Play national anthem Major cities and towns Nouakchott 650,000 Nouadhibou 80,000 Rosso 55,000 List of Cites and Towns

Mauritania
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Arabic: mawrītāniyā

Independent republic in West-Africa with 3.4 million inhabitants (2009 estimate) and an area of 1,030,700 kmē. The capital is Nouakchott, which is also the only city of the country.
Head of state is President General Ould Abdel Aziz, who has been in office since August 5, 2009. Prime minister is since 2008 Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf. The National Assembly:

Political situation

Geography
Water surface: 0 km²
Population density: 3 inhabitants per kmē
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 915 metres.
Lowest point: Sabkha de Ndrhamcha -5 metres.
Arable land: 0.48%
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.
Mauritania is poor by North African standards, and the country today is in phase of great social challenges.

Life
Mauritania scores poorly on the Human Development Index where it comes in as no. 154 of the 182 states that are ranked in the world, and last of the MENA countries. On a scale with 1.000 as maximum, Mauritania gains 0.520 points.
The currency of Mauritania is the ouguiya (MRO). It is neither a weak nor strong currency, falling towards other currencies at a relatively stable rate.
Mauritania is by all measures a poor country. With a GDP per capita at US$2,100 (2008 estimate), the country is 80% below world average. Unemployment at 13% and 23% of the population below the poverty line are comparatively less dramatic figures.
Economy

Mauritania has a very poor record on all aspects of health, and in large areas there are no services available.
Health

The situation for education is better than for health, but only marginally. A substantial part of the higher education in Mauritania have received their education at national institutions.
Education

There is no good data on ethnic groups in Mauritania, it is divided into groups like "Moors" and blacks.
Peoples

Information on languages is better than for people groups, Hassaniya Arabic is the elite language, but there are several more languages that cross into neighbouring countries.
Languages

Close to 100% of the Mauritanian population are reported to belong to Sunni Islam, with Sufism is important movements.
Religions

Mauritanian women have an alarmingly high fertility rate. What curtails what could have been an explosive growth is the short life expectancy.
Demographics

Mauritania's history is prouder than the today's society might indicate; historical empires could trace their origins back Mauritania.
History