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Compare Mauritania (2007) - Cayman Islands (2008)

Compare Mauritania (2007) z Cayman Islands (2008)

 Mauritania (2007)Cayman Islands (2008)
 MauritaniaCayman Islands
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 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Age structure 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.)
0-14 years: 20.3% (male 4,746/female 4,730)


15-64 years: 71% (male 16,135/female 16,964)


65 years and over: 8.6% (male 1,892/female 2,133) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Airports 25 (2007) 3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 8


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (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)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Area total: 1,030,700 sq km


land: 1,030,400 sq km


water: 300 sq km
total: 262 sq km


land: 262 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico 1.5 times 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. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984. 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. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions and organized elections. Accordingly, parliamentary elections were held in late 2006-early 2007 and presidential elections in March 2007. The newly-elected legislature is expected to assume power following the inauguration of the new president in April 2007. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities. The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Birth rate 40.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 12.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $421 million


expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $423.8 million


expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)
Capital name: Nouakchott


geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)


geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W


time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Coastline 754 km 160 km
Constitution 12 July 1991 1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994
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: Cayman Islands
Death rate 11.89 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $2.5 billion (2000) $70 million (1996)
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US 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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant none
Economic aid - recipient $190.4 million (2005) $390,000 (2004)
Economy - overview 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. Mauritania has an estimated 1 billion barrels of proved reserves. Substantial oil production and exports began in early 2006 and averaged 75,000 barrels per day for the year. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy. With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2003, with about half from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Electricity - consumption 230.6 million kWh (2005) 372 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 248 million kWh (2005) 400 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m


highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 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; locust infestation no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
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 mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30% mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Exchange rates ouguiyas per US dollar - 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003), 271.74 (2002) Caymanian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)
Executive branch 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%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)


head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005)


cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business
Exports NA bbl/day 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities iron ore, fish and fish products, gold turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners China 26.3%, Italy 11.8%, France 10.2%, Belgium 6.8%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 5.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.6% (2006) mostly US (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
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 the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 25%


industry: 29%


services: 46% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 3.2%


services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 14.1% (2006 est.) 0.9% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 20 00 N, 12 00 W 19 30 N, 80 30 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 important location between Cuba and Central America
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2.5%


highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe
Imports NA bbl/day 2,698 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners France 11.9%, China 8.2%, Belgium 6.8%, US 6.8%, Italy 5.9%, Brazil 5.5%, Spain 5.4% (2006) US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)
Independence 28 November 1960 (from France) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate 2% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Infant mortality rate 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.)
total: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 7% (2003 est.) 4.4% (2004)
International organization participation 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 Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Irrigated land 490 sq km (2002) NA
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Labor force 786,000 (2001) 23,450 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 50%


industry: 10%


services: 40% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 12.6%


services: 86% (1995)
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: 0.2%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.79% (2005)
arable land: 3.85%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 96.15% (2005)
Languages Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof English
Legal system a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction British common law and local statutes
Legislative branch 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 - Al-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 - Al 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
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats; 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 53.51 years


male: 51.24 years


female: 55.85 years (2007 est.)
total population: 80.2 years


male: 77.57 years


female: 82.87 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 51.2%


male: 59.5%


female: 43.4% (2000 census)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims 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
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine - total: 124 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,953,923 GRT/4,597,716 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 33, cargo 11, chemical tanker 41, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 4


foreign-owned: 122 (Denmark 3, Germany 17, Greece 23, Italy 10, Japan 6, Norway 2, Singapore 10, Sweden 1, UK 9, US 41) (2007)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Air Force (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2007) no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.5% (2006) -
National holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1960) Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Nationality noun: Mauritanian(s)


adjective: Mauritanian
noun: Caymanian(s)


adjective: Caymanian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts hurricanes (July to November)
Natural resources iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 17.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders Al-Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); 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; 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 United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders 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] NA
Population 3,270,065 (July 2007 est.) 46,600


note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2004 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.867% (2007 est.) 2.496% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Railways 717 km


standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
-
Religions Muslim 100% United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Sex ratio 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.)
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.003 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.951 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.887 male(s)/female


total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 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: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 2 Arabsat
general assessment: reasonably good system


domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004


international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use 34,900 (2006) 38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.06 million (2006) 17,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2002) 4 with cable system (2004)
Terrain mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Total fertility rate 5.78 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.89 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (2004 est.) 4.4% (2004)
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