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Compare Faroe Islands (2005) - Mauritania (2008)

Compare Faroe Islands (2005) z Mauritania (2008)

 Faroe Islands (2005)Mauritania (2008)
 Faroe IslandsMauritania
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities 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: 21.3% (male 4,997/female 4,999)


15-64 years: 64.9% (male 16,120/female 14,360)


65 years and over: 13.8% (male 2,923/female 3,563) (2005 est.)
0-14 years: 45.5% (male 744,995/female 741,369)


15-64 years: 52.4% (male 845,272/female 866,998)


65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,564/female 42,867) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Airports 1 (2004 est.) 25 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 8


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 17


1,524 to 2,437 m: 9


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Area total: 1,399 sq km


land: 1,399 sq km


water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
total: 1,030,700 sq km


land: 1,030,400 sq km


water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative eight times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Background The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948. 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 seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for over two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and White and Black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, although the new government is attempting to ameliorate some of these tensions.
Birth rate 13.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 40.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $488 million


expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
revenues: $421 million


expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)
Capital Torshavn name: Nouakchott


geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Coastline 1,117 km 754 km
Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) 12 July 1991
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Faroe Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Foroyar
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania


conventional short form: Mauritania


local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah


local short form: Muritaniyah
Death rate 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 11.89 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $64 million (1999) $2.5 billion (2000)
Dependency status part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE


embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott


mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott


telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663


FAX: [222] 525-1592
Diplomatic representation in the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima DIA


chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701


FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Disputes - international because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
Economic aid - recipient $135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998) $190.4 million (2005)
Economy - overview The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is minimal and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses, which in turn has helped to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians. 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 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, which now stands at more than three times the level of annual exports. 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. 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. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have failed to materialize. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.
Electricity - consumption 204.6 million kWh (2002) 230.6 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 220 million kWh (2002) 248 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m


highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Environment - current issues NA 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
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
Ethnic groups Scandinavian mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Exchange rates Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001), 8.0831 (2000) ouguiyas per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004)


cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister


elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)


election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA%


note: coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party
chief of state: Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI (since 19 April 2007)


head of government: Prime Minister Zeine Ould ZEIDANE (since 20 April 2007)


cabinet: Council of Ministers


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 11 March 2007 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on 25 March 2007 (next to be held 2012); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2%
Exports NA 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999) iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners Denmark 33.5%, UK 29.7%, Norway 8.4%, Nigeria 7.2% (2004) China 26.1%, Italy 11.7%, France 10.5%, Spain 6.9%, Belgium 6.8%, Japan 5.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.6% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) 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 - composition by sector agriculture: 27%


industry: 11%


services: 62% (1999)
agriculture: 25%


industry: 29%


services: 46% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 10% (2001 est.) 1.5% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 62 00 N, 7 00 W 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Geography - note archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands 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: 463 km


paved: 454 km


unpaved: 9 km (1999)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 2.5%


highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
Imports NA 19,960 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999) machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners Denmark 52.8%, Norway 18.3%, Iceland 4.4%, Sweden 4.2% (2004) France 11.9%, China 8.1%, Belgium 6.8%, US 6.7%, Italy 5.9%, Spain 5.7%, Brazil 5.5% (2006)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 28 November 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (1999 est.) 2% (2000 est.)
Industries fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Infant mortality rate total: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
total: 68.07 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 71.07 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 64.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.1% (1999) 7% (2003 est.)
International organization participation IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 490 sq km (2002)
Judicial branch none Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Labor force 24,250 (October 2000) 786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34% agriculture: 50%


industry: 10%


services: 40% (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: 2.14%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.86% (2001)
arable land: 0.2%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.79% (2005)
Languages Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof
Legal system Danish a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1


note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People's Party 1
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 21 January and 4 February 2007 (next to be held 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime) 37, CFCD (coalition of political parties) 15, representatives of the diaspora (yet to be chosen) 3, undecided 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq 51 (independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1), CFCD 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, UCD 1, FP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 79.21 years


male: 75.77 years


female: 82.67 years (2005 est.)
total population: 53.51 years


male: 51.24 years


female: 55.85 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%


note: probably the same as Denmark proper
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 51.2%


male: 59.5%


female: 43.4% (2000 census)
Location Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
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
Merchant marine total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT


by type: cargo 6, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2


foreign-owned: 8 (Denmark 2, Germany 1, Iceland 2, Norway 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Denmark -
Military branches no regular military forces Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Air Force (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2007)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 5.5% (2006)
National holiday Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Nationality noun: Faroese (singular and plural)


adjective: Faroese
noun: Mauritanian(s)


adjective: Mauritanian
Natural hazards NA hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Natural resources fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Net migration rate 0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Oeo JOHANNESEN] Alternative or El-Badil; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists); Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or CFCD (coalition of political parties including APP, Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists), HATEM-PMUC, PUDS, RD, RFD, UFP); Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS; Democratic Renewal or RD; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC; Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA] (formerly ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS); Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Centre or UCD; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP
Political pressure groups and leaders NA 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]
Population 46,962 (July 2005 est.) 3,270,065 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 40% (2004 est.)
Population growth rate 0.62% (2005 est.) 2.867% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Torshavn -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Railways - 717 km


standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Religions Evangelical Lutheran Muslim 100%
Sex ratio at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.005 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.975 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.666 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities


domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed


international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
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 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity approaching 35 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 - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 2 Arabsat
Telephones - main lines in use 23,000 (2002) 34,900 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 30,700 (2002) 1.06 million (2006)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) 1 (2002)
Terrain rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Total fertility rate 2.2 children born/woman (2005 est.) 5.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 1% (October 2000) 20% (2004 est.)
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