View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1999 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)

Radios [time series]

1 million (1998 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made) domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

17,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

50,000 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep; fish products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $329 million expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$2.5 billion (1995)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$227.9 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--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. Short-term growth prospects are uncertain because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

150 million kWh (1996

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

150 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 80% hydro: 20% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

ouguiyas (UM) per US$1--204.600 (January 1999), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$562 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

fish and fish products, iron ore, gold

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$4.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 26% industry: 31% services: 43% (1996)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$1,890 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

4.2% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)

Imports [time series]

$552 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US 3%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.2% (1994)

Industries [time series]

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.7% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%

Population below poverty line [time series]

57% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

23% (1995 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Climate [time series]

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Coastline [time series]

754 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

20 00 N, 12 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Irrigated land [time series]

490 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 38% forests and woodland: 4% other: 58% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Nouakchott

Constitution [time series]

12 July 1991

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 16 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90% of the vote

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

28 November 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system [time series]

a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000); National Assembly--last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

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 or

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

Mauritanian Workers Union MOHAMED, secretary general]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$30 million (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.5% (1996)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 571,521 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225) 15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951) 65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

44.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

76.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 50.48 years male: 47.39 years female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.7% male: 49.6% female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

2,581,738 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.99% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 100%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

26 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Railways [time series]

total: 704 km (single track); note--owned and operated by government mining company standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Waterways [time series]

mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River