# The 1992 CIA World Factbook

## Part 56

Book page: https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-1992-cia-world-factbook-48/index.md

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, the droughts, the endemic conflict with Senegal, rising energy costs, 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. But the reform process suffered a major setback following the Gulf war of early 1991. Because of Mauritania's support of Saddam Husayn, bilateral aid from its two top donors, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, was suspended, and multilateral aid was reduced. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, per capita $535; real growth rate 3% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: 20% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $280 million; expenditures $346 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1989 est.) Exports: $436 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: iron ore, processed fish, small amounts of gum arabic and gypsum; unrecorded but numerically significant cattle exports to Senegal partners: EC 43%, Japan 27%, USSR 11%, Ivory Coast 3% Imports: $389 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods partners: EC 60%, Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3% External debt: $1.9 billion (1990) Industrial production: growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.); accounts for almost 20% of GDP Electricity: 190,000 kW capacity; 135 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: fishing, fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum Agriculture: accounts for 29% 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: 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

:Mauritania Economy

Currency: ouguiya (plural - ouguiya); 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums Exchange rates: ouguiya (UM) per US$1 - 79.300 (January 1992), 81.946 (1991), 80.609 (1990), 83.051 (1989), 75.261 (1988), 73.878 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Mauritania Communications

Railroads: 690 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, single track, owned and operated by government mining company Highways: 7,525 km total; 1,685 km paved; 1,040 km gravel, crushed stone, or otherwise improved; 4,800 km unimproved roads, trails, tracks Inland waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River Ports: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,290 GRT/1,840 DWT Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft Airports: 28 total, 28 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor radio relay links, and radio communications stations (improvements being made); broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

:Mauritania Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard Manpower availability: males 15-49, 436,897; 213,307 fit for military service; conscription law not implemented Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 4.2% of GDP (1989)

:Mauritius Geography

Total area: 1,860 km2 Land area: 1,850 km2; includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues Comparative area: slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 177 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island Climate: tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May) Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau Natural resources: arable land, fish Land use: arable land 54%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 4%; forest and woodland 31%; other 7%; includes irrigated 9% Environment: subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs Note: located 900 km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

:Mauritius People

Population: 1,092,130 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992) Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -4 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 73 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Mauritian(s); adjective - Mauritian Ethnic divisions: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2% Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%) 28.3%, Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1% Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori Literacy: 82.8 % (male 88.7%, female 77.1%) age 13 and over can read and write (1985 UNESCO estimate) Labor force: 335,000; government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%, manufacturing 22%, other 22%; 43% of population of working age (1985) Organized labor: 35% of labor force in more than 270 unions

:Mauritius Government

Long-form name: none Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Port Louis Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK) Constitution: 12 March 1968 Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Veerasamy RINGADOO (since 17 January 1986) Head of Government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12 June 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Prem NABABSING (since 26 September 1990) Political parties and leaders: government coalition: Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. JUGNAUTH; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul BERENGER; Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR; Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil BAICHOO opposition: Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN; Socialist Workers Front, Sylvio MICHEL; Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), G. DUVAL Elections: Legislative Assembly: last held on 15 September 1991 (next to be held by 15 September 1996); results - MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%; seats - (70 total, 62 elected) MSM/MMM alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26, OPR 2, MTD 2); MLP/PMSD 3 Communists: may be 2,000 sympathizers Other political or pressure groups: various labor unions Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING; Chancery at Suite 134, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-1491 or 1492

:Mauritius Government

US: Ambassador Penne Percy KORTH; Embassy at 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis; telephone [230] 208-9763 through 208-9767; FAX [230] 208-9534 Flag: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

:Mauritius Economy

Overview: The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly textiles), and tourism. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The government's development strategy is centered on industrialization (with a view to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in FY91 was impressive, with 6% real growth and low unemployment. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, per capita $2,300; real growth rate 6.1% (FY91 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.2% (FY91 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $557 million; expenditures $607 million, including capital expenditures of $111 million (FY90) Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10% partners: EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15% Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% partners: EC, US, South Africa, Japan External debt: $869 million (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (FY87); accounts for 25% of GDP Electricity: 235,000 kW capacity; 425 million kWh produced, 395 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated land in sugarcane; other products - tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses, cattle, goats, fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76 million; Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $709 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $54 million Currency: Mauritian rupee (plural - rupees); 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 15.198 (January 1992), 15.652 (1991), 14.839 (1990), 15.250 (1989), 13.438 (1988), 12.878 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

:Mauritius Communications

Highways: 1,800 km total; 1,640 km paved, 160 km earth Ports: Port Louis Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 94,710 GRT/150,345 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 3 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 1 liquefied gas, 3 bulk Civil air: 7 major transport aircraft Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: small system with good service utilizing primarily radio relay; new microwave link to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to several countries; over 48,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 4 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Mauritius Defense Forces

Branches: paramilitary Special Mobile Force, Special Support Unit, National Police Force, National Coast Guard Manpower availability: males 15-49, 307,237; 157,246 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5 million, 0.2% of GDP (FY89)

:Mayotte Geography

Total area: 375 km2 Land area: 375 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 185.2 km Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: claimed by Comoros Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November) Terrain: generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA% Environment: subject to cyclones during rainy season Note: part of Comoro Archipelago; located in the Mozambique Channel about halfway between Africa and Madagascar

:Mayotte People

Population: 86,628 (July 1992), growth rate 3.8% (1992) Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 84 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 59 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Mahorais (singular and plural); adjective - Mahoran Religions: Muslim 99%; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) Labor force: NA Organized labor: NA

:Mayotte Government

Long-form name: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte Type: territorial collectivity of France Capital: Mamoutzou Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France) Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: French law National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Executive branch: government commissioner Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (Conseil General) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel) Leaders: Chief of State: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) Head of Government: Commissioner, Representative of the French Government Jean-Paul COSTE (since NA 1991); President of the General Council Youssouf BAMANA (since NA 1976) Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RMPR), Mansour KAMARDINE; Union of the Center (UDC) Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: General Council: last held June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 9, RPR 6, other 2 French Senate: last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MPM 1 French National Assembly: last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDC 1 Member of: FZ Diplomatic representation: as a territorial collectivity of France, Mahoran interests are represented in the US by France Flag: the flag of France is used

:Mayotte Economy

Overview: Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island is heavily dependent on French financial assistance. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985) Exports: $4.0 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: ylang-ylang, vanilla partners: France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9% Imports: $21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: building materials, transportation equipment, rice, clothing, flour partners: France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry Agriculture: most important sector; provides all export earnings; crops - vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of food needs Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $402 million Currency: French franc (plural - francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.3801 (January 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Mayotte Communications

Highways: 42 km total; 18 km bituminous Ports: Dzaoudzi Civil air: no major transport aircraft Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications; includes radio relay and high-frequency radio communications for links to Comoros and international communications; 450 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

:Mayotte Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

:Mexico Geography

Total area: 1,972,550 km2 Land area: 1,923,040 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas Land boundaries: 4,538 km; Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km Coastline: 9,330 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 24 nm Continental shelf: natural prolongation of continental margin or 200 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: claims Clipperton Island (French possession) Climate: varies from tropical to desert Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert Natural resources: crude oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 39%; forest and woodland 24%; other 24%; includes irrigated 3% Environment: subject to tsunamis along the Pacific coast and destructive earthquakes in the center and south; natural water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; deforestation; erosion widespread; desertification; serious air pollution in Mexico City and urban centers along US-Mexico border Note: strategic location on southern border of US

:Mexico People

Population: 92,380,721 (July 1992), growth rate 2.3% (1992) Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -1 migrant/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Mexican(s); adjective - Mexican Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian 9%, other 1% Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6% Languages: Spanish; various Mayan dialects Literacy: 87% (male 90%, female 85%) age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.) Labor force: 26,100,000 (1988); services 31.4%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 26%, commerce 13.9%, manufacturing 12.8%, construction 9.5%, transportation 4.8%, mining and quarrying 1.3%, electricity 0.3% (1986) Organized labor: 35% of labor force

:Mexico Government

Long-form name: United Mexican States Type: federal republic operating under a centralized government Capital: Mexico Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain) Constitution: 5 February 1917 Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810) Executive branch: president, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la Union) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Carlos SALINAS de Gortari (since 1 December 1988) Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties) Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Genaro BORREGO Estrada; National Action Party (PAN), Luis ALVAREZ; Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano; Cardenist Front for the National Reconstruction Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes; Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution (PARM), Carlos Enrique CANTU Rosas Suffrage: universal and compulsory (but not enforced) at age 18 Elections: President: last held on 6 July 1988 (next to be held September 1994); results - Carlos SALINAS de Gortari (PRI) 50.74%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (FDN) 31.06%, Manuel CLOUTHIER (PAN) 16.81%; other 1.39%; note - several of the smaller parties ran a common candidate under a coalition called the National Democratic Front (FDN) Senate: last held on 18 August 1988 (next to be held midyear 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats in full Senate - (64 total) number of seats by party; PRI 61, PRD 2, PAN 1 Chamber of Deputies: last held on 18 August 1991 (next to be held midyear 1994); results - PRI 53%, PAN 20%, PFCRN 10%, PPS 6%, PARM 7%, PMS (now part of PRD) 4%; seats - (500 total) PRI 320, PAN 89, PRD 41, PFCRN 23, PARM 15, PPS 12

:Mexico Government