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Compare Mauritania (2002) - New Caledonia (2002)

Compare Mauritania (2002) z New Caledonia (2002)

 Mauritania (2002)New Caledonia (2002)
 MauritaniaNew Caledonia
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 (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
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: 30% (male 31,862; female 30,577)


15-64 years: 64.1% (male 67,043; female 66,102)


65 years and over: 5.9% (male 5,777; female 6,497) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Airports 26 (2001) 29 (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: 9


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 6


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: 21


914 to 1,523 m: 12


under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Area total: 1,030,700 sq km


land: 1,030,400 sq km


water: 300 sq km
total: 19,060 sq km


land: 18,575 sq km


water: 485 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico slightly smaller than New Jersey
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. Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s seems to have dissipated.
Birth rate 42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 19.91 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $421 million


expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million
revenues: $861.3 million


expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52 million (1996 est.)
Capital Nouakchott Noumea
Climate desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Coastline 754 km 2,254 km
Constitution 12 July 1991 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
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: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies


conventional short form: New Caledonia


local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances


local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Currency ouguiya (MRO) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003
Death rate 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) (2000) $79 million (1998 est.)
Dependency status - overseas territory of France since 1956
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
none (overseas territory of France)
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
none (overseas territory of France)
Disputes - international none Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
Economic aid - recipient $220 million (2000) (2000) $880 million annual subsidy from France
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. New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, the substantial financial support from France and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. The situation in 1998 was clouded by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower prices for nickel. Nickel prices jumped in 1999-2000, and large additions were made to capacity. Strikes in the building industry in 2001, which lasted four months, adversely affected many other sectors of the economy. French Government interests in the New Caledonian nickel industry are being transferred to local ownership.
Electricity - consumption 143.22 million kWh (2000) 1.455 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) 1.565 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 84%


hydro: 16%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 78%


hydro: 22%


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: Mont Panie 1,628 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 erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
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% Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 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) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 135.04 (January 2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997); note - linked at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
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 of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner Daniel CONSTANTIN (since 3 July 2002)


head of government: President of the Government Pierre FROGIER (since 5 April 2001)


cabinet: Consultative Committee


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note - last election held 28 November 2002 when Pierre FROGIER was reelected
Exports $359 million f.o.b. (2000) $400 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities iron ore, fish and fish products, gold ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000) Japan 25.8%, France 18.8%, Taiwan 12%, Australia 8.2%, US 3.0% (1999)
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 the flag of France is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $3.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 25%


industry: 29%


services: 46% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 5%


industry: 30%


services: 65% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2001 est.) 2.1% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 20 00 N, 12 00 W 21 30 S, 165 30 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 consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
Heliports - 5 (2002)
Highways total: 7,720 km


paved: 830 km


unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
total: 4,825 km


paved: 2,287 km


unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
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) $1 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods transport equipment, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels, minerals, wine, sugar, rice
Imports - partners France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany 6%, Benelux 5% (2000) France 50.2%, Australia 15.1%, Singapore 5.9%, New Zealand 5.2%, Japan 3.7% (1999)
Independence 28 November 1960 (from France) none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014
Industrial production growth rate 2% (2000 est.) -0.6% (1996)
Industries fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum nickel mining and smelting
Infant mortality rate 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 8.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.4% (2001 est.) 2.3% (2000 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 ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 5 (2001) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 490 sq km (1998 est.) 160 sq km (1991)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Labor force 786,000 (2001) (2001) 79,395 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.) agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 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: 0.38%


permanent crops: 0.33%


other: 99.29% (1998 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Legal system a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French 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
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie 3, LKS 1


note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to be held 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
Life expectancy at birth total population: 51.53 years


male: 49.42 years


female: 53.71 years (2002 est.)
total population: 73.27 years


male: 70.32 years


female: 76.36 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: 91%


male: 92%


female: 90% (1976 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002) total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Malaysia 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $37.1 million (FY01) $192.3 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.7% (FY01) 5.3% (FY96)
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) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun: Mauritanian(s)


adjective: Mauritanian
noun: New Caledonian(s)


adjective: New Caledonian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Natural resources iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 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
Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Raphael MAPOU]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [Rock WAMYTAN] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]
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.) 207,858 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 50% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.92% (2002 est.) 1.43% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 410,000 (2001) 107,000 (1997)
Railways 704 km


standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge


note: owned and operated by government mining company (2001)
0 km (2002)
Religions Muslim 100% Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
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: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female


total population: 1.02 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: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 26,500 (2001) 47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 35,000 (2001) 13,040 (1998)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2002) 6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills coastal plains with interior mountains
Total fertility rate 6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.44 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 21% (1999 est.) 19% (1996)
Waterways note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River none
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