Mauritania (2002)

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Mauritania 2002 year


Administrative divisions	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
Age structure	0-14 years: 46.1% (male 653,005; female 650,530) 15-64 years: 51.7% (male 720,473; female 741,094) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 26,251; female 37,505) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products	dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep
Airports	26 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 10 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 16 17 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 7 under 914 m: 6 3 (2002)
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
Background	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. 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. Mauritania remains, in reality, a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black minority population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.
Birth rate	42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget	revenues: $421 million expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million
Capital	Nouakchott
Climate	desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Coastline	754 km
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
Currency	ouguiya (MRO)
Death rate	13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external	$1.6 billion (2000) (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US	chief of mission: Ambassador John W. LIMBERT embassy: Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] 25-26-60, 25-26-63, 25-11-41, 25-11-45 FAX: [222] 25-25-92
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamedou Ould MICHEL chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Disputes - international	none
Economic aid - recipient	$220 million (2000) (2000)
Economy - overview	Half 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 half 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. Mauritania withdrew its membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2000 and subsequently increased commercial ties with Arab Maghreb Union members Morocco and Tunisia, most notably in telecommunications. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential viable extraction at current world oil prices. However, the refinery in Nouadhibou historically has not exceeded 20% of its distillation capacity, and it handled no crude in the year 2000. A new Investment Code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment.
Electricity - consumption	143.22 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production	154 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 84% hydro: 16% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2000)
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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Exchange rates	ouguiyas per US dollar - 254.350 (December 2001), 238.923 (2000), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996)
Executive branch	chief of state: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El Avia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 17 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 Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90.9% of the vote
Exports	0 kWh (2000)
Exports	$359 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities	iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners	France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000)
Fiscal year	calendar year
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
GDP	purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	4% (2001 est.)
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
Highways	total: 7,720 km paved: 830 km unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 30% (2000) (2000)
Imports	0 kWh (2000)
Imports	$335 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities	machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners	France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany 6%, Benelux 5% (2000)
Independence	28 November 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate	2% (2000 est.)
Industries	fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Infant mortality rate	75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	4.4% (2001 est.)
International organization participation	ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	5 (2001)
Irrigated land	490 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Labor force	786,000 (2001) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 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: 0.48% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.51% (1998 est.)
Languages	Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French
Legal system	a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Legislative branch	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 12 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2004); 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 - PRDS 54, RFD 1, UNDD 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PRDS 79%, RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%, AC 5%, RDF 4%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%; seats by party - PRDS 64, UDP 3, RDU 3, AC 4, RFD 3, UFP 3, and FP 1
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 51.53 years male: 49.42 years female: 53.71 years (2002 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 41.2% male: 51.5% female: 31.3% (2002 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
Merchant marine	none (2002)
Military branches	Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$37.1 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	3.7% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability	males age 15-49: 644,294 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	males age 15-49: 312,276 (2002 est.)
National holiday	Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Nationality	noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Natural hazards	hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Natural resources	iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish
Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders	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 [Mohamed El Hafed Ould ISMAEL]; 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; parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based
Political pressure groups and leaders	Arab nationalists; Ba'athists; 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]
Population	2,828,858 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line	50% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate	2.92% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors	Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios	410,000 (2001)
Railways	704 km standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge note: owned and operated by government mining company (2001)
Religions	Muslim 100%
Sex ratio	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: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	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: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Telephones - main lines in use	26,500 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular	35,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations	1 (2002)
Terrain	mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Total fertility rate	6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate	21% (1999 est.)
Waterways	note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River

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