:: MEDEA ::

Conventional Name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah)
Capital: Nouakchott.
Surface area: 1.030.700 km².
Comparison with a European country : 3 x Germany
Administrative Divisions : 12 regions and 1 capital district (Nouakchott)
Population (2005) : 3 069 000
Population density (2005): 3,0 inhabitants /km2
Young people under 15 Years Old (2004): 45.9%
Annual population growth (2000-2005): 2,91%
Fecundity rate (2000-2005): 5,79
Life expectancy (2000-2005): 52,5
Infant mortality rate (2000-2005): 96,7 ‰
Urban population (2004): 63 %
Illiteracy rate (2005): men 40,5% ; women 56,6%
Ethnic background: Arabs (mainly Moors) 62%, Berbers 20%, Toucouleurs 8%, Foulanis 5%, Soninkés and others 5%.
Religions: Sunni Muslims 99%, Christians 1%
Language: Hasaniya Arabic and Wolof (official languages), Pular, Soninke, French.
HDI (Human Development Indicator, UNDP 1999): within the 162 countries selected Mauritania is ranked 139 (rate 0,45, low development)
Currency: ouguiya (1 € = 362 ouguiya in July 2008)
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2005): 7 159 millions $ G.D.P. per capita PIB par habitant (2005): 2402 $
Unemployment Rate (1999): 21%
Labour Force by Economic Sector of Activity: agriculture 25%, industry 29% and services 46%
Exports (2005): 924 millions de $
Imports (2005): 1357 millions de $
Major Trading Partners: France, Italy, Spain, Japan, US, Algeria, Germany
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum.
Agricultural products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops, cattle
Total External Debt (2000): 2,500 Million US $
Major Export Products : fish and fish products, iron ore, gold.
Major Import Products: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Member i.a. of: League of Arab States, Maghreb Arab Union, Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), World Trade Organisation (WTO)
Parties to i.a.: Chemical Weapons Convention (CWP).
Year of independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

Beware : These informations are those of the official status of Mauritania before the coup d'Etat of August 6, 2008

State nature: Islamic republic
Regime nature: civil government reinstated after dissolution of the Military Committee of National Safety and the organization of presidential elections in January 1992 and parliamentary elections in October 1996.

Head of State (President): M. sidi Mohamed OULD CHEIKH ABDALLAHI

Government of July 15 2008
Chief of government: M. Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf
Minister of Defence: Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed Lemine
Minister for Foreign Affairs :Mekfoula Mint Agatt

Sources (figures): L’Etat du Monde 2003 (La Découverte), CIA World Factbook 2004, Arab Human Development Report 2002 (PNUD), l'Etat du Monde 2008 (La Découverte)