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Compare Paracel Islands (2003) - Mauritania (2002)

Compare Paracel Islands (2003) z Mauritania (2002)

 Paracel Islands (2003)Mauritania (2002)
 Paracel IslandsMauritania
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
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.)
Agriculture - products - dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep
Airports 1 (2002) 26 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)		 total: 10 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 6 (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)
Area total: NA sq km


land: NA sq km


water: 0 sq km		 total: 1,030,700 sq km


land: 1,030,400 sq km


water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative NA slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Background The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. 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.
Birth rate - 42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget - revenues: $421 million


expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million
Capital - Nouakchott
Climate tropical desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Coastline 518 km 754 km
Constitution - 12 July 1991
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Paracel Islands		 conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania


conventional short form: Mauritania


local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah


local short form: Muritaniyah
Currency - ouguiya (MRO)
Death rate - 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external - $1.6 billion (2000) (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
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
Disputes - international occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam none
Economic aid - recipient - $220 million (2000) (2000)
Economy - overview China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. 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.
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: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m		 lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m


highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Environment - current issues NA 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
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%
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)
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
Exports - $359 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities - iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners - France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000)
Fiscal 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
GDP - purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 25%


industry: 29%


services: 46% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 16 30 N, 112 00 E 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Geography - note composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
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)
Imports - $335 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities - machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners - France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany 6%, Benelux 5% (2000)
Independence - 28 November 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate - 2% (2000 est.)
Industries - fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Infant mortality rate - 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 4.4% (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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 5 (2001)
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 490 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Labor force - 786,000 (2001) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 5,074 km


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


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)		 arable land: 0.48%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.51% (1998 est.)
Languages - Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French
Legal system - a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil 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
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 51.53 years


male: 49.42 years


female: 53.71 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.)
Location Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Map references Southeast Asia Africa
Maritime claims NA 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
Merchant marine - none (2002)
Military - note occupied by China -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $37.1 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 3.7% (FY01)
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)
Nationality - noun: Mauritanian(s)


adjective: Mauritanian
Natural hazards typhoons hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Natural resources none iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish
Net migration rate - 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
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]
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.)		 2,828,858 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line - 50% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate - 2.92% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Radio broadcast stations - AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
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%
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.)
Suffrage - 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
Telephones - main lines in use - 26,500 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 35,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations - 1 (2002)
Terrain mostly low and flat mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Total fertility rate - 6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate - 21% (1999 est.)
Waterways none note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River
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