Islamic Republic of Mauritania

National name: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

President: Col. Ely Ould Mohamed Vall (2005)

Prime Minister: Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar (2005)

Land area: 397,837 sq mi (1,030,400 sq km); total area: 397, 955 sq mi (1,030,700 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 3,177,388 (growth rate: 2.9%); birth rate: 41.0/1000; infant mortality rate: 69.5/1000; life expectancy: 53.1; density per sq mi: 8

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Nouakchott, 661,400

Monetary unit: Ouguiya

Languages: Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Wolof

Ethnicity/race: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Religion: Islam 100%

Literacy rate: 42% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $6.198 billion; per capita $2,000. Real growth rate: 5.5%. Inflation: 7% (2003 est.). Unemployment: 20% (2004 est.). Arable land: 0.5%. Agriculture: dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep. Labor force: 786,000 (2001); agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.). Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum. Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish. Exports: $784 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): iron ore, fish and fish products, gold. Imports: $1.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.): machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods. Major trading partners: Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Côte d'Ivoire, China, Russia, U.S., UK (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 26,500 (2001); mobile cellular: 35,000 (2001). Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001). Radios: 410,000 (2001). Television broadcast stations: 1 (2002). Televisions: 98,000 (2001). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (2001). Internet users: 7,500 (2001).

Transportation: Railways: total: 717 km (2002). Highways: total: 7,720 km; paved: 830 km; unpaved: 6,890 km (2000). Waterways: ferry traffic on the Senegal River. Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso. Airports: 26 (2002).

International disputes: Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years.

 

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