Discover Fascinating Mauritania Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Mauritania.
Mauritania
Background
๐ Mauritania: A Journey Through Time ๐
Did you know that the Amazigh and Bafour people were some of the very first settlers in Mauritania? ๐๏ธ This beautiful country, located in West Africa, celebrated its independence from France in 1960! ๐
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! ๐ณ๏ธโจ
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! ๐ Hereโs a look at what they export:
- Gold: A precious metal that sparkles and holds great value! ๐ฐ
- Iron Ore: A key component for steel and construction! ๐๏ธ
- Fish: Fresh from the ocean and a vital part of the local economy! ๐
- Processed Crustaceans: Tasty seafood treats that are loved worldwide! ๐ค
- Animal Meal: A nutritious feed for livestock! ๐
These commodities not only contribute to Mauritania's economy but also play a vital role in global trade! ๐๐
Exports - partners
๐ 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% ๐
- Canada: 12% ๐
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): 12% ๐
- Spain: 9% ๐ช๐ธ
- Turkey: 6% ๐น๐ท
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! ๐
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
๐ 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. ๐ With its beautiful beaches and vibrant markets, Nouakchott has something for everyone!
Imports - commodities
๐ Mauritania's Imports - Commodities ๐
In 2022, Mauritania imported some important commodities that keep the country moving! Hereโs 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! ๐โจ
Climate
๐ต 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! ๐ 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! ๐ฒ๐ฆ
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 ๐๏ธ, which means it has two parts! ๐ฅณ The Parliament consists of:
- Senate: 56 seats ๐ช
- National Assembly: 176 seats ๐ช
This structure allows for representation from different regions and perspectives in the country, making it an important part of Mauritania's governance! ๐ฒ๐ฆ
Total Seats in Parliament
232
Seats in the Mauritanian Parliament
Natural resources
Mauritania is rich in minerals and natural resources! ๐๏ธ Hereโs 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 arenโt just for jewelry; they also have industrial uses.
- Gold: A prized metal thatโs been valued for ages โ perfect for treasures! โจ
- Oil: An essential energy resource that powers everything from cars to factories.
- Fish: Mauritaniaโs coast is home to bountiful fish, crucial for the local economy and culture! ๐ฃ
These resources contribute significantly to the economy and provide livelihoods for many people.
Economic overview
๐ Mauritania's Economic Overview ๐
Mauritania is classified as a lower middle-income country in West Africa. Its economy is mainly based on agriculture, making it quite agrarian! ๐ However, as urbanization increases, the country faces several challenges.
Some of the significant issues include:
- Poor property rights ๐๏ธ: This makes it tough for people to own land or property safely.
- Systemic corruption ๐ต๏ธ: Corruption can hurt the economy by making businesses less trustworthy.
- Social and workforce tensions ๐ : The people sometimes have disagreements that can affect work and peace.
- Wide-scale terrorism ๐ฅ: This can create fear and instability in the region.
- Foreign over-fishing ๐ฃ: Other countries taking too many fish hurts local fishermen and their businesses.
- Environmentally fragile ๐ฑ: 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
๐ 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. ๐ณ๏ธ
Ethnic groups
In Mauritania, the diverse ethnic landscape is fascinating! ๐ Here's how the different groups break down:
- Black Moors (Haratines): 40% ๐ค - These are Arabic-speaking individuals with African heritage, many of whom have historical ties to those enslaved by White Moors.
- White Moors: 30% ๐ค - Known as Beydane, this group comes from Arab and Amazigh descent.
- Sub-Saharan Mauritanians: 30% ๐พ - 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! ๐โจ 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
๐ฃ๏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 thatโs not all! ๐
In addition to Arabic, Mauritania is home to several national languages:
- Pular
- Soninke
- Wolof
๐ 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? ๐ค๐
Official Language
Arabic
Total National Languages
4
Additional Language
French
Imports - partners
๐ Mauritania imports goods from various countries, with China being the top partner! Here's a fun look at the data for 2022:
- China: 18% ๐ฅ
- Spain: 7% ๐ช๐ธ
- Morocco: 6% ๐ฒ๐ฆ
- UAE: 6% ๐ฆ๐ช
- Indonesia: 6% ๐ฎ๐ฉ
These percentages show where Mauritania sources its imports, giving us a peek into its trade relationships with the globe! ๐
Total Import Percentage from Top Partners
43%
Number of Countries Listed
5
Mauritania's Import Partners in 2022
Population
๐ 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! ๐ฒ๐ฆ 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
๐ 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! ๐๏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)
๐ฐ 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
๐ 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
๐ 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! ๐ฐ
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! ๐
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! ๐ 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. Itโs exciting to see the growth in what Mauritania brings into the country! ๐๐ผ
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! ๐ขโจ Hereโs a quick look at the export values for the last three years:
- 2020: $2.784 billion
- 2021: $3.18 billion
- 2022: $4.132 billion
Thatโs a steady increase, showing how Mauritania is boosting its economy! ๐ 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
๐ 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. ๐ 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! ๐ญ
Population growth rate
1.92%