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Compare Reunion (2001) - Mauritania (2002)

Compare Reunion (2001) z Mauritania (2002)

 Reunion (2001)Mauritania (2002)
 ReunionMauritania
Administrative divisions none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons 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:
32.07% (male 120,259; female 114,669)

15-64 years:
62.25% (male 224,347; female 231,698)

65 years and over:
5.68% (male 16,892; female 24,705) (2001 est.)
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 sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep
Airports 2 (2000 est.) 26 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
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:
2,512 sq km

land:
2,502 sq km

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


land: 1,030,400 sq km


water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Rhode Island slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Background The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians gave the island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route. 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 21.26 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
NA

expenditures:
NA
revenues: $421 million


expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million
Capital Saint-Denis Nouakchott
Climate tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Coastline 207 km 754 km
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) 12 July 1991
Country name conventional long form:
Department of Reunion

conventional short form:
Reunion

local long form:
none

local short form:
Ile de la Reunion

former:
Bourbon Island
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 French franc (FRF); euro (EUR) ouguiya (MRO)
Death rate 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $NA $1.6 billion (2000) (2000)
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department of France) 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 none (overseas department of France) 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 none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA; note - substantial annual subsidies from France $220 million (2000) (2000)
Economy - overview The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to more than 40% of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France. 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 1.023 billion kWh (1999) 143.22 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 1.1 billion kWh (1999) 154 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
54.55%

hydro:
45.45%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 84%


hydro: 16%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Piton des Neiges 3,069 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 French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.06594 (January 2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996) 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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)

head of government:
President of the General Council Jean-Luc POUDROUX (since NA March 1998) and President of the Regional Council Paul VERGES (since NA March 1993)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
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 $214 million (f.o.b., 1997) $359 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993) iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (1994) France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description the flag of France is used 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 - $3.4 billion (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: 25%


industry: 29%


services: 46% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.8% (1998 est.) 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 06 S, 55 36 E 20 00 N, 12 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
Highways total:
2,724 km

paved:
1,300 km (including 73 km of four-lane road)

unpaved:
1,424 km

note:
370 km of road are maintained by national authorities, 754 km by departmental authorities and 1600 km by local authorities (1994)
total: 7,720 km


paved: 830 km


unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 30% (2000) (2000)
Imports $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997) $335 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (1994) France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany 6%, Benelux 5% (2000)
Independence none (overseas department of France) 28 November 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 2% (2000 est.)
Industries sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Infant mortality rate 8.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 4.4% (2001 est.)
International organization participation FZ, InOC, WFTU 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) 1 (2000) 5 (2001)
Irrigated land 60 sq km (1993 est.) 490 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Labor force 261,000 (1995) 786,000 (2001) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services 73% (1990) 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:
17%

permanent crops:
2%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
35%

other:
41% (1993 est.)
arable land: 0.48%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.51% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official), Creole widely used Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French
Legal system French law a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Legislative branch unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:
General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 7, UDF 8, PS 6, RPR 4, various right-wing candidates 15, various left-wing candidates 5

note:
Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate; elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1, PCR 2; Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 3, PS 1, and RPR-UDF 1
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:
72.93 years

male:
69.53 years

female:
76.49 years (2001 est.)
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:
79%

male:
76%

female:
80% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 41.2%


male: 51.5%


female: 31.3% (2002 est.)
Location Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Map references World Africa
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
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 total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,264 GRT/44,885 DWT

ships by type:
chemical tanker 1 (2000 est.)
none (2002)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie) 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:
190,846 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 644,294 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
97,497 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 312,276 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
6,243 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Nationality noun:
Reunionese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Reunionese
noun: Mauritanian(s)


adjective: Mauritanian
Natural hazards periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Natural resources fish, arable land, hydropower iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Gilbert GERARD] 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 NA 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 732,570 (July 2001 est.) 2,828,858 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 50% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 1.57% (2001 est.) 2.92% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Le Port, Pointe des Galets Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios 173,000 (1997) 410,000 (2001)
Railways 0 km 704 km


standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge


note: owned and operated by government mining company (2001)
Religions Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995) Muslim 100%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
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 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis

domestic:
modern open wire and microwave radio relay network

international:
radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
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 236,500 (1997) 26,500 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 85,000 (1999) 35,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations 22 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (1997) 1 (2002)
Terrain mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Total fertility rate 2.58 children born/woman (2001 est.) 6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 42.8% (1998) 21% (1999 est.)
Waterways none note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River
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