World Facts Index
 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 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 coup 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 of Mauritania
|
Location:
|
Northern Africa, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara |
|
Coordinates:
|
20 00 N, 12 00 W |
|
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:
|
contiguous zone: 24
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
|
Climate:
|
desert; constantly hot,
dry, dusty |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly barren, flat plains
of the Sahara; some central hills |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Sebkha
de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m |
|
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 |
|
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
|
Population of Mauritania
|
Population:
|
3,364,940 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 45.6% (male 726,376/female 723,013)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 818,408/female 839,832)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,042/female 41,717) |
|
Median age:
|
17 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
2.88% |
|
Infant mortality:
|
69.48 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 53.12 years
male: 50.88 years
female: 55.42 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
5.86 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30% |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim 100% |
|
Languages:
|
Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar,
Soninke, Wolof (official), French |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Islamic
Republic of Mauritania
local short form: Muritaniyah
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al 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: 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; prime minister
appointed by the president. |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis
al-Shuyukh (56 seats; a portion of 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) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of
Appeals; lower courts |
Economy
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:
|
$5.974 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
5.5% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$2,200 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
7% |
|
Labor force:
|
786,000 |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% |
|
Unemployment:
|
20% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 85.9%
hydro: 14.1%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
fish processing, mining of iron ore and
gypsum |
|
Agriculture:
|
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates;
cattle, sheep |
|
Exports:
|
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold |
|
Export partners:
|
Italy 14.1%, Japan 12.4%, France 11.9%, Germany 9%,
Belgium 8.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.3%, Spain 6.6%, Russia 4.7%, Netherlands 4.1% |
|
Imports:
|
machinery and equipment, petroleum
products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods |
|
Import partners:
|
France 18.4%, UK 7.6%, US 7%, China 6%, Spain 5%, Germany
4.2% |
|
Currency:
|
ouguiya (MRO) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |