exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: boundary with Senegal in dispute

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central
hills
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 38%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 56%

Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion
aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very
limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is
the only perennial river
natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: most of the population concentrated along the
Senegal River in the southern part of the country

People
------

Population: 2,336,048 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 568,828; female 562,342)
15-64 years: 49% (male 560,540; female 592,914)
65 years and over: 3% (male 21,753; female 29,671) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.17% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 46.92 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 15.24 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 81.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.01 years
male: 46.09 years
female: 52.06 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.84 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic divisions: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Religions: Muslim 100%

Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof
(official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 37.7%
male: 49.6%
fem