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*Mauritania, Geography

Location:
Northern Africa, along the North Atlantic Ocean, between Western Sahara and
Senegal
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,030,700 km2
land area:
1,030,400 km2
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 the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
boundary with Senegal
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 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April;
desertification; only perennial river is the Senegal

*Mauritania, People

Population:
2,124,792 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.14% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
47.97 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
16.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
87 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
47.59 years
male:
44.81 years
female:
50.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.05 children born/woman (1993 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 10 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
34%
male:
47%
female:
21%
Labor force:
465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
by occupation:
agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
note:
53% of population of working age (1985)

*Mauritania, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form:
Mauritania local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah a