Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

GDP in 2009 was estimated at MRO 793.47 billion, a decrease of 7.2% compared to the previous year. The industrial sector accounted for 34.7% of total GDP followed by the services sector with a percentage share of 28.7% and the agriculture sector contributing to 20.6% of total GDP.

(Source: Central bank page: 10, Central bank1)

Gross National Income (GNI)

GNI per capita at PPP was registered at USD 1,960 in 2009 compared to USD 2,020 in 2008. The annual growth rate declined to 2.9% in 2009.

(Source: World Bank)

Income tax rate

The highest income tax rate imposed on individual incomes in Mauritania is 33%.

(Source: heritage.org)

Corporate tax rate

The corporate tax rate is 25%. VAT is levied at 14%.

(Source: doingbusiness.org)

Inflation rate

The inflation rate in 2010 was 6.4% compared to 4.9% in 2009.

(Source: Central bank page: 28)

Foreign direct investment inflows

FDI inflows declined to USD 38 million in 2009compared to inflows of USD 338 million in 2008.

(Source: unctad.org, page: 205)

Banking sector assets

The total bank assets in 2009 amounted to MRO 2,727.85 million.

Banking Sector Assets (MRO million)
Assets	2009
Claims abroad	624.7
IMF	316.8
Claims on state	1,501.5
Credits economy	150.5
Equity	2.5
Net Assets	14.9
Accounts and other assets of orders	114.8
Exchange difference	2.15
Total Assets	2,727.85

(Source: Central bank)

Consumer price index

CPI in September 2010 was registered at 171.9, an increase of 6.4% compared to the previous period i.e. September 2009.

(Source: Central bank page: 27)

Interest rate

The interest rate on deposits for commercial banks was 8% in 2009. (Source: Central bank)

Money Supply

The money supply M1 and M2 increased by 13.8% and 15.2% respectively in 2009 compared to the previous year. Fiat money amounted to MRO 82.2 billion in the same year, an increase of 17% over the previous year.

(Source: Central bank, page: 68)

Government expenditure

Total government expenditure amounted to MRO 242.9 billion in 2009, a decrease of 7.2% over the previous year. The government expenditure in the third quarter of 2010 was MRO 171.4 billion.

(Source: Central bank page:33)

Exchange rate

The exchange rate MOR/USD in 2009 was 262.7 compared to 241.5 in 2008.

(Source: Central bank page:70)

Government finances

Fiscal Balance

The fiscal balance witnessed a surplus of MRO 3.4 billion in Q3 2010.

(Source: Central bank page:33)

Total revenues

The total revenues amounted to MRO 183.4 billion in Q3 2010. The non-oil revenues were MRO 174.3 billion, accounting for 95% of total revenues.

(Source: Central bank page:33)

Tax Revenues

Tax revenues decreased by 7.3% in 2009 over the previous year and was MRO 106.6 billion. The total tax revenues amounted to MRO 98.2 billion in Q3 2010. The tax revenues accounted for 53.5% of total revenues in 2010.

(Source: Central bank page:33)

Current account balance

The current account balance registered a deficit of USD 385.7 million in 2009compared to a deficit of USD 557.3 million in the previous year.

(Source: Central Bank)

Balance of payments

 

Mauritania Balance of Payments (MRO million)
Year	2010 Q3	2010 Q2	2010 Q1	2009	2008	2007
Current Account Balance	26,436	-78,310	-33,989	-127,295	-134,476	-83,742
Trade Balance	33,073	-38,229	7,877	-17,054	-37,064	5,974
Net Services	-32,415	-37,575	-30,510	-126,736	-152,212	-136,664
Revenues	7,324	-9,027	-17,505	-17,786	7,360	9,352
Current transfers	18,453	6,521	6,149	34,281	47,440	37,597
Capital and financial account	-14,763	53,803	15,367	102,839	98,595	84,770
Errors and omissions	-8,383	19,862	14,098	21,898	24,926	3,102

(Source: Central Bank page: 62)

Labour force

The economically active population above the age of 15 was 1,353,000 in 2008. The population in the age group of 15 to 34 years constituted 56.4% of the total labour force, followed by the 35-59 age-group with a percentage share of 38.9%. People above the age of 60 years made up 4.7% of the total labour force.

(Source: ilo.org)

Labour force participation rate

The labour force participation rate was 70% in 2008. The male and female participation rate was 81% and 59% respectively.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate in 2009 was 32.5%.

(Source: africanmanager.com)

Minimum wage

The monthly minimum wage was USD 81 in 2008. The minimum wage for a 19-year old employee or apprentice is approximately USD 83.1 per month.

(Source: estandardforum.org, doingbusiness.org)

Level of unionisation

The main trade unions in Mauritania are:

·         Confédération Générale des Travailleurs de Mauritanie (CGTM)

·         Confédération Libre des Travailleurs de Mauritanie (CLTM)

·         Union des Travailleurs de Mauritanie (UTM)

(Source: icftu.org)

Government stability

the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is a Islamic republic. The government consists of three branches the legislative, the executive and the the judiciary.

The President is the head of state and is elected for a term of five years. He serves as the supreme commander of the armed forces, heads the council of ministers and the committee of national defence. He has the power to appoint the prime minister and sign civil and military treaties.

(Source: mauritania.mr)

The legislative power is vested in parliament. The parliament is bicameral which includes the national Assembly and the senate. The national assembly, also known as the lower house, consists of 95 members elected by universal adult suffrage. They serve a term of five years. the senate consists of 56 members who are indirectly elected by municipal councillors and serve a term of six years.

(Source: ipu.org)

The major political parties in Mauritania include:

·         Action for Change

·         Popular Progressive Alliance

·         Popular Front

·         Mauritanian Party for Union and Change

·         Democratic Cooperation Party

·         Party for Liberty, Equality, and Justice

·         Mauritanian Renewal Party

·         People’s Party

·         Democratic and Social Republican Party

·         Social Democratic Unionist Party

(Source: africanelections.tripod)

Dr. Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdhaf is the Prime Minister and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is the President of Mauritania.

Regulatory environment

Mauritania’s economy is ranked 134^th in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom, with a score of 52.1. Mauritania’s overall score is below the world and regional average. Mauritania ranks 26^th out of 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

(Source: heritage.org)

Corruption Perception

The Corruption Perceptions Index is a survey to measure the perceived level of corruption across countries worldwide. Mauritania is ranked in 143^rd position on the Corruption Perception Index with a score of 2.3, compared to 130^th rank in 2009.

(Source: transparency.org)

Freedom of information

The World Press Freedom Index 2010 ranks Mauritania in 95^th position with a score of 25.38. Mauritania has improved its position since 2009 when it was ranked 100^th.

Chaab, Horizons, Le Calame, L'Eveil-Hebdo and Rajoul Echaree are some of the main newspapers in Mauritania.

(Source: rsf.org, BBC)

Judicial System

The judicial system is independent in Mauritania. It includes the following courts:

·         Court of appeal

·         Supreme Court

·         First instance court

The Supreme Court lies at the apex of the judiciary. The first instance court consists of one judge and the Supreme Court and Appeals court consist of three judges each.

(Source: mauritania.mr, UNDP)

Total population

The total population in Mauritania in 2009 was 3.2 million, an increase of 3.2% compared to 2008. The number of people in the 15 to 64 age group  made up 57.9% of the total population, followed by people in the age group 0 to 14 years with a percentage share of 39.5%. People above the age of 65 years constituted 2.7% of total population.

(Source: Central bank, africaneconomicoutlook.org)

Gender balance

The gender ratio in 2009 was 102.9 men per 100 women.

(Source: UN)

Mortality rate

The infant mortality rate was 72.8 per 1,000 live births between 2005-2010. The birth rate was 33.6 per 1,000 people and death rate was 10.3 per 1,000 people in 2008.

(Source: UN, ruralpovertyportal.org)

Average life expectancy

The average life expectancy at birth was 57.3 years in 2010. Life expectancy at birth for males was 54.7 years and for females was 58.5 between 2005-2010.

(Source: UNDP, UN)

Migration and urbanisation

The total number of international migrants at mid-year was 99,229 in 2010. The male and female migrants at mid-year were 57,317 and 41,912 respectively in the same year.

(Source: UN)

Mauritania’s urban population made up 41.2% of the total population in 2009.

(Source: africaneconomicoutlook.org)

Racial/ethnic environment

The ethnic groups in Mauritania are Arab-Berber (White Moor), Arab-Berber-Negroid (Black Moor), Haalpulaar, Soninke and Wolof (Black African Mauritanians).

(Source: state.gov)

Poverty and inequality

The total poor population was 129,600 in 2008. The poor people in urban and rural areas made up 20.8% and 59.4% of the total population respectively in the same year. The incidence of extreme poverty was recorded at 25.9%.

(Source: National Statistics)

Human development index

Mauritania is ranked 136^th on the Human Development Index (HDI) with a score of 0.43 in 2010. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

(Source: UNDP)

Literacy rate

The literacy rate was estimated to be 57.6% in 2010.

(Source: UNDP)

Education resources

The student-teacher ratio was 37 for primary education level in 2008. The public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 4.4% between 2000-2007.

(Source: UNESCO, UNDP)

Healthcare resources

The mortality rate of children below the age of five was recorded at 118 per 1,000 live births in 2008. The major causes of death included pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, prematurity, birth asphyxia and others.

(Source: WHO)

(Source: National Statistics)

The total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP was 2.4% in 2007.

(Source: ruralpoverty.org)

Mass Public Transit

The main mode of public transport in Mauritania is road and railway travel. (Source: estandardsforum.org)

Roadways

The total road network in 2007 was approximately 11,066 km. The paved and urban roads were approximately 2,971 km; there was a network of 1,215 km earth roads and 6,880 km of tracks.

(Source: National Statistics)

Ports

Mauritania’s major ports are Port of Nouadhibou and Port of Nouakchott situated in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott respectively.

(Source: worldportsource)

Airports

(Source: aircraft charter)

Telecommunication network

The internet users in Mauritania was recorded at 1.9 per 100 people.

(Source: World Bank)

The fixed-telephone line subscribers was 74,464 in 2009 or 2.26 per 100 people.

(Source: ITU)

The number of mobile phone subscribers was 2,182,249 in 2009 or 66.32 per 100 people.

(Source: ITU)