Mauritania

Islamic Republic of MauritaniaAl Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

republicIndependence 28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritania as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 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

3.09 million July 2005 est. · 1.93m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.9% 2005 est. · 3.14% in 1993

Median ageyears

16.98 years 2005 est. · 16.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

52.73 years 2005 est. · 47.59 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.94 children per woman 2005 est. · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

70.89 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 96 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,800 2004 est. · $555 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 2004 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. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA siezed power in a coup in 1984. 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.

A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions. For now, however, Mauritania remains, a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black population and the 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% (2001)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

territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Highest point

915m

Kediet Ijilllowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 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;
locust infestation

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

27,560

65 and over2.2%

40,603

792,589

15-6452%

813,763

707,728

0-1445.8%

704,616

MaleFemale

Population

3,086,859

(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 2.9% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth

41.43Death

12.44Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)52.73

50.52 · 55Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)70.89

73.81 · 67.89

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)41.7%

51.8% · 31.9%Median age years (2005 est.)16.98

16.71 · 17.24

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6%

(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:: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:: very high
food or waterborne diseases:: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease:: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality

noun:: Mauritanian(s)
adjective:: Mauritanian

Religions

Muslim 100%

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBAKAR (since 8 August 2005)

18 fields

Senate, 81 seats, elected 9 and 16 April 2004one 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 long form:: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form:: 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); note - President TAYA deposed in a coup by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy led by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL on 3 August 2005
head of government:: Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBAKAR (since 8 August 2005)
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 9 and 16 April 2004 (next to be held April 2006); 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 - NA;
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 [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR];
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 although its members were permitted to keep their seats in the National Assembly; parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991,

however, politics continue to be tribally based

Political pressure groups and leaders

Arab nationalists;
Ba'thists;
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, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Tijani Ould KERIM
chancery:: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701
FAX:: [1] (202) 319-2623

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy:: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address:: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone:: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
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

35 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$5.534billion

(2004 est.)

Real growth rate

(2004 est.)industrial production growth: 2% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

20%

(2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

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

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

11%

France

14.1%

13.1%

Japan

9.7%

Spain

5.8%

9.7%

Germany

4.3%

9.6%

Italy

7.6%

7.5%

Belgium

4.2%

6.1%

China

6.4%

4.6%

Russia

4.6%

4.1%

Cote d'Ivoire

Exports $541 million f.o.b. (2002)Imports $860 million f.o.b. (2002)(2004)

Budget

Revenues

$421 millionExpenditures

$378 million (2002 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $154 million

Electricity

Electricity production

190.2 million (2002)Electricity consumption

176.9 million (2002)

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 2006. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)

Labor force

786,000 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

40% (2004 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.3 (1995)

Agriculture - products

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

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

Oil - imports

Exports

$541 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Imports

$860 million f.o.b. (2002)

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 (code)

ouguiya (MRO)

Exchange rates

ouguiyas per US dollar - NA(2004), 263.03 (2003), 271.74 (2002), 255.63 (2001), 238.92 (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

300,000

(2003)

Internet users

(2003)

Fixed lines

31,500

(2002) · 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:: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat