BackgroundIndependent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three yrs 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 hvy hand for over 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. Mnwhile, the country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and White and Black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.
GeographyMost of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country.Loion:Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocn, between Senegal and Western SaharaGeographic coordinates:20 00 N, 12 00 WAr:total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq kmSize comparison: slightly larger than three times the size of New MexicoLand Boundaries:total: 5,074 km
border countries: Aeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 kmCoastline:754 kmMaritime claims:territorial s: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginClimate:desert; constantly hot, dry, dustyTerrain:mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hillsElevation extremes:lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 mNatural resources:iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fishLand use:arable land: 0.2%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.79% (2005)Irrigated land:490 sq km (2002)Natural hazards:hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughtsCurrent Environment Issues:overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertifiion; limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestationInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertifiion, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the S, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
PeoplePopulation:3,364,940 (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 45.3% (male 763,845/female 759,957)
15-64 yrs: 52.5% (male 872,924/female 894,980)
65 yrs and over: 2.2% (male 29,147/female 44,087) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 17.2 yrs
male: 16.9 yrs
female: 17.4 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:2.852% (2008 est.)Birth rate:40.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:11.61 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:NA (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 66.65 dths/1,000 live births
male: 69.69 dths/1,000 live births
female: 63.52 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 53.91 yrs
male: 51.61 yrs
female: 56.28 yrs (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 - dths:fewer than 500 (2003 est.)Nationality:noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: MauritanianEthnic groups:mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%Religions:Muslim 100%Languages:Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, HassaniyaLiteracy:definition: age 15 and over can rd and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: MuritaniyahGovernment type:military juntaCapital:name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahd 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, TrarzaIndependence:28 November 1960 (from France)National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1960)Constitution:12 July 1991Legal system:a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: . Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ, President of Military High Council of State (since 6 August 2008); note - AZIZ deposed democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABAHI in a coup
hd 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 and subsequently scheduled it for June 2009; under Mauritania's constitution, the president is elected by popular vote for a five-yr term; election last held 11 March 2007 with a runoff between the two lding candidates held on 25 March 2007; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh ABAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2%Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 sts; 53 members elected by municipal lders and 3 members elected by Mauritanians abroad to serve six-yr terms; a portion of sts up for election every two yrs) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 sts; members elected by popular vote to serve five-yr 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; sts by party - Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime) 37, CF (coalition of political parties) 15, representatives of the diaspora 3, undecided 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; sts by party - Mithaq 51 (independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1), CF 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, U 1, FP 1Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appls; lower courtsPolitical parties and lders:Alternative or El-Badil; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists); Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or CF (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 U; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFPPolitical pressure groups and lders:eral Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary eral]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary eral]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; IslamistsInternational organization participation:ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IA, 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, WTODiplomatic 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) 319-2623Diplomatic 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
EconomyHalf 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 nrly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing ars in the world, but overation by foreigners thrtens this source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened nr 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 Hvily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nrly 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 approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three-yr Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement in 2006 and Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but IMF and World Bank have suspended their programs in Mauritania since the August 2008 coup. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to materialize. Mntime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of hlth and eduion, and promoting privatization of the economy.GDP (purchasing power parity):$6.492 billion (2008 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$3.625 billion (2008 est.)GDP - rl growth rate:4% (2008 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,900 (2008 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)Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.3% (2007 est.)Budget:revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper; gypsum deposits have never been edIndustrial production growth rate:
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.)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, copper, petroleumExports - partners:China 30.5%, France 9.5%, Italy 8.5%, Spain 8.5%, Japan 5.5%, Netherlands 5.3%, Beium 5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7% (2007)Imports:$1.475 billion f.o.b. (2006)Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goodsImports - partners:France 16.5%, China 8.1%, Spain 6.7%, US 6.1%, Beium 5.8%, Brazil 5.7% (2007)Debt - external:NAMarket value of publicly traded shares:$NACurrency ():ouguiya (MRO)Exchange rates:ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)Fiscal yr:calendar yr
CommuniionsTele in use:34,900 (2006)Cellular in use:1.3 million (2007)Telephone system:eral assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communiions stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommuniions 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 ars with a teledensity approaching 40 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommuniions system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international: country - 222; satellite rth stations - 3 (1 sat - Atlantic Ocn, 2 Arabsat)Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)Internet country :.mrInternet hosts:34 (2008)Internet users:30,000 (2006)
TransportationAirports:25 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)Airports (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)Waterways:some navigation possible on Senegal RiverPorts and terminals:Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military
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 yrs of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 yrs; 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.)^Back to Top
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