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

910m

Kediet Ijilllowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m

Land boundaries

5,074km

border countries : Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

Location

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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Natural hazards

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

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

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

People

15 fields

Population

2,411,317

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 3.17% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

46.55Death

14.82Net migration

Ethnic groups

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

Literacy

37.7%

definition : age 15 and over can read and writemale: 49.6%female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 49% (male 586,972; female 580,408)
15-64 years:: 49% (male 579,071; female 612,343) 65 years and over : 2% (male 22,098; female 30,425) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth :: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 49.49 years
male :: 46.52 years
female:: 52.58 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Mauritanian(s)
adjective:: Mauritanian

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 2 January 1996)

20 fields

Senate, 79 seats, elected 12 April 1996one dot, one seat

PRDS 71AC 1independents and other 7

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

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

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution

12 July 1991

Legal system

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

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 Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 2 January 1996)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1998);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected; percent of vote - NA

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 12 April 1996 (next to be held NA 1998); 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 - PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1;
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders

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; Action for Change (AC), Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR

Political pressure groups and leaders

Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)

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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Bilal Ould WERZEG
chancery:: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 232-5700

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission :: Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS
embassy:: address NA, Nouakchott
mailing address:: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
telephone:: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63

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

Economy

22 fields

Real growth rate

(1995)industrial production growth: 7.2% (1994)

Inflation, consumer prices

6.5%

(1995)

Unemployment rate

20%

(1991 est.)

Labor force

465,000

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

GDP - composition by sector(1994)

agriculture 25%industry 31%services 44% (1994)

Budget

Revenues

$256 millionExpenditures

$269 million (1995)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $54 million

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 gloomy because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1995)

Industries

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Electricity - capacity

105,000 kW (1991)

Electricity - production

135 million kWh (1991)

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:: $483 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities:: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold
partners :: Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

Imports

total value:: $365 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities:: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods
partners:: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy

Debt - external

$2.3 billion (1994)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates

ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 141.230 (December 1996), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993), 87.027 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

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
international:: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

300,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1987 est.)

Televisions

50,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

total : 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Networkskm

Highways

7,600Railways

704

Highways: paved: 851 km · unpaved: 6,749 km (1995 est.) · Railways: (single track); note - owned and operated by government mining company · standard gauge : 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)