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National Map
Of |
Mauritania |
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National Flag
Of |
Mauritania |
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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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Mauritania |
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National Anthem
Of |
Mauritania |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Mauritania |
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Background:
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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 siezed power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties
were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991.
Two multiparty presidential elections since then were
widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and
municipal elections were generally free and open. A
bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and
ushered in a military council headed by Col. Ely Ould
Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power
for up to two years while it created conditions for
genuine democratic institutions. For now, however,
Mauritania remains, a one-party state. The country
continues to experience ethnic tensions between its
black population and the Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.
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Location:
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Northern
Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and Western Sahara |
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Geographic coordinates:
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20 00 N,
12 00 W |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
larger than three times the size of New Mexico |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km,
Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km |
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Coastline:
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754 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the
continental margin |
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Climate:
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desert;
constantly hot, dry, dusty |
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Terrain:
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mostly
barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore,
gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0.48%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.51% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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490 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry,
dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March
and April; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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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; locust
infestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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most of
the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott
and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the
southern part of the country |
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Population:
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3,086,859
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 45.8% (male 707,728/female 704,616)
15-64 years: 52% (male 792,589/female 813,763)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 27,560/female
40,603) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
16.98 years
male: 16.71 years
female: 17.24 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.9%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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41.43
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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12.44
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
70.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 73.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 52.73 years
male: 50.52 years
female: 55 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.94
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.6%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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9,500
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
500 (2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley
fever are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
(2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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mixed
Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30% |
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Religions:
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Muslim
100% |
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Languages:
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Arabic
(official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Islamic Republic of
Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al
Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Nouakchott |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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28
November 1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 28 November (1960) |
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Constitution:
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12 July
1991 |
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Legal system:
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a
combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil
law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
(since 12 December 1984); note - President TAYA deposed
in a coup by the Military Council for Justice and
Democracy led by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL on 3 August
2005
head of government: Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed
Ould BOUBAKAR (since 8 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for
a six-year term; election last held 7 November 2003
(next to be held NA 2009); prime minister appointed by
the president
election results: President Maaouya Ould Sid
Ahmed TAYA reelected for a third term with 60.8% of the
vote |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh
(56 seats, a part of the 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)
elections: Senate - last held 9 and 16 April 2004
(next to be held April 2006); National Assembly - last
held 19 and 26 October 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NA; National Assembly -
percent of vote by party - PRDS 79%, RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%,
AC 5%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%; seats by party - PRDS 64, UDP
3, RDU 3, AC 4, RFD 3, UFP 3, and FP 1 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
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Political parties and leaders:
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Action
for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Alliance for
Justice and Democracy or AJD [Kebe ABDOULAYE];
Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling
party) [President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA];
Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Concorde or PMRC
[Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID]; National Union for
Democracy and Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Party
for Liberty, Equality and Justice or PLEJ [Daouda
M'BAGNIGA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH
MALAININE]; Popular Progress Alliance or APP [Messoud
Ould BOULKHEIR]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or
UPSD [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Progress Force Union or
UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces
or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and
Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Union for Democracy
and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]
note: the Action for Change party was banned in
January 2002 although its members were permitted to keep
their seats in the National Assembly; parties legalized
by constitution ratified 12 July 1991, however, politics
continue to be tribally based |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Arab
nationalists; Ba'thists; General Confederation of
Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED,
secretary general]; Independent Confederation of
Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE];
Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely
Ould BRAHIM, secretary general] |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA,
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould KERIM
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency
building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: [222] 25-25-92 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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 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 the past, drought and economic mismanagement
resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. 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. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km
offshore indicated potential extraction at current world
oil prices. 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.
Substantial oil production and exports probably will not
begin until 2006. Meantime the government emphasizes
reduction of poverty, improvement of health and
education, and promoting privatization of the economy.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$5.534
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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786,000
(2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 50%, industry 10%, services 40% (2001 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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20% (2004
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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40% (2004
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2000) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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37.3
(1995) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7% (2003
est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million, including capital
expenditures of $154 million (2002 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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dates,
millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep |
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Industries:
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fish
processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2% (2000
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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190.2
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 85.9%
hydro: 14.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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176.9
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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24,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$541
million f.o.b. (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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iron ore,
fish and fish products, gold |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan
13.1%, France 11%, Spain 9.7%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 9.6%,
Belgium 7.5%, China 6.1%, Russia 4.6%, Cote d'Ivoire
4.1% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$860
million f.o.b. (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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France
14.1%, US 7.6%, China 6.4%, Spain 5.8%, UK 4.6%, Germany
4.3%, Belgium 4.2% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.5
billion (2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$220
million (2000) |
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Currency (code):
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ouguiya
(MRO) |
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Currency code:
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MRO |
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Exchange rates:
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ouguiyas
per US dollar - NA(2004), 263.03 (2003), 271.74 (2002),
255.63 (2001), 238.92 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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31,500
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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300,000
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: limited 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: country code - 222; satellite
earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2
Arabsat |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM
14, shortwave 1 (2001) |
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Radios:
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410,000
(2001) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2002)
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Televisions:
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98,000
(2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.mr |
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Internet hosts:
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25 (2003)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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5 (2001)
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Internet users:
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10,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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some
ferry traffic on Senegal River (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Nouadhibou, Nouakchott |
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Airports:
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24 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine
Mauritanienne; includes Naval Infantry), Air Force
(Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2005)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years;
majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers;
service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (April 2005)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 606,463 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 370,513 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$20.8
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.7%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant
in recent years |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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