Country Guide

Mauritania Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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


Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 12 00 W


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:1,030,700 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 29
land:1,030,700 sq km
water:0 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:
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


Climate:
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty


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


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point:Kediet Ijill 915 m


Natural resources:
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish


Land use:
arable land:0.44%
permanent crops:0.01%
other:99.55% (2011)


Irrigated land:
450.1 sq km (2004)


Total renewable water resources:
11.4 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
11.4 cu km (2011)

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; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective:Mauritanian


Ethnic groups:
black Moors (Haratines - Arab-speaking slaves, former slaves, and their descendants of African origin, enslaved by white Moors) 40%, white Moors (of Arab-Berber descent, known as Bidhan) 30%, black Africans (non-Arabic speaking, Halpulaar, Soninke, Wolof, and Bamara ethnic groups) 30%


Languages:
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya (a variety of Arabic)


Religions:
Muslim (official) 100%


Population:
3,516,806 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 133


Age structure:
0-14 years:39.5% (male 697,156/female 691,548)
15-24 years:20% (male 343,214/female 358,533)
25-54 years:32.5% (male 528,133/female 613,324)
55-64 years:4.5% (male 71,265/female 87,086)
65 years and over:3.5% (male 53,705/female 72,842) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:75.7 %
youth dependency ratio:70.1 %
elderly dependency ratio:5.6 %
potential support ratio:17.9 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:19.9 years
male:19 years
female:20.9 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.26% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 40


Birth rate:
31.83 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 36


Death rate:
8.35 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 86


Net migration rate:
-0.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 146


Urbanization:
urban population:41.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.91% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
NOUAKCHOTT (capital) 786,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.96 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.86 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.74 male(s)/female
total population:0.93 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
21.9


Maternal mortality rate:
510 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:56.06 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 28
male:61.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female:50.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:62.28 yearscountry comparison to the world: 188
male:60 years
female:64.63 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
4.07 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 39


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
9.3% (2007)


Health expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 52.3% of population
rural: 47.7% of population
total: 49.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 47.7% of population
rural: 52.3% of population
total: 50.4% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 51.1% of population
rural: 9.2% of population
total: 26.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 48.9% of population
rural: 90.8% of population
total: 73.3% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 83


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 100


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
800 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 81


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
12.7% (2008)country comparison to the world: 127


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
19.5% (2012)country comparison to the world: 32


Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 120

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:58.6%
male:65.3%
female:52% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:8 years
male:8 years
female:8 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:

Government

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


Government type:
military junta


Capital:
name:Nouakchott
geographic coordinates:18 04 N, 15 58 W
time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
13 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); 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:
previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991; amended 2006, 2012 (2012)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of Islamic and French civil law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August 2009); note - AZIZ, who deposed democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and installed himself as President of the High State Council on 6 August 2008, retired from the military and stepped down from the presidency in April 2009 to run for president; he was elected president in an election held on 18 July 2009
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; election last held on 18 July 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results:Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ elected president; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ 52.6%, Messaoud Ould BOULKHEIR 16.3%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 13.7%, other 17.4%


Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members elected for Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (146 seats; 106 members elected in single- and multi-member constituencies to serve five-year terms and 40 are elected nationwide through a closed list proportional representation system to serve five-year terms; of the 40 seats elected at the nationwide level, 20 are reserved for women)
elections:Senate - last held in November 2009; National Assembly - first round last held on 23 November and second round on 21 December 2013
election results:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPM (Coalition of Majority Parties) 45, COD 7, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPR 75, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 16, El Wiam 10, APP 7, UDP 6, El Karam Party 6, AJD/MR 4, Surge of Youth for the Nation 4, El Vadila Party 3, PUD 3, Ravah Party 3, PRDR 3, others 6


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (subdivided into 1 criminal and 2 civil chambers, each with a president and 5 counselors); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 members)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 1 by the president of the Senate; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years
subordinate courts:High Court of Justice (cases involving treason and criminal acts of high government officials); courts of appeal; wilaya (regional) courts (located at the headquarters of each of the 13 regions); commercial and labor courts; criminal courts; moughataa (district) courts; informal/customary courts


Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR [Ibrahima Moctar SARR]
Alternative or El-Badil [Mohamed Yahdhi Ould MOCTAR HACEN]
Coalition of Majority Parties or CPM (parties supporting the regime including PRDR, UPR, UDP, RD, HATEM-PMUC, UCD)
Coalition for Pacific Alternation or CAP (coalition of opposition parties, including APP, El Wiam, and Sawab)
Coordination of Democratic Opposition or COD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH] (coalition of 11 opposition political parties including RNRD-TAWASSOUL, RFD, UFP, PNDD-ADIL, Alternative or El-Badil)
Democratic Renewal or RD [Moustapha Ould ABDEIDARRAHMANE]
El Karama Party [Cheikhna Ould Mohamed Ould HAJBOU]
El Vadila Party [Ethmane Ould Ahmed ABOULMAALY]
El Wiam [Boidiel Ould HOUMEIT]
Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC [Saleh Ould HANENA]
National Pact for Democracy and Development or PNDD-ADIL [Yahya Ould Ahmed El WAGHEF] (independents formerly supporting President Abdellahi)
National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNLDE
National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD-TAWASSOUL [Mohamed Jamil MANSOUR] (moderate Islamists)
Party of Unity and Development or PUD [Mohamed BARO]
Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messaoud Ould BOULKHEIR]
Popular Front or FP [Mohamed Lemine Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]
Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]
Ravah Party
Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Mintata Mint HIDEID]
Sawab [Abdel Salem Ould HORMA]
Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS [Mahfouz Weld AZIZ]
Surge of Youth for the Nation [Lalla CHERIVA]
Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]
Union for the Republic or UPR [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed LEMINE]
Union of Democratic Center or UCD [Cheikh Sid'Ahmed Ould BABA]
Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD]


    Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]


International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU (candidate), EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MIUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mohamed Lemine El HAYCEN (since 28 July 2010)
chancery:2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701
FAX:[1] (202) 319-2623


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David REIMER
embassy:288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address:BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone:[222] 4525-2660 through 2663
FAX:[222] 4525-1592


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; the gold color stands for the sands of the Sahara


National symbol(s):
star and crescent


National anthem:
name:'Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie' (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

lyrics/music:Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia NIKIPROWETZKY
note:adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem makes it particularly challenging to sing

Economy

Economy - overview:
Mauritania's economy is dominated by natural resources and agriculture. 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's extensive mineral resources include iron ore, gold, copper, gypsum, and phosphate rock and exploration is ongoing for uranium, crude oil, and natural gas. Extractive commodities make up 75% of Mauritania's total exports. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, and fishing accounts for 20% of budget revenues, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. Risks to Mauritania's economy include its recurring exposure to droughts, dependence on foreign aid and investment, and insecurity in neighboring Mali, as well as significant shortages of infrastructure, institutional capacity, and human capital.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.204 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$7.708 billion (2012 est.)
$7.212 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.183 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
6.9% (2012 est.)
3.6% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,200 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$2,100 (2012 est.)
$2,000 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
27.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
26.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
39.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:52.4%
government consumption:22.7%
investment in fixed capital:61.9%
investment in inventories:-8.9%
exports of goods and services:56.8%
imports of goods and services:-84.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:16.9%
industry:54.6%
services:28.5% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep


Industries:
fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper)


Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Labor force:
1.318 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 135


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:50%
industry:2%
services:48% (2001 est.)


    Unemployment rate:
30% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
20% (2004 est.)


Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.5%
highest 10%:29.5% (2000)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 66
37.3 (1995)


Budget:
revenues:$1.677 billion
expenditures:$1.702 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
40.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
4.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
12% (31 December 2007)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
17% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.739 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$1.514 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$1.24 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
-$1.263 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$2.728 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$2.642 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum


Exports - partners:
China 50.5%, Italy 7.8%, Japan 7.3%, France 4.9%, Spain 4.2%, Cote dIvoire 4.1%, Netherlands 4% (2012)


Imports:
$3.355 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$3.176 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods


Imports - partners:
China 12.9%, Netherlands 10.5%, US 7.8%, France 7.8%, Brazil 5.6%, Germany 5.5%, Spain 5.1%, Belgium 4.7% (2012)


Debt - external:
$3.233 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$2.922 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar -
298.1 (2013 est.)
296.6 (2012 est.)
275.89 (2010 est.)
262.4 (2009)
238.2 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
701 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154


Electricity - consumption:
651.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
263,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
63.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
36.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203


Crude oil - production:
6,577 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95


Crude oil - exports:
7,337 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
20 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
18,120 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200


Refined petroleum products - imports:
12,810 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.774 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
65,100 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 158


Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.024 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 121


Telephone system:
general assessment:limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic:Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line services; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of roughly 106 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international:country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat); fiber-optic and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) cables for Internet access (2009)



    Broadcast media:
one state-run TV (Television de Mauritanie) and one state-run radio network (Radio de Mauritanie); Television de Mauritanie has three channels, Al Mahadra station (for Islamic content) and Channels 1 and 2, which cover news, sports, and other programming; Radio de Mauritanie runs 12 regional stations as well as a radio station for youth and the Holy Quran station; five private TV channels and five private radio stations also broadcast from Mauritania; six private international radio stations broadcast in Mauritania on the FM band; with satellite connections, Mauritanians also have access to hundreds of foreign TV channels (2013)


Internet country code:
.mr


Internet hosts:
22 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 220


Internet users:
75,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 170

Transportation

Airports
30 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 116


Airports - with paved runways
total:9
2,438 to 3,047 m:5
1,524 to 2,437 m:4 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:21
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:10
914 to 1,523 m:8
under 914 m:
2 (2013)


    Railways
standard gauge:728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
total:10,628 kmcountry comparison to the world: 133
paved:3,158 km
unpaved:7,470 km (2010)


Waterways



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Military

Military branches
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Republic of Mauritania Air Group (Groupement Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, GAIM) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:718,713
females age 16-49:804,622 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:480,042
females age 16-49:581,473 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:36,116
female:36,826 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):26,001 (Western Saharan - Sahrawis) (2013); 52,647 (Mali) (2014)


    Trafficking in persons

 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook