| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
20° 00' North Latitude
12° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
1,030,700 sq km |
| Climate |
Desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty |
| Natural Resources |
Iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Islamic Republic of Mauritania |
| Capital City |
Nouakchott |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| 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 |
| Independence Day |
28 November 1960 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
3,086,859 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Mauritanian |
| Ethnic Groups |
Mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30% |
| Religion |
Muslim 100% |
| Languages |
Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.9% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Ouguiya (MRO) |
| Industries |
Fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum |
| Labor Force |
786,000 (2001) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 50%, industry 10%, services 40% (2001 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep |
| Export Commodities |
Iron ore, fish and fish products, gold |
| Export Partners |
Japan 13%, France 10.9%, Spain 9.6%, Italy 9.5%, Germany 8.7%, Belgium 7.4%, China 5.8%, Russia 4.8% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods |
| Import Partners |
France 14.5%, US 7.7%, China 7.4%, Spain 5.9%, Belgium 4.3%, UK 4.3% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
717 km |
| Highways |
7,660 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
24 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+222 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.mr |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 population and the Maur (Arab-Berber) populace. |
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| www.kfrawy.com |
