Part 134
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Lemine EL HAYCEN
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660 through 2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592
Flag description:
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; the gold color stands for the sands of the Sahara
National anthem:
name: "Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)
lyrics/music: Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia NIKIPROWETZKY
note: adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem makes it particularly challenging to sing
Economy ::Mauritania
Economy - overview:
Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and 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 nearly 40% of total exports. 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. Before 2000, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nearly all of its foreign debt has since been forgiven. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement in 2006. Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but the IMF, World Bank, and other international actors suspended assistance and investment in Mauritania after the August 2008 coup. Since the presidential election in July 2009, donors have resumed assistance. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to materialize, and the government has placed a priority on attracting private investment to spur economic growth. The Government also emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and privatization of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $6.476 billion (2009 est.)
$6.542 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.486 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 -1% (2009 est.)
3.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $2,100 (2009 est.)
$2,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 46.7%
services: 40.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.318 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 135
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2000) country comparison to the world: 71 37.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 33 12% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper
note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - production:
415.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - consumption:
386.2 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
16,510 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - exports:
30,620 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - imports:
20,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Current account balance:
-$184 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Exports:
$1.395 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 141
Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
Exports - partners:
China 42.06%, Italy 9.71%, Japan 7.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.16%, Spain 5.63%, Netherlands 4.32% (2009)
Imports:
$1.475 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 163
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 14.3%, Netherlands 10.33%, China 9.94%, Brazil 5.58%, Belgium 4.87%, Germany 4.04%, Spain 4.02% (2009)
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 261.5 (2010 est.), 262.4 (2009), 238.2 (2008), 258.6 (2007), 271.3 (2006)
Communications ::Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
74,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 151
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.182 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 130
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line services; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of 70 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat); optical-fiber and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) cables for internet access (2008)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media state-owned; 1 state-run TV and 1 state-run radio network; Television de Mauritanie, the state-run TV station, has an additional 6 regional TV stations that provide local programming (2008)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet hosts:
23 (2010) country comparison to the world: 216
Internet users:
75,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 169
Transportation ::Mauritania
Airports:
28 (2010) country comparison to the world: 120
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Railways:
728 km
standard gauge: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,066 km country comparison to the world: 133 paved: 2,966 km
unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)
Waterways:
some navigation possible on Senegal River (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military ::Mauritania
Military branches:
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 699,028
females age 16-49: 783,108 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 464,959
females age 16-49: 562,765 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 35,322
female: 36,035 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 13
Transnational Issues ::Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; slavery-related practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships, continue to exist in isolated parts of the country; Mauritanian boys called talibe are trafficked within the country by religious teachers for forced begging; children are also trafficked by street gangs within the country that force them to steal, beg, and sell drugs; girls are trafficked internally for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; women and children from neighboring states are trafficked into Mauritania for purposes of forced begging, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - the Government of Mauritania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not show evidence of overall progress in prosecuting and punishing trafficking offenders, protecting trafficking victims, and preventing new incidents of trafficking during the past year; progress that the previous government demonstrated in 2007 through enactment of strengthened anti-slavery legislation and deepened political will to eliminate slavery and trafficking has stalled; law enforcement efforts to address human trafficking including traditional slavery practices decreased (2009)
page last updated on January 26, 2011
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@Mauritius (Africa)
Introduction ::Mauritius
Background:
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather, declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.
Geography ::Mauritius
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km country comparison to the world: 180 land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative:
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 49.02%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 48.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)
per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
People ::Mauritius
Population:
1,294,104 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.5% (male 147,136/female 142,121)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 449,176/female 455,057)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 36,309/female 54,465) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 33.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.751% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Birth rate:
14.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Death rate:
6.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.85 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 142 male: 14.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.25 years country comparison to the world: 99 male: 70.77 years
female: 77.89 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions:
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 136
Government ::Mauritius
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 13 November 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AF 41, MMM 18, MR 2, MSF 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Future or AF [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing coalition - includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement or MMSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or MSMM [Madan DULLOO]; Mauritian Solidarity Front [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH]; Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti Mauricien Xavier Duval or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joyker NAYECK
chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Jo WILLS
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green; red represents the blood shed for independence, blue the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the island
National anthem:
name: "Motherland"
lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
note: adopted 1968
Economy ::Mauritius
Economy - overview:
Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. The economy rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, and is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped to mitigate negative effects from the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew 3.6% in 2010 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $16.88 billion (2009 est.)
$16.37 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.427 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 3.1% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $13,100 (2009 est.)
$12,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 24.6%
services: 70.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
597,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Labor force - by occupation: