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Compare Mauritania (2002) - Bahamas, The (2002)

Compare Mauritania (2002) z Bahamas, The (2002)

 Mauritania (2002)Bahamas, The (2002)
 MauritaniaBahamas, The
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 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
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.)
0-14 years: 29% (male 43,964; female 43,250)


15-64 years: 64.7% (male 95,508; female 98,859)


65 years and over: 6.3% (male 7,948; female 11,000) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep citrus, vegetables; poultry
Airports 26 (2001) 67 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 10 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 6 (2002)
total: 30


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 12


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 2 (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)
total: 34 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 3 23 (2002)
Area total: 1,030,700 sq km


land: 1,030,400 sq km


water: 300 sq km
total: 13,940 sq km


land: 10,070 sq km


water: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico slightly smaller than Connecticut
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. Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
Birth rate 42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 18.69 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $421 million


expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million
revenues: $918.5 million


expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY99/00)
Capital Nouakchott Nassau
Climate desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Coastline 754 km 3,542 km
Constitution 12 July 1991 10 July 1973
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: Commonwealth of The Bahamas


conventional short form: The Bahamas
Currency ouguiya (MRO) Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Death rate 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) (2000) $381.9 million (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
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Richard BLANKENSHIP


embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau


mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; stateside address: American Embassy Nassau, P. O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address: Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370


telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206


FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS


chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660


FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668


consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $220 million (2000) (2000) $9.8 million (1995)
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. The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs almost half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences have led to solid GDP growth in recent years. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of the majority of tourist visitors.
Electricity - consumption 143.22 million kWh (2000) 1.432 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 154 million kWh (2000) 1.54 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 84%


hydro: 16%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m


highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 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 coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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% black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
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) Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar)
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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)


head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Exports $359 million f.o.b. (2000) $535.8 million (2000)
Exports - commodities iron ore, fish and fish products, gold fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables (1999)
Exports - partners France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000) US 28.2%, France 16.5%, Germany 14.1%, UK 12.4% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
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 three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 25%


industry: 29%


services: 46% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 7%


services: 90% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $16,800 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2001 est.) 3.5% (2001)
Geographic coordinates 20 00 N, 12 00 W 24 15 N, 76 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 strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 7,720 km


paved: 830 km


unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
total: 2,693 km


paved: 1,546 km


unpaved: 1,147 km (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 30% (2000) (2000)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
Imports $335 million f.o.b. (2000) $1.88 billion (2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals (1999)
Imports - partners France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany 6%, Benelux 5% (2000) US 31.6%, South Korea 18.2%, Italy 17.4%, Japan 5.8% (2000)
Independence 28 November 1960 (from France) 10 July 1973 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 2% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe
Infant mortality rate 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.4% (2001 est.) 1.5% (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 ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 5 (2001) 19 (2000)
Irrigated land 490 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts
Labor force 786,000 (2001) (2001) 156,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.) tourism 40%, other services 50%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.)
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: 0.48%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.51% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0.6%


permanent crops: 0.4%


other: 99% (1998 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Legal system a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law based on English common 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
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Life expectancy at birth total population: 51.53 years


male: 49.42 years


female: 53.71 years (2002 est.)
total population: 69.87 years


male: 66.32 years


female: 73.49 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.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98.2%


male: 98.5%


female: 98% (1995 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida
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
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002) total: 1,076 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,309,187 GRT/45,859,485 DWT


ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 246, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 13, combination ore/oil 22, container 80, liquefied gas 28, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8, passenger 88, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 120, roll on/roll off 49, short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 22


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67, Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $37.1 million (FY01) $20 million (FY95/96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.7% (FY01) 0.7% (FY99)
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) Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Nationality noun: Mauritanian(s)


adjective: Mauritanian
noun: Bahamian(s)


adjective: Bahamian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Natural resources iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -2.63 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
Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
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 2,828,858 (July 2002 est.) 300,529


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 50% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.92% (2002 est.) 0.86% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001) AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 410,000 (2001) 215,000 (1997)
Railways 704 km


standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge


note: owned and operated by government mining company (2001)
0 km
Religions Muslim 100% Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
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.)
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 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: modern facilities


domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed


international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Telephones - main lines in use 26,500 (2001) 96,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 35,000 (2001) 6,152 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2002) 1 (1997)
Terrain mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Total fertility rate 6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.28 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 21% (1999 est.) 6.9% (2001 est.)
Waterways note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River none
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