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Compare Mauritania (2001) - Aruba (2003)

Compare Mauritania (2001) z Aruba (2003)

 Mauritania (2001)Aruba (2003)
 MauritaniaAruba
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 none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Age structure 0-14 years:
46.14% (male 634,940; female 632,654)

15-64 years:
51.59% (male 698,433; female 718,883)

65 years and over:
2.27% (male 25,840; female 36,562) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 7,540; female 7,121)


15-64 years: 68.3% (male 23,427; female 24,955)


65 years and over: 11% (male 3,215; female 4,586) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep aloes; livestock; fish
Airports 26 (2000 est.) 1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
8

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5 (2000 est.)
total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
18

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
9

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
1,030,700 sq km

land:
1,030,400 sq km

water:
300 sq km
total: 193 sq km


land: 193 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico slightly larger than Washington, DC
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 being flawed; 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. Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
Birth rate 42.95 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 11.86 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$329 million

expenditures:
$265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)
revenues: $135.81 million


expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
Capital Nouakchott Oranjestad
Climate desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 754 km 68.5 km
Constitution 12 July 1991 1 January 1986
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
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Aruba
Currency ouguiya (MRO) Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Death rate 13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $2.1 billion (1999) $285 million (1996)
Dependency status - part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador John W. LIMBERT

embassy:
Rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott

mailing address:
B. P. 222, Nouakchott

telephone:
[222] 25-26-60, 25-26-63

FAX:
[222] 25-15-92
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Ahmed Ben Khalifa BEN JIDOU

chancery:
2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 232-5700

FAX:
[1] (202) 319-2623
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $300 million (1998) $26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Economy - overview A majority of 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 have resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In March 1999, the government signed an agreement with a joint World Bank-IMF mission on a $54 million enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF). Mauritania withdrew its membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2000. Privatization and debt relief are in full swing, and the rate of economic growth appears to be accelerating, especially in the construction, telecommunication, and information sectors. Diamonds and petroleum are beginning to be explored and exploited. Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals have declined in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative trade balance.
Electricity - consumption 140.4 million kWh (1999) 494.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 151 million kWh (1999) 531.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
82.78%

hydro:
17.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m

highest point:
Kediet Ijill 910 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 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 NA
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% mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Exchange rates ouguiyas per US dollar - 250.870 (December 2000), 238.923 (2000), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996) Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999), 1.79 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)

head of government:
Prime Minister Cheik 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 Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90.9% of the vote
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)


head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Fredis REFUNJOL


cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)


elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)


election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports $333 million (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities iron ore, fish and fish products, gold live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners Japan 18%, France 17%, Italy 16%, Spain 11% (1998) Netherlands 28.6%, Colombia 21.7%, Panama 16.8%, US 12.1%, Netherlands Antilles 8.3%, Venezuela 7.6% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar 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 blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
25%

industry:
31%

services:
44% (1997)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) -1.5% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 20 00 N, 12 00 W 12 30 N, 69 58 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 a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Highways total:
7,660 km

paved:
866 km

unpaved:
6,794 km (1996)
total: 800 km


paved: 513 km


unpaved: 287 km


note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.3%

highest 10%:
29.9% (1995)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity
Imports $305 million (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners France 27%, Benelux 9%, Germany 7%, Spain 7% (1998) US 54.7%, Netherlands 12.7%, UK 5.7% (2002)
Independence 28 November 1960 (from France) none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate 2.2% (1999) NA
Industries fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Infant mortality rate 76.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 6.14 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.5% (2000 est.) 3.2% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 5 (2000) NA
Irrigated land 490 sq km (1993 est.) 0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
Labor force 750,000 (1999) 41,501 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 47%, services 39%, industry 14% most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Land boundaries total:
5,074 km

border countries:
Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
38%

forests and woodland:
4%

other:
58% (1993 est.)
arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.47% (1998 est.)
Languages Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official), French Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Legal system a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Legislative branch bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%, PPA 9.6%, OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP 12, AVP 6, PPA 2, OLA 1
Life expectancy at birth total population:
51.14 years

male:
49.06 years

female:
53.29 years (2001 est.)
total population: 78.83 years


male: 75.48 years


female: 82.34 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
46.7%

male:
53.4%

female:
40% (1998 est.)
definition:


total population: 97%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
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
territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 3


ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1


note: there is one foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Monaco 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $41 million (FY97/98) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.7% (FY97/98) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
624,375 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
302,699 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1960) Flag Day, 18 March
Nationality noun:
Mauritanian(s)

adjective:
Mauritanian
noun: Aruban(s)


adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Natural resources iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold NEGL; white sandy beaches
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Assembly for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Col. 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 MOLOUD]; Union for Progress and Democracy or UNDD [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]

note:
parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991; however, politics continue to be tribally based
Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Alliance or Aliansa [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; Concentration for the Liberation of Aruba or CLA [leader NA]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [Urbana LOPEZ]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
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] NA
Population 2,747,312 (July 2001 est.) 70,844 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 50% (1996 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.93% (2001 est.) 0.55% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 360,000 (1997) -
Railways total:
750 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government mining company

standard gauge:
750 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
0 km
Religions Muslim 100% Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
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:
0.71 male(s)/female

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 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
general assessment: NA


domestic: more than adequate


international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Telephones - main lines in use 26,000 (2000) 33,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 3,402 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 1 (1997)
Terrain mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Total fertility rate 6.22 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 23% (1995 est.) 0.6%
Waterways note:
ferry traffic on the Senegal River
none
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