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Compare Cayman Islands (2003) - Mauritania (2002)

Compare Cayman Islands (2003) z Mauritania (2002)

 Cayman Islands (2003)Mauritania (2002)
 Cayman IslandsMauritania
Administrative divisions 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western 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: 21.6% (male 4,525; female 4,541)


15-64 years: 70.6% (male 14,463; female 15,157)


65 years and over: 7.7% (male 1,515; female 1,733) (2003 est.)
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 vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep
Airports 3 (2002) 26 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
total: 10 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
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: 262 sq km


land: 262 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 1,030,700 sq km


land: 1,030,400 sq km


water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Background The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent. 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 13.33 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $265.2 million


expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues: $421 million


expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million
Capital George Town Nouakchott
Climate tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Coastline 160 km 754 km
Constitution 1959, revised 1972 and 1992 12 July 1991
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Cayman Islands
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 Caymanian dollar (KYD) ouguiya (MRO)
Death rate 4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $70 million (1996) $1.6 billion (2000) (2000)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) 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 none (overseas territory of the UK) 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 none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $220 million (2000) (2000)
Economy - overview With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world. 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 355.2 million kWh (2001) 143.22 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 381.9 million kWh (2001) 154 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 84%


hydro: 16%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: The Bluff 43 m
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m


highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Environment - current issues no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments 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 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Exchange rates Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993) 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: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)


head of government: Chief Secretary W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA December 2001)


cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; the chief secretary is appointed by the governor
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 NA (2001) $359 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities turtle products, manufactured consumer goods iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners mostly US France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS 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 - $1.27 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 3.2%


services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
agriculture: 25%


industry: 29%


services: 46% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $35,000 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1.7% (2002 est.) 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 19 30 N, 80 30 W 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Geography - note important location between Cuba and Central America 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: 785 km


paved: 785 km (2000)
total: 7,720 km


paved: 830 km


unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 30% (2000) (2000)
Illicit drugs offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe -
Imports NA (2001) $335 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, manufactured goods machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany 6%, Benelux 5% (2000)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 28 November 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 2% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Infant mortality rate total: 8.64 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2002) 4.4% (2001 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate) 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) 16 (2000) 5 (2001)
Irrigated land NA sq km 490 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Labor force 19,820 (1995) 786,000 (2001) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995) agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 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%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0.48%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.51% (1998 est.)
Languages English Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French
Legal system British common law and local statutes a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
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: 79.67 years


male: 77.08 years


female: 82.3 years (2003 est.)
total population: 51.53 years


male: 49.42 years


female: 53.71 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 41.2%


male: 51.5%


female: 31.3% (2002 est.)
Location Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
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 total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,402,058 GRT/3,792,094 DWT


ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 5, chemical tanker 31, container 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 35, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Bahrain 2, China 1, Germany 4, Greece 27, Hong Kong 3, Italy 2, Japan 1, Norway 14, Sweden 13, United Kingdom 15, United States 35 (2002 est.)
none (2002)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF) 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 Constitution Day, first Monday in July Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Nationality noun: Caymanian(s)


adjective: Caymanian
noun: Mauritanian(s)


adjective: Mauritanian
Natural hazards hurricanes (July to November) hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Natural resources fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish
Net migration rate 19.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2003 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders there are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations; National Team [leader NA]; Democratic Alliance [leader NA]; Team Cayman [leader NA]; United Democratic Party [leader NA] 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 NA 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 41,934 (July 2003 est.) 2,828,858 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 50% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 2.79% (2003 est.) 2.92% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Cayman Brac, George Town Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios - 410,000 (2001)
Railways 0 km 704 km


standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge


note: owned and operated by government mining company (2001)
Religions United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic Muslim 100%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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 19,000 (1995) 26,500 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,534 (1995) 35,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations 1 with cable system 1 (2002)
Terrain low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Total fertility rate 1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.) 6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.1% (1997) 21% (1999 est.)
Waterways none note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River
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