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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 28 usable: 28 with permanent-surface runways: 9 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 17

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 7,525 km paved: 1,685 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, otherwise improved 1,040 km; unimproved earth 4,800 km (roads, trails, tracks)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Merchant marine [time series]

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,290 GRT/1,840 DWT

Ports [time series]

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

690 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, single track, owned and operated by government mining company

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radio communications stations (improvements being made); broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 4.2% of GDP (1989)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 467,677; fit for military service 228,385

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 25% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in Senegal river valley; crops - dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish products number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought

Budget [time series]

revenues: $280 million expenditures: $346 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1989 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $277 million; Arab Development Bank (1991), $20 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 190,000 kW production: 135 million kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 124.480 (December 1993), 87.082 (1992), 81.946 (1991), 80.609 (1990), 83.051 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$432 million (f.o.b., 1992 est) commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products partners: Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1.9 billion (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$413 million (c.i.f., 1992 est) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods partners: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP

Industries [time series]

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11.5% (1993 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.2 billion (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,050 (1992 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

3.3% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many 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 almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. 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 recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries.

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (1991 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 1,030,700 sq km land area: 1,030,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Climate [time series]

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Coastline [time series]

754 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; water scarcity away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

boundary with Senegal

Irrigated land [time series]

120 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 38% forest and woodland: 5% other: 56%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Note [time series]

most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

12 regions (regions, singular - region); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza note: there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott

Capital [time series]

Nouakchott

Constitution [time series]

12 July 1991

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Fall Ould AININA chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-5700

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); election last held January 1992 (next to be held January 1998); results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA elected cabinet: Council of Ministers

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[222] (2) 515-92

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

28 November 1960 (from France)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system [time series]

three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)) [time series]

elections last held 6 and 13 March 1992 (next to be held March 1997)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces - New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI

Legislative branch (Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh)) [time series]

elections last held 15 April 1994 (one-third of the seats up for re-election in 1996)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon S. BROWN embassy: address NA, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] (2) 526-60 or 526-63

People

Birth rate [time series]

47.65 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

85.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980) by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10% note: 53% of population of working age (1985)

Languages [time series]

Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 48.06 years male: 45.23 years female: 51.01 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 10 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 34% male: 47% female: 21%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

2,192,777 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.16% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 100%

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.99 children born/woman (1994 est.)