Mauritania

Internet country code

.mr

Internet hosts

15 (2009) country comparison to the world: 217

Internet users

45,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 173

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line services; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of 60 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

76,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 152

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.092 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 120

Television broadcast stations

1 (2002)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $770 million expenditures: $770 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 27 12% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$184 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Debt - external

$NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2000) country comparison to the world: 70 37.3 (1995)

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 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. Before 2000, 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 nearly all of its foreign debt has since been forgiven. In December 2007 donors pledged $2.1 billion at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement in 2006 and Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but IMF and World Bank suspended their programs in Mauritania following the August 2008 coup; following the July 2009 Presidential elections, the IMF and World Bank agreed to meet with the Goverment to discuss a resumption. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to materialize. The Government continues to emphasize reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and privatization of the economy.

Electricity - consumption

386.2 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

415.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Exchange rates

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)

Exports

$1.395 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 141

Exports - commodities

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum

Exports - partners

China 41.4%, France 10.2%, Spain 7%, Italy 6.9%, Netherlands 5.4%, Belgium 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.161 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$6.323 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $6.109 billion (2007 est.) $6.048 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 12.5% industry: 46.7% services: 40.7% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $2,000 (2007 est.) $2,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 1% (2007 est.) 11.4% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)

Imports

$1.475 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 161

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 16.7%, China 8.8%, Netherlands 6.4%, Spain 6%, Belgium 5.4%, US 5.1%, Brazil 4.5% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Industries

fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper; gypsum deposits have never been exploited

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Labor force

1.318 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 133

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - proved reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Oil - consumption

21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Oil - exports

30,620 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Oil - imports

20,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Oil - production

12,830 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Oil - proved reserves

100 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Population below poverty line

40% (2004 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA (31 December 2008)

Stock of money

$NA (31 December 2008)

Stock of quasi money

$NA (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

30% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 20% (2004 est.)

Area

total: 1,030,700 sq km country comparison to the world: 29 land: 1,030,700 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Climate

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Coastline

754 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Environment - current issues

overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%) per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

20 00 N, 12 00 W

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

Irrigated land

490 sq km (2002)

Land boundaries

total: 5,074 km border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

Land use

arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

11.4 cu km (1997)

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

Capital

name: Nouakchott geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

12 July 1991

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] 525-2660 through 2663 FAX: [222] 525-1592

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August 2009) note - AZIZ, who deposed democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and installed himself as President of Military High Council of State on 6 August 2008, was elected president in an election held 18 July 2009 head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF (since 14 August 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: following the August 2008 coup, the Military High Council of State pledged to hold a new presidential election which was subsequently scheduled and held on 18 July 2009; under Mauritania's constitution, the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 18 July 2009 (next to be held by 2014) election results: percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ 52.6%, Messaoud Ould BOULKHEIR 16.3%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 13.7%, Other 17.4%

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

Government type

military junta

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members elected by Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 21 January and 4 February 2007 (next to be held in 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011); note - it is unclear when the Senate elections originally scheduled for 2009 will be held election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime) 37, CFCD (coalition of political parties) 15, representatives of the diaspora 3, undecided 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq 51 (independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1), CFCD 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, UCD 1, FP 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Alternative or El-Badil [Mohamed Yahdhi Ould MOCTAR HACEN]; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists) [Mohamed Jamil MANSOUR]; Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or CFCD (coalition of political parties including APP, Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists), HATEM-PMUC, PUDS, RD, RFD, UFP); Democratic Renewal or RD [Moustapha Ould ABDEIDARRAHMANE]; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC [Saleh Ould HANENA]; Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); National Pact for Democracy and Development or PNDD-ADIL (independents supporting President Abdellahi) [Yahya Ould Ahmed Ould WAGHEF]; National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; National Rally for Reform and Development or Tawassoul (moderate Islamists) [Mohamed Jemil Ould MANSOUR]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA]; Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Center or UCD [Cheikh Sid'Ahmed Ould BABA]; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD];

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta deposed him and ushered in a military council government. Meanwhile, the country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and White and Black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 740,675 females age 16-49: 744,709 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 450,289 females age 16-49: 544,598 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 34,546 female: 35,272 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2008)

Military expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 14

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41% (male 643,436/female 638,793) 15-64 years: 55.7% (male 818,778/female 923,046) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 44,836/female 60,597) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

34.11 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Death rate

9.16 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Ethnic groups

mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Infant mortality rate

total: 63.42 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 35 male: 68.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 58.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 60.37 years country comparison to the world: 182 male: 58.22 years female: 62.59 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.2% male: 59.5% female: 43.4% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Median age

total: 19.2 years male: 18.3 years female: 20 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

Net migration rate

-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Population

3,129,486 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Population growth rate

2.399% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Religions

Muslim 100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.45 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Urbanization

urban population: 41% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

Airports

27 (2009) country comparison to the world: 125

Airports - with paved runways

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Railways

728 km standard gauge: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 11,066 km country comparison to the world: 135 paved: 2,966 km unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)

Waterways

some navigation possible on Senegal River