Mauritania

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

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

Currency

1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Debt-external

$2.5 billion (1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy-overview

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 poor because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

Electricity-capacity

105,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

63 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

143 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

ouguiyas (UM) per US$1-169.880 (January 1998), 148.916 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993)

Exports

total value: $494 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$4.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

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

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$1,750 (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

6% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $457 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US 3%

Industrial production growth rate

7.2% (1994)

Industries

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Inflation rate-consumer price index

4.7% (1996)

Labor force

total: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980) by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

300,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

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

17,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1987 est.)

Televisions

50,000 (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

23% (1995 est.)

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

Climate

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Coastline

754 km

Elevation extremes

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

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

Environment-international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 N, 12 00 W

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

Irrigated land

490 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

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

Natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

12 July 1991

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

Data code

MR

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed OULD SID'AHMED chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700

Executive branch

chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Lamine Ould GUIG (since 7 December 1997) 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

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2623

FAX

[222] (2) 515-92

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

Government type

republic

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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 12 April 1996 (next to be held NA 1998); 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-PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1; National Assembly-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

National capital

Nouakchott

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Political parties and leaders

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; Action for Change (AC), Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR

Political pressure groups and leaders

Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM), Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general; General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers (CGTM), Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

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

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$33 million (1995)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.5% (1995)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 555,492 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service

males: 269,884 (1998 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46% (male 584,303; female 583,526) 15-64 years: 51% (male 624,144; female 660,478) 65 years and over: 3% (male 24,813; female 34,209) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

44.46 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

14.59 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

78.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 49.99 years male: 46.95 years female: 53.11 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

Net migration rate

-4.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

2,511,473 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.52% (1998 est.)

Religions

Muslim 100%

Sex ratio

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: 0.73 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.41 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none MAURITIUS

Airports

26 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways

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 (1997 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Railways

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

Waterways

mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River