Mauritania

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Mauritania
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Arabic: mawrītāniyā

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Economy
3. Health & Education
4. Religions & Peoples
5. History

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MAJOR CITIES

Nouakchott (650,000)
Nouadhibou (80,000)
Rosso (55,000)
Bogue (45,000)
Adel Bagrou (40,000)
Kaedi (40,000)
Zouerate (38,000)
Kiffa (35,000)

All figures are 2005 estimates.

STATUS

Independent republic, divided into 12 regions and the capital district.
Day of independence: November 28, 1960.

GOVERNMENT

Head of state: President Ely Ould Mohamed Vall
Prime ministers: Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar
National Assembly: 81 seats.

GEOGRAPHY

Inhabitants: 3.1 million (2005 estimate).
Population growth rate: 2.9%
Total area: 1,030,700 km�
Density: 3 per km�
Border: 5,074 km (Senegal 813 km, Mali 2,237 km, Algeria 463 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km).
Coastline: 754 km
Highest point: Kediat Ijill 910 m
Lowest point: Sabkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
Arable land: 0.48%
Capital: Nouakchott

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

World rank (of 177): 153
Index (1.0 max): 0.486
Explanation

DEMOGRAPHY

Languages: Hassaniya Arabic (official), Wolof (official9, Pulaar, Soninke, French.
Religions: Sunni Islam.

ECONOMY

Currency: Ouguiya
100 Ouguiyas=US$0.38. US$1=266 ougiyas (July 2004)

CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY

Mauritania is almost only desert, with the exception of the fertile belt along the border river of Senegal in the south. The desert is scattered with oases, which to a large extent represent the original form of life in most of the country. In these oases, there are many inhabitants and much important agriculture.

There is little industry in Mauritania — only some fishing along the coast and iron extraction in the interior.