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mauritaniamore about mauritania

mauritania


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Mauritania 
  n  :  a  country  in  West  Africa  with  a  provisional  military 
  government;  largely  Sahara  Desert  [syn:  {Mauritania},  {Mauritanie}, 
  {Muritaniya}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Mauritania 
 
  Mauritania:Geography 
 
  Location:  Northern  Africa,  bordering  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean,  between 
  Senegal  and  Western  Sahara 
 
  Map  references:  Africa 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  1,030,700  sq  km 
  land  area:  1,030,400  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  larger  than  three  times  the  size  of  New 
  Mexico 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  5,074  km  Algeria  463  km  Mali  2,237  km 
  Senegal  813  km  Western  Sahara  1,561  km 
 
  Coastline:  754  km 
 
  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 
 
  International  disputes:  boundary  with  Senegal  in  dispute 
 
  Climate:  desert;  constantly  hot,  dry,  dusty 
 
  Terrain:  mostly  barren,  flat  plains  of  the  Sahara;  some  central  hills 
 
  Natural  resources:  iron  ore,  gypsum,  fish,  copper,  phosphate 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  1% 
  permanent  crops:  0% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  38% 
  forest  and  woodland:  5% 
  other:  56% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  120  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  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 
  natural  hazards:  hot,  dry,  dust/sand-laden  sirocco  wind  blows 
  primarily  in  March  and  April;  periodic  droughts 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Climate  Change,  Nuclear  Test  Ban, 
  Ozone  Layer  Protection,  Wetlands;  signed,  but  not  ratified  - 
  Biodiversity,  Desertification  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  most  of  the  population  concentrated  along  the  Senegal  River  in 
  the  southern  part  of  the  country 
 
  Mauritania:People 
 
  Population:  2,263,202  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  48%  (female  544,674;  male  551,099) 
  15-64  years:  49%  (female  574,282;  male  542,762) 
  65  years  and  over:  3%  (female  28,955;  male  21,430)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  3.17%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  47.32  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  15.66  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  0  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  83.5  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  48.54  years 
  male:  45.66  years 
  female:  51.54  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  6.92  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Mauritanian(s) 
  adjective:  Mauritanian 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  mixed  Maur/black  40%,  Maur  30%,  black  30% 
 
  Religions:  Muslim  100% 
 
  Languages:  Hasaniya  Arabic  (official),  Pular,  Soninke  Wolof 
  (official) 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1988) 
  total  population:  35% 
  male:  46% 
  female:  25% 
 
  Labor  force:  465,000  (1981  est.);  45,000  wage  earners  (1980) 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  47%,  services  29%,  industry  and  commerce 
  14%,  government  10% 
 
  Mauritania:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Islamic  Republic  of  Mauritania 
  conventional  short  form:  Mauritania 
  local  long  form:  Al  Jumhuriyah  al  Islamiyah  al  Muritaniyah 
  local  short  form:  Muritaniyah 
 
  Digraph:  MR 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Nouakchott 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  12  regions  (regions,  singular  -  region); 
  Adrar,  Assaba  Brakna  Dakhlet  Nouadhibou  Gorgol,  Guidimaka  Hodh  ech 
  Chargui,  Hodh  el  Gharbi  Inchiri  Tagant  Tiris  Zemmour  Trarza 
  note:  there  may  be  a  new  capital  district  of  Nouakchott 
 
  Independence:  28  November  1960  (from  France) 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  28  November  (1960) 
 
  Constitution:  12  July  1991 
 
  Legal  system:  three-tier  system:  Islamic  (Shari'a)  courts,  special 
  courts,  state  security  courts  (in  the  process  of  being  eliminated) 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  President  Col.  Maaouya  Ould 
  Sid'Ahmed  TAYA  (since  12  December  1984);  election  last  held  NA  January 
  1992  (next  to  be  held  NA  January  1998);  results  -  President  Col. 
  Maaouya  Ould  Sid  'Ahmed  TAYA  elected 
  cabinet:  Council  of  Ministers 
 
  Legislative  branch:  bicameral  legislature 
  Senate  (Majlis  al-Shuyukh):  elections  last  held  15  April  1994  (nex  to 
  be  held  NA  1996);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA  seats  (56 
  total,  with  17  up  for  election  every  two  years)  PRDS  16,  UFD/NE  1 
  National  Assembly  (Majlis  al-Watani):  elections  last  held  6  and  13 
  March  1992  (next  to  be  held  NA  March  1997);  results  -  percent  of  vote 
  by  party  NA  seats  -  (79  total)  UFD/NE  67,  PMR  1,  RDU  1,  independents 
  10 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court  (Cour  Supreme) 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  legalized  by  constitution  passed  12 
  July  1991,  however,  politics  continue  to  be  tribally  based;  emerging 
  parties  include  Democratic  and  Social  Republican  Party  (PRDS),  led  by 
  President  Col.  Maaouya  Ould  Sid'Ahmed  TAYA;  Union  of  Democratic 
  Forces-New  Era  (UFD/NE),  headed  by  Ahmed  Ould  DADDAH  Assembly  for 
  Democracy  and  Unity  (RDU),  Ahmed  Ould  SIDI  BABA;  Popular  Social  and 
  Democratic  Union  (UPSD),  Mohamed  Mahmoud  Ould  MAH;  Mauritanian  Party 
  for  Renewal  (PMR),  Hameida  BOUCHRAYA  National  Avant-Garde  Party 
  (PAN),  Khattry  Ould  JIDDOU  Mauritanian  Party  of  the  Democratic  Center 
  (PCDM),  Bamba  Ould  SIDI  BADI 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  Mauritanian  Workers  Union  (UTM) 
 
  Member  of:  ABEDA,  ACCT  (associate),  ACP,  AfDB  AFESD  AL  AMF,  AMU, 
  CAEU,  CCC,  CEAO,  ECA,  ECOWAS  FAO,  G-77,  GATT,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICRM,  IDA, 
  IDB,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  ITU, 
  NAM,  OAU,  OIC,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO  UPU,  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Ismail  Ould  IYAHI  (since  22  September 
  1994) 
  chancery:  2129  Leroy  Place  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  232-5700 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Dorothy  Myers  SAMPAS 
  embassy:  address  NA  Nouakchott 
  mailing  address:  B.  P.  222,  Nouakchott 
  telephone:  [222]  (2)  526-60,  526-63 
  FAX:  [222]  (2)  515-92 
 
  Flag:  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 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  A  majority  of  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  almost  50%  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  recent  years,  drought  and  economic 
  mismanagement  have  resulted  in  a  substantial  buildup  of  foreign  debt. 
  The  government  has  begun  the  second  stage  of  an  economic  reform 
  program  in  consultation  with  the  World  Bank,  the  IMF,  and  major  donor 
  countries.  Short-term  growth  prospects  are  gloomy  because  of  the  heavy 
  debt  service  burden,  rapid  population  growth,  and  vulnerability  to 
  climatic  conditions. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $2.4  billion  (1993 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  5%  (1993  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $1,110  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  10%  (1993) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  20%  (1991  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $280  million 
  expenditures:  $346  million,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $61 
  million  (1989  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $401  million  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  iron  ore,  fish  and  fish  products 
  partners:  Japan  27%,  Italy,  Belgium,  Luxembourg 
 
  Imports:  $378  million  (c.i.f.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  foodstuffs,  consumer  goods,  petroleum  products,  capital 
  goods 
  partners:  Algeria  15%,  China  6%,  US  3%,  France,  Germany,  Spain,  Italy 
 
  External  debt:  $1.9  billion  (1992  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  NA%;  accounts  for  almost  30%  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  110,000  kW 
  production:  135  million  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  61  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  fish  processing,  mining  of  iron  ore  and  gypsum 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  25%  of  GDP  (including  fishing);  largely 
  subsistence  farming  and  nomadic  cattle  and  sheep  herding  except  in 
  Senegal  river  valley;  crops  -  dates,  millet,  sorghum,  root  crops;  fish 
  products  number-one  export;  large  food  deficit  in  years  of  drought 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $168  million; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $1.3  billion;  OPEC  bilateral  aid  (1979-89),  $490  million; 
  Communist  countries  (1970-89),  $277  million;  Arab  Development  Bank 
  (1991),  $20  million 
 
  Currency:  1  ouguiya  UM  =  5  khoums 
 
  Exchange  rates:  ouguiyas  UM  per  US$1  -  125.910  (January  1995), 
  123.575  (1994),  120.806  (1993),87.027  (1992),  81.946  (1991),  80.609 
  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Mauritania:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  690  km  (single  track);  note  -  owned  and  operated  by  government 
  mining  company 
  standard  gauge:  690  km  1.435-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  7,525  km 
  paved:  1,685  km 
  unpaved:  gravel,  crushed  stone,  otherwise  improved  1,040  km 
  unimproved  earth  4,800  km  (roads,  trails,  tracks) 
 
  Inland  waterways:  mostly  ferry  traffic  on  the  Senegal  River 
 
  Ports:  Bogue,  Kaedi,  Nouadhibou  Nouakchott,  Rosso 
 
  Merchant  marine:  none 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  28 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  4 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  2 
  with  unpaved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  2 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  6 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  10 
 
  Mauritania:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  NA  telephones;  poor  system  of  cable  and  open-wire 
  lines,  minor  microwave  radio  relay  links,  and  radio  communications 
  stations  (improvements  being  made) 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  mostly  cable  and  open  wire  lines 
  international:  1  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean)  and  2  ARABSAT  earth 
  stations,  with  six  planned 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  2,  FM  0,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  1 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Mauritania:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Army,  Navy,  Air  Force,  National  Gendarmerie,  National  Guard, 
  National  Police,  Presidential  Guard 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  483,916;  males  fit  for  military 
  service  236,323 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $36  million,  2.7%  of 
  GDP  (1994) 
 
 
 




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