02)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
France 16.8%, Spain 7.7%, China 6.3%, Belgium 5.1%, Germany 4.9%,
Japan 4.3%, UK 4.1%, US 4% (2003)

Debt - external:
$2.5 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:
$220 million (2000)

Currency:
ouguiya (MRO)

Currency code:
MRO

Exchange rates:
ouguiyas per US dollar - NA (2003), 271.739 (2002), 255.629 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mauritania

Telephones - main lines in use:
31,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
300,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines,
minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed
domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
regional capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:
410,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)

Televisions:
98,000 (2001)

Internet country code:
.mr

Internet hosts:
25 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
10,000 (2002)

Transportation Mauritania

Railways:
717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 7,720 km
paved: 830 km
unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)

Waterways:
some ferry traffic on Senegal River (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
24 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Mauritania

Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force, National
Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
(BSSP)

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years
(2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 686,629 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-4