million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold

Exports--partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%

Imports: $552 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum
products, capital goods

Imports--partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US
3%

Debt--external: $2.5 billion (1995)

Economic aid--recipient: $227.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1--204.600 (January 1999),
151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: poor 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: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)

Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 50,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 704 km (single track); note--owned and operated by government
mining company
standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

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

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 26 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 571,521 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $30 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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