Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory.

Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya seized power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991.

Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open.

A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President Taya and ushered in a military council, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions and organized elections.

Accordingly, parliamentary elections were held in late 2006-early 2007 and presidential elections in March 2007.

The newly-elected legislature is expected to assume power following the inauguration of the new president in April 2007.

The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 3,270,065 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.5% (male 744,995/female 741,369) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 845,272/female 866,998) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,564/female 42,867) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 17.1 years male: 16.8 years female: 17.4 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 2.867% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 40.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 11.89 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.005 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.975 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.666 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 68.07 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 64.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.51 years male: 51.24 years female: 55.85 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 5.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 9,500 (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

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Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)

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Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

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Ethnic groups: mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

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Religions: Muslim 100%

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Languages: Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.2% male: 59.5% female: 43.4% (2000 census)

Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for nearly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt, which now stands at more than three times the level of annual exports. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. Mauritania has an estimated 1 billion barrels of proved reserves. Substantial oil production and exports began in early 2006 and averaged 75,000 barrels per day for the year. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.124 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $1.569 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 14.1% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,600 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)

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Labor force: 786,000 (2001)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2001 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 20% (2004 est.)

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Population below poverty line: 40% (2004 est.)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)

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Distribution of family income - Gini index: 39 (2000)

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2003 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $421 million expenditures: $378 million; including capital expenditures of $154 million (2002 est.)

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Agriculture - products: dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep

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Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

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Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2000 est.)

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Electricity - production: 176.7 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 164.3 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 75,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 24,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2005)

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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Exports: $784 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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

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Exports - partners: China 26.2%, Italy 11.8%, France 10.2%, Belgium 6.8%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 5.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.6% (2006)

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Imports: $1.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

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Imports - partners: France 11.9%, China 8.2%, US 6.8%, Belgium 6.7%, Italy 5.9%, Spain 5.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2006)

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Debt - external: $2.5 billion (2000)

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Economic aid - recipient: $305.7 million (2002)

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Currency (code): ouguiya (MRO)

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Exchange rates: ouguiyas per US dollar - 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003), 271.74 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year