mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

Religions:

Muslim 100%

Languages:

Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national
languages), French, Hassaniya

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2006)

Government
Mauritania

Country name:

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

Government type:

Democratic Republic

Capital:

name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*;
Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh
Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris
Zemmour, Trarza

Independence:

28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution:

12 July 1991

Legal system:

a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ who led a coup that
deposed the democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh
ABDELLAHI on 6 August 2008
head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF
(since 14 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 11
March 2007 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on
25 March 2007 (next to be held 2012); prime minister appointed by
the president
election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh
ABDELLAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh
(56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members
elected by Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of
seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or
Majlis