Discover Fascinating Mauritania Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Mauritania.

Mauritania

Background

๐ŸŒ Mauritania: A Journey Through Time ๐ŸŒ

Did you know that the Amazigh and Bafour people were some of the very first settlers in Mauritania? ๐Ÿœ๏ธ This beautiful country, located in West Africa, celebrated its independence from France in 1960! ๐ŸŽ‰

Since then, Mauritania has faced many challenges, such as dictatorships, flawed elections, and military coups. But guess what? Today, it's on its way to becoming an emerging democracy! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธโœจ

Year of Independence from France

1960

Type of Government

Emerging Democracy

Exports - Commodities

Mauritania is rich in natural resources and exports a variety of commodities! ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s a look at what they export:

  • Gold: A precious metal that sparkles and holds great value! ๐Ÿ’ฐ
  • Iron Ore: A key component for steel and construction! ๐Ÿ—๏ธ
  • Fish: Fresh from the ocean and a vital part of the local economy! ๐ŸŸ
  • Processed Crustaceans: Tasty seafood treats that are loved worldwide! ๐Ÿค
  • Animal Meal: A nutritious feed for livestock! ๐Ÿ„

These commodities not only contribute to Mauritania's economy but also play a vital role in global trade! ๐ŸŒŠ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ Mauritania has a variety of partners it exports goods to! Let's check out the top players in this export game for 2022:

  • China: 24% ๐Ÿ‰
  • Canada: 12% ๐Ÿ
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE): 12% ๐ŸŒ‡
  • Spain: 9% ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
  • Turkey: 6% ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท

Isn't it interesting how countries around the world connect through trade? Each percentage shows how much of Mauritania's exports went to these countries. The largest portion goes to China, making it a key partner for Mauritania! ๐Ÿ“Š

Total Export Partners Listed

5

Percentage of Exports to China

24%

Percentage of Exports to Canada

12%

Percentage of Exports to UAE

12%

Percentage of Exports to Spain

9%

Percentage of Exports to Turkey

6%

Mauritania's Export Partners in 2022

Capital

๐ŸŒ Mauritania's capital city is Nouakchott! This lively city is not just the heart of the country but also a hub of culture, trade, and politics. ๐Ÿ•Œ With its beautiful beaches and vibrant markets, Nouakchott has something for everyone!

Imports - commodities

๐Ÿ“Š Mauritania's Imports - Commodities ๐ŸŒ
In 2022, Mauritania imported some important commodities that keep the country moving! Hereโ€™s a sneak peek at what they brought in:

  • Refined Petroleum: A crucial energy source!
  • Iron Pipes: Essential for construction and infrastructure projects.
  • Wheat: A staple food that fills plates!
  • Raw Sugar: Sweetness that makes life a little better!
  • Palm Oil: Cooking oil that's widely used in many kitchens.
    The diversity of these imports shows how Mauritania is connected to global markets! ๐ŸŒโœจ

Climate

๐ŸŒต Mauritania has a desert climate characterized by being constantly hot, dry, and dusty. This means that the weather is typically very warm and lacks significant rainfall, making it a unique environment where only certain types of plants and animals can thrive. With such conditions, it is important for the people living there to adapt to the heat and dryness. โ˜€๏ธ

Executive branch

In Mauritania, the executive branch is led by two important figures! ๐ŸŒŸ The chief of state is President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI, who has been in office since August 1, 2019. On the other hand, the head of government, or the Prime Minister, is Moctar Ould DIAY, and he just took office on August 2, 2024. This leadership duo plays a key role in guiding the country! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

Current President

Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI

Presidency Start Date

1 August 2019

Current Prime Minister

Moctar Ould DIAY

Prime Minister Start Date

2 August 2024

Legislative branch

Mauritania has a bicameral Parliament ๐Ÿ›๏ธ, which means it has two parts! ๐Ÿฅณ The Parliament consists of:

  • Senate: 56 seats ๐Ÿช‘
  • National Assembly: 176 seats ๐Ÿช‘

This structure allows for representation from different regions and perspectives in the country, making it an important part of Mauritania's governance! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

Total Seats in Parliament

232

Seats in the Mauritanian Parliament

Natural resources

Mauritania is rich in minerals and natural resources! ๐Ÿž๏ธ Hereโ€™s a fun look at what the country has to offer:

  • Iron Ore: One of the major resources, it's critical for making steel and building infrastructure.
  • Gypsum: This white mineral is used in construction and agriculture.
  • Copper: Useful for electrical wiring and plumbing, copper is another valuable resource.
  • Phosphate: Important for fertilizers, helping to grow crops around the world!
  • Diamonds: These sparkling gems arenโ€™t just for jewelry; they also have industrial uses.
  • Gold: A prized metal thatโ€™s been valued for ages โ€“ perfect for treasures! โœจ
  • Oil: An essential energy resource that powers everything from cars to factories.
  • Fish: Mauritaniaโ€™s coast is home to bountiful fish, crucial for the local economy and culture! ๐ŸŽฃ

These resources contribute significantly to the economy and provide livelihoods for many people.

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Mauritania's Economic Overview ๐ŸŒ
Mauritania is classified as a lower middle-income country in West Africa. Its economy is mainly based on agriculture, making it quite agrarian! ๐Ÿšœ However, as urbanization increases, the country faces several challenges.

Some of the significant issues include:

  • Poor property rights ๐Ÿš๏ธ: This makes it tough for people to own land or property safely.
  • Systemic corruption ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ: Corruption can hurt the economy by making businesses less trustworthy.
  • Social and workforce tensions ๐Ÿ˜ : The people sometimes have disagreements that can affect work and peace.
  • Wide-scale terrorism ๐Ÿ’ฅ: This can create fear and instability in the region.
  • Foreign over-fishing ๐ŸŽฃ: Other countries taking too many fish hurts local fishermen and their businesses.
  • Environmentally fragile ๐ŸŒฑ: The country faces significant challenges regarding its natural resources and environment.

The combination of these factors makes Mauritania's economic situation quite complex and challenging.

Economy classification

Lower middle-income

Economic basis

Primarily agrarian

Urbanization trend

Rising

Property rights status

Poor

Corruption level

Systemic

Social tensions

Endemic

Terrorism level

Wide-scale

Foreign fishing impact

Over-fishing

Environment status

Fragile

Government type

๐ŸŒ Mauritania has a presidential republic government! This means that the president is the head of state and has significant power over the government. In a presidential republic, citizens typically vote for their president in elections, making it a democratic form of governance. ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ

Ethnic groups

In Mauritania, the diverse ethnic landscape is fascinating! ๐ŸŒ Here's how the different groups break down:

  • Black Moors (Haratines): 40% ๐Ÿ–ค - These are Arabic-speaking individuals with African heritage, many of whom have historical ties to those enslaved by White Moors.
  • White Moors: 30% ๐Ÿค - Known as Beydane, this group comes from Arab and Amazigh descent.
  • Sub-Saharan Mauritanians: 30% ๐ŸŒพ - This group is made up of various ethnicities such as Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara, primarily located around the Senegal River Valley.

This colorful mix gives Mauritania its unique identity, celebrating the rich history and culture of its people!

Percentage of Black Moors

40%

Percentage of White Moors

30%

Percentage of Sub-Saharan Mauritanians

30%

Ethnic Groups in Mauritania

Religions

In Mauritania, the official religion is Islam, and it is followed by the entire population! ๐ŸŒโœจ That's right, an astonishing 100% of the people in the country practice Islam. This shows just how deeply rooted the Islamic faith is in Mauritania's culture and daily life.

Percentage of Population Practicing Islam

100%

Distribution of Religions in Mauritania

Languages

๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Languages of Mauritania

Mauritania is a vibrant country with a rich tapestry of languages! The official language here is Arabic, which is used in government and national communications. But thatโ€™s not all! ๐ŸŒŸ

In addition to Arabic, Mauritania is home to several national languages:

  • Pular
  • Soninke
  • Wolof

๐Ÿ“š And let's not forget French, which also plays an important part in the culture and communication of the country.

Each language reflects the diverse heritage and history of the Mauritanian people. Isn't it fascinating how language connects us all? ๐Ÿค”๐ŸŒ

Official Language

Arabic

Total National Languages

4

Additional Language

French

Imports - partners

๐ŸŒ Mauritania imports goods from various countries, with China being the top partner! Here's a fun look at the data for 2022:

  • China: 18% ๐Ÿฅ‡
  • Spain: 7% ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
  • Morocco: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • UAE: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Indonesia: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ

These percentages show where Mauritania sources its imports, giving us a peek into its trade relationships with the globe! ๐Ÿ“Š

Total Import Percentage from Top Partners

43%

Number of Countries Listed

5

Mauritania's Import Partners in 2022

Population

๐ŸŒ Mauritania is home to a total population of 4,328,040 people! That's a lot of vibrant lives and stories packed into one beautiful country! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆ With a mix of cultures, languages, and traditions, Mauritania is truly unique. Let's explore more about its population!

Total Population

4,328,040

Area

๐ŸŒ Mauritania is a vast country with a total area of 1,030,700 sq km! Impressively, all of this area is land since it has 0 sq km of water. That's right, when you look at a map of Mauritania, you'll find no lakes, rivers, or oceans within its borders! This makes it a true landlocked treasure of North Africa! ๐Ÿœ๏ธ

Total Area

1,030,700 sq km

Land Area

1,030,700 sq km

Water Area

0 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐Ÿ’ฐ Let's dive into the world of Mauritania's Real GDP! Here are the estimated figures for the last three years:

  • 2021: $27.635 billion
  • 2022: $29.4 billion
  • 2023: $30.395 billion

๐Ÿ“ˆ As we can see, Mauritania's economy has been growing steadily, reaching an estimated $30.395 billion in 2023! This kind of growth is exciting and shows that the economy is heading in the right direction.

We can visualize this trend to better understand how the GDP has increased over the years!

Estimated Real GDP for 2023

$30.395 billion

Estimated Real GDP for 2022

$29.4 billion

Estimated Real GDP for 2021

$27.635 billion

Real GDP Growth in Mauritania (2021-2023)

Real GDP per capita

๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita for Mauritania over the last few years! This number tells us how much money people would have if we divided all the wealth in the country evenly among everyone. It's a pretty good way to see how well the country is doing economically! ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Here are the estimated values for the last three years:

  • 2021: $6,000
  • 2022: $6,200
  • 2023: $6,300

As you can see, there has been steady growth! ๐Ÿš€

GDP per Capita in 2023

$6,300

GDP per Capita in 2022

$6,200

GDP per Capita in 2021

$6,000

Real GDP per Capita in Mauritania (2021-2023)

Imports

Mauritania's import numbers have been on the rise! ๐Ÿ“ˆ In 2022, the country imported a whopping $5.77 billion worth of goods! That's an increase from $4.312 billion in 2021 and $3.675 billion in 2020. Itโ€™s exciting to see the growth in what Mauritania brings into the country! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ผ

Total imports in 2022

$5.77 billion

Total imports in 2021

$4.312 billion

Total imports in 2020

$3.675 billion

Mauritania's Imports Over Time

Exports

Mauritania has been growing its exports over the years! ๐Ÿšขโœจ Hereโ€™s a quick look at the export values for the last three years:

  • 2020: $2.784 billion
  • 2021: $3.18 billion
  • 2022: $4.132 billion

Thatโ€™s a steady increase, showing how Mauritania is boosting its economy! ๐ŸŽ‰ Let's visualize this progress with a line chart!

Total Export Value in 2022

$4.132 billion

Total Export Value in 2021

$3.18 billion

Total Export Value in 2020

$2.784 billion

Export Growth in Mauritania (2020-2022)

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ In Mauritania, the population growth rate is an exciting 1.92% as of 2024! This means that the number of people living in this vibrant country is steadily increasing. ๐Ÿ“ˆ A growing population can lead to new opportunities, but it also comes with challenges. Let's take a closer look at what this growth means for the future! ๐Ÿ’ญ

Population growth rate

1.92%