and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:
754 km
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
Climate:
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0.2%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
490 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
11.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%)
per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)
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; 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
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
Mauritania
Population:
3,364,940 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.3% (male 763,845/female 759,957)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 872,924/female 894,980)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 29,147/female 44,087) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.2 years
male: 16.9 years
female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.852% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
40.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
11.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.91 years
male: 51.61 years
female: 56.28 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
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 (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:
mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national
languages), French, Hassaniya
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2006)
Government
Mauritania
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:
Democratic Republic
Capital:
name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ who led a coup that
deposed the democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh
ABDELLAHI on 6 August 2008
head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF
(since 14 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 11
March 2007 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on
25 March 2007 (next to be held 2012); prime minister appointed by
the president
election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh
ABDELLAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2%
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 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3
December 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative or El-Badil; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate
Islamists); 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 and Social Republican Party or PRDS; Democratic Renewal
or RD; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC; Mithaq
(coalition of independents and parties associated with the former
regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); National
Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; 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] (formerly ruling Democratic and Social
Republican Party or PRDS); Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or
PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS];
Union of Democratic Centre or UCD; Union of the Forces for Progress
or UFP
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima DIA
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 Mark M. BOULWARE
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building
and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592
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
Mauritania
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. In the past,
drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign
debt, which now stands at more than three times the level of annual
exports. 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. 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. In 2001,
exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential
extraction at current world oil prices. Oil prospects, while
initially promising, have failed to materialize. Meantime the
government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health
and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.974 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.756 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA
Stock of money:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
NA (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
412.3 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
383.4 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 85.9%
hydro: 14.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
14,990 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
19,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
23,630 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$184 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.395 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners:
China 30.5%, France 9.5%, Italy 8.5%, Spain 8.5%, Japan 5.5%,
Netherlands 5.3%, Belgium 5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7% (2007)
Imports:
$1.475 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 16.5%, China 8.1%, Spain 6.7%, US 6.1%, Belgium 5.8%, Brazil
5.7% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$190.4 million (2005)
Debt - external:
NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
ouguiya (MRO)
Currency code:
MRO
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04
(2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Communications
Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
34,900 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.3 million (2007)
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 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity
approaching 40 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
410,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
98,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet hosts:
34 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
30,000 (2006)
Transportation
Mauritania
Airports:
25 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Railways:
717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 11,066 km
paved: 2,966 km
unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military
Mauritania
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 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)
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: 463,305
females age 16-49: 484,777 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 38,191
female: 38,638 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006)
Transnational Issues
Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Mauritius
Introduction
Mauritius
Background:
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th
century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th
century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in
honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French
assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important
naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a
plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in
1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically
important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an
important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy
operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence.
Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy
with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the
country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned
one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather,
declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel
production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests
over standards of living in the Creole community.
Geography
Mauritius
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative:
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May
to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling
central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 49.02%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 48.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)
per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs
that may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of
volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs;
home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven
to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination
of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
People
Mauritius
Population:
1,274,189 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 148,573/female 143,859)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 443,968/female 449,670)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 35,269/female 52,850) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.5 years
male: 30.6 years
female: 32.3 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
14.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.75 years
male: 70.28 years
female: 77.4 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian
2%
Religions:
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%,
other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken
by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3%
(2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2006)
Government
Mauritius
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,
Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses,
Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of English common law
in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October
2003); Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5
July 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election
last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president,
responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by
unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by
popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give
representation to various ethnic minorities; to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS
38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: