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.
Geography ::Mauritania
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal
and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:
Africa
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
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:
3,129,486 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
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.)
Median age:
total: 19.2 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 20 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.399% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
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
Net migration rate:
-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Urbanization:
urban population: 41% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
Total fertility rate:
4.45 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
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)
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)
country comparison to the world: 149
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:
military junta
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: 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%
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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
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
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 through 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 through 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. 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.
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 (official exchange rate):
$3.161 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
1% (2007 est.)
11.4% (2006 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 - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 46.7%
services: 40.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.318 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 133
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
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)
country comparison to the world: 70
37.3 (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $770 million
expenditures: $770 million (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
12% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and
copper; gypsum deposits have never been exploited
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - production:
415.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
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.)
Oil - production:
12,830 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
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 - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
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 - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Current account balance:
-$184 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
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)
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)
Debt - external:
$NA
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:
76,400 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.092 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
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
Transportation ::Mauritania
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)
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
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: 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 expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 14
Transnational Issues ::Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Mauritius (Africa)
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:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km
country comparison to the world: 180
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:
1,284,264 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.5% (male 147,136/female 142,121)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 449,176/female 455,057)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 36,309/female 54,465) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.9 years
male: 31 years
female: 32.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.776% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Birth rate:
14.41 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Death rate:
6.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Net migration rate:
-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 145
male: 14.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)