Mauritania is a country located in northwestern Africa, belonging to the Maghreb. A large portion of its territory is located in the Sahara desert. Mauritania borders with Senegal in the south, Mali in the south-east, Algeria and Western Sahara in the north and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. Formerly a French colony, it gained its Independence in 1960 and is currently a constitutional, semi-presidential republic. Its main economic focus is agriculture and the extraction of natural resources (mainly iron).


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General Information
Official Name: 
Islamic Republic of Mauritania, الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية (al-Jumhūriyyah al-ʾIslāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah), République Islamique de Mauritanie
Capitol: 
Nouakchott
Population: 
3,804,000
Languages: 
Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof. Non-Recognised: French, Zenaga Berber
Geographic Region: 
Africa
Western Africa
Geographic Size (km sq): 
1,030,700
Year of UN Membership: 
1961
Year of Present State Formation: 
1960
Current UN Representative: 
Sidi Mohamed Boucabar
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Mauritania
BBC Country Profile: Mauritania
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Mauritania
U.S. Library of Congress Country Profile: Mauritania
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Mauritania
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Mauritania
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Mauritania
National Geographic Country Profile: Mauritania
Lonely Planet Country Profile: Mauritania
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$4.451 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$2,349 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
6.40 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.49
Gini Index (Income Inequality): 
39.00
Unemployment: 
30.00%
Foreign Aid Recieved: 
$408.31Million (USD)
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Least Developed Country
History
BBC Timeline of Mauritania (3rd Century-Present)
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Mauritania Early History
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
African Group
Islamic Group
Arab Group
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ABEDA: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AfDB: African Development Bank
AFESD: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
AMF: Arab Monetary Fund
AMU: Arab Maghreb Union
AU: African Union
CAEU: Council of Arab Economic Unity
EITI: Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IDB: Islamic Development Bank
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IHO: International Hydrographic Organization
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation
LAS/AL: League of Arab States, aka Arab League
OIC: Organization of Islamic Cooperation
OIF: Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
WCO: World Customs Organization
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
CTBTO: Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICSID: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
IDA: International Development Association
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNWTO: United Nations World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Current UN Peacekeeping Missions: 
MINUSMA: Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali
Bilateral Relations
Security Council: 
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Mauritania Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Mauritania Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Mauritania Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China-Mauritania Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE): 
Japan-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East: 
Turkey-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union: 
EU-Mauritania Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Mauritania Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Mauritania Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU): 
Canada-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean : 
Cuba-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Mauritania Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
The World Bank Country Brief: Mauritania
UN Data: Mauritania
UN Refugee Agency: Mauritania Overview
UNICEF Statistical Overview: Mauritania
FAO Country Overview on different aspects: Mauritania
OHCHR Concluding Observations on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Mauritania
OHCHR Human Rights Committee Concluding Observations: Mauritania
OHCHR Country Overview: Mauritania
UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DESA) least developed country profiles: Mauritania
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) least developed country profiles: Mauritania
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) least developed country profiles: Mauritania
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Mauritania
The Guardian World News Stories: Mauritania
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Mauritania
The Economist Topics Index: Mauritania
World News Report: Mauritania
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Mauritania
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Mauritania
Government Sources
United States Embassy to Mauritania
Mauritania Government Site
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the United Nations
116 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 252-0113/0141
(212) 252-0175
mauritaniamission@gmail.com

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