Compare Mauritania (2002) - Marshall Islands (2006)

Compare Mauritania (2002) z Marshall Islands (2006)

	Mauritania (2002)	Marshall Islands (2006)

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	33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje
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: 38.1% (male 11,720/female 11,295) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 18,305/female 17,445) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 801/female 856) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products	dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep	coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Airports	26 (2001)	15 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 10 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 6 (2002)	total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
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: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Area	total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km	total: 11,854.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 11,673 sq km (note - lagoon waters) note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative	slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico	about the size of 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 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.	After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.
Birth rate	42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)	33.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget	revenues: $421 million expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million	revenues: $42 million expenditures: $40 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Capital	Nouakchott	name: Majuro geographic coordinates: 7 05 N, 171 08 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate	desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty	tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Coastline	754 km	370.4 km
Constitution	12 July 1991	1 May 1979
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: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands local short form: Marshall Islands abbreviation: RMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
Currency	ouguiya (MRO)	-
Death rate	13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)	4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external	$1.6 billion (2000) (2000)	$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
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 Greta N. MORRIS embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379 telephone: [692] 247-4011 FAX: [692] 247-4012
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 Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Disputes - international	none	claims US territory of Wake Island
Economic aid - recipient	$220 million (2000) (2000)	$51.1 million more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002
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.	US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.
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	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 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	inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%	Micronesian
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)	the US dollar is used
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: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held November 2007) election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 100%
Exports	$359 million f.o.b. (2000)	$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities	iron ore, fish and fish products, gold	copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Exports - partners	France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000)	US, Japan, Australia, China (2004)
Fiscal year	calendar year	1 October - 30 September
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 stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
GDP	purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)	-
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)	agriculture: 31.7% industry: 14.9% services: 53.4% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.)	-
GDP - real growth rate	4% (2001 est.)	3.5% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates	20 00 N, 12 00 W	9 00 N, 168 00 E
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	Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile test range; island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific
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)	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	$335 million f.o.b. (2000)	$54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities	machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods	foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners	France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany 6%, Benelux 5% (2000)	US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2004)
Independence	28 November 1960 (from France)	21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Industrial production growth rate	2% (2000 est.)	NA%
Industries	fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum	copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from seashells, wood, and pearls
Infant mortality rate	75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)	total: 28.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.93 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	4.4% (2001 est.)	3% (2005 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, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	5 (2001)	-
Irrigated land	490 sq km (1998 est.)	0 sq km
Judicial branch	Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts	Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court
Labor force	786,000 (2001) (2001)	14,680 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.)	agriculture: 21.4% industry: 20.9% services: 57.7%
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: 11.11% permanent crops: 44.44% other: 44.45% (2005)
Languages	Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French	Marshallese 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census) note: English widely spoken as a second language; both Marshallese and English are official languages
Legal system	a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law	based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
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	unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held by November 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 51.53 years male: 49.42 years female: 53.71 years (2002 est.)	total population: 70.31 years male: 68.33 years female: 72.39 years (2006 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: 93.7% male: 93.6% female: 93.7% (1999)
Location	Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara	Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references	Africa	Oceania
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 contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	none (2002)	total: 795 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,772,611 GRT/50,987,293 DWT by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 178, cargo 53, chemical tanker 133, container 147, liquefied gas 25, passenger 7, petroleum tanker 234, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 730 (Australia 2, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1, Canada 6, Chile 1, Croatia 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Finland 2, Germany 194, Greece 199, Hong Kong 7, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Japan 7, South Korea 1, Latvia 7, Monaco 8, Netherlands 1, Norway 65, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 6, Slovenia 3, Spain 3, Switzerland 13, Turkey 20, UAE 3, UK 12, US 143) registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Military - note	-	defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches	Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard	no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$37.1 million (FY01)	NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	3.7% (FY01)	NA
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)	Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Nationality	noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian	noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese
Natural hazards	hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts	infrequent typhoons
Natural resources	iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish	coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)	-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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	traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]
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.)	60,422 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line	50% (2001 est.)	NA%
Population growth rate	2.92% (2002 est.)	2.25% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors	Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso	-
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)	AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station on Kwajalein (2005)
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%	Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)
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: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 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: digital switching equipment; modern services include telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2001)
Telephones - main lines in use	26,500 (2001)	5,510 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular	35,000 (2001)	1,198 (2004)
Television broadcast stations	1 (2002)	2 (both are US military stations) note: Marshalls Broadcasting Service (cable company) operates on Majuro (2005)
Terrain	mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills	low coral limestone and sand islands
Total fertility rate	6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)	3.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate	21% (1999 est.)	30.9% (2000 est.)
Waterways	note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River	-

Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.