Country Name: Mauritania (Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

Capital: Nouakchott

Government Type: presidential republic

Background: The Amazigh and Bafour people were among the first to settle in what is now Mauritania. Originally a nomadic people, they were among the first in recorded history to convert from a nomadic to agricultural lifestyle. These groups account for roughly one third of Mauritania’s ethnic makeup. The remainder of Mauritania’s ethnic groups derive from Sub-Saharan ethnic groups originating mainly from the Senegal River Valley, including descendants of former enslaved peoples. These three groups are organized according to a strict caste system with deep ethnic divides that impact access to resources and power dynamics. A former French colony, Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960.

Continent: Africa

Population: 4,244,878 (2023 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Black Moors (Haratines - Arabic-speaking descendants of African origin who are or were enslaved by White Moors) 40%, White Moors (of Arab-Amazigh descent, known as Beydane) 30%, Sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups) 30%

Languages: Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French; note - the spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from the Modern Standard Arabic used for official written purposes or in the media; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Tamazight words, is referred to as Hassaniya

Religions: Muslim (official) 100%

Economic Overview: lower middle-income West African economy; primarily agrarian; rising urbanization; poor property rights; systemic corruption; endemic social and workforce tensions; wide-scale terrorism; foreign over-fishing; environmentally fragile

Currency: Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $2.039 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $25.245 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 6.38% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $5,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $4.132 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 142

Export Commodities: iron ore, gold, mollusks and shellfish, frozen fish, copper ore (2021)

Export Partners: China 32%, Switzerland 13%, Spain 9%, Japan 9%, Italy 5% (2019)

Imports: 

• $5.77 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 142

Import Commodities: ships, aircraft, wheat, raw sugar, refined petroleum (2019)

Import Partners: China 26%, France 6%, Spain 6%, Morocco 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)

Natural Resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Agricultural Products: rice, milk, goat milk, sheep milk, sorghum, mutton, beef, camel milk, camel meat, dates

Industries: fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper) note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 7.31% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 35

Labor Force: 1.135 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 10.79% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Geography:

• Total: 1,030,700 sq km

• Land: 1,030,700 sq km

• Water: 0 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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