Mauritania

Islamic Republic of MauritaniaAl Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

republicIndependence 28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritania as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 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 Senegal and Western Sahara

Populationas each edition published it

2.91 million July 2003 est. · 1.93m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.91% 2003 est. · 3.14% in 1993

Median ageyears

16.9 years 2002 · 18.6 yrs in 2025

Life expectancyyears at birth

51.93 years 2003 est. · 47.59 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.08 children per woman 2003 est. · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

73.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 96 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,700 2002 est. · $555 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.3% 2002 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. 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.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 1,030,700 sq km

arable land 0.48%permanent crops 0.01%other 99.51% (1998 est.)irrigated 490 sq km (1998 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 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references

Africa

Climate

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain

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

Natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

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

People

19 fields

Population

2,912,584

(July 2003 est.)growth rate: 2.91% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth

42.16Death

13.04Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)51.93

49.78 · 54.13Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)73.8

76.62 · 70.89

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)41.7%

51.8% · 31.9%Median age years (2002)16.9

16.6 · 17.2

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.8%

(2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 46% (male 671,080; female 668,408)
15-64 years:: 51.8% (male 743,573; female 764,358)
65 years and over:: 2.2% (male 26,669; female 38,496) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.08 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,600 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

610 (2001 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Mauritanian(s)
adjective:: Mauritanian

Religions

Muslim 100%

Languages

Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French

Government

Republic; President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'BARECK (since 6 July 2003)

18 fields

Senate, 81 seats, elected 12 April 2002one dot, one seat

PRDS 64UDP 3RDU 3AC 4RFD 3UFP 3and FP 1

Country name

conventional long form:: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form:: Mauritania
local short form:: Muritaniyah
local long form:: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al 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

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)
head of government:: Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'BARECK (since 6 July 2003)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be held NA 2009);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected for a third term with 60.8% of the vote

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats, a part of the seats up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: Senate - last held 12 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2004); National Assembly - last held 19 and 26 October 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results:: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PRDS 54, RFD 1, UNDD 1;
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PRDS 79%, RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%, AC 5%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%;
seats by party - PRDS 64, UDP 3, RDU 3, AC 4, RFD 3, UFP 3, and FP 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme;
Court of Appeals;
lower courts

Political parties and leaders

Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR];
Alliance for Justice and Democracy or AJD [Kebe ABDOULAYE];
Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA];
Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Concorde or PMRC [Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID];
National Union for Democracy and Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA];
Party for Liberty, Equality and Justice or PLEJ [Daouda M'BAGNIGA];
Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE];
Popular Progress Alliance or APP [Mohamed El Hafed Ould ISMAEL];
Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH];
Progress Force Union or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD];
Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH];
Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA];
Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]

note: the Action for Change party was banned in January 2002; parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based

Political pressure groups and leaders

Arab nationalists;
Ba'athists;
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general];
Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE];
Islamists;
Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mohamedou Ould MICHEL
chancery:: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX:: [1] (202) 319-2623
telephone:: [1] (202) 232-5700

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy:: Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address:: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone:: [222] 25-26-60, 25-26-63, 25-11-41, 25-11-45
FAX:: [222] 25-25-92

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

37 fields

Real growth rate

3.3%

(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 2% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

21%

(1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

50%

(2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 25%industry 29%services 46% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

14%

France

18.5%

14.3%

Italy

11.7%

Spain

5.9%

10.9%

Germany

5.2%

9.9%

Belgium

7.8%

7.1%

Japan

China

Exports $355 million f.o.b. (2002)Imports $360 million f.o.b. (2000)(2002)

Budget

Revenues

$421 millionExpenditures

$378 million (2002 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $154 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 85.9%hydro 14.1%other 0% · nuclear 0%

Electricity production

157.4 million (2001)Electricity consumption

146.3 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and 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 nearly 40% 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 the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review.

In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. Substantial oil production and exports probably will not begin until 2005.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.891 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.3 (1995)

Labor force

786,000 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.)

Industries

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Agriculture - products

dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep

Exports

$355 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Imports

$360 million f.o.b. (2000)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Debt - external

$2.5 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$220 million (2000)

Currency

ouguiya (MRO)

Currency code

MRO

Exchange rates

ouguiyas per US dollar - ouguiyas per US dollar - 254.350 (December 2001), 238.923 (2000), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

35,000

(2001)

Internet users

(2001)

Fixed lines

26,500

(2001) · country code .mr

Telephone system

general assessment:: limited 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