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Country Commercial Guides for
FY 2000: Mauritania

Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, released July 1999
  Note*

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X. Economic and Trade Statistics

(Sources: National Office of Statistics, Central Bank, and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development).

Appendix A - Country Data

Population: 2.5M
Population growth rate: 2.9%
Area: 1,085,760 sq.km. (419,229 sq. mi.)
Religion: Islam
Government system: Republican
Head of State: Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya
Head of Gov't: Cheikh El Avia Ould Mohamed Khouna
Languages: Arabic (official), French (business), Pulaar, and Soninké, Wolof (nationals)
Climate: Hot and dry (in most parts of the country)
Work Week: Saturday - Thursday; generally from 08:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Appendix B - Domestic Economy

(In US$ millions, unless otherwise noted).

1997 1998 1999 est.
GDP (at current market prices)(*)1,065 964 968
GDP growth rate(*) (2.9)* (9.5)* 0.4
GDP per capita (US$)(*) 426 386 380
Government spending
(in percentage of GDP)		 25.6 25.5 26.8
Debt Service Ratio
(as percentage of exports)		 21.9 26.7 23.7
Inflation rate(%) 4.5 7.2 6.2
Avg. exchange rate
(Ouguiya/US$)		 150 185 206

(*) The GDP, however, increased in local currency by 4.3% in 1997 and 4.2% in 1998; and is expected to increase by 4.7% in 1999. The decrease of GDP in USD is due to the depreciation of local currency against the US dollar during these three years.

Appendix C - Trade (In US$ millions)
1997 1998 1999
Total Country exports 411 379 376
Total Country imports 443 415 419
US Exports to Mauritania 25 27 28
US Imports from Mauritania 0.9 0.2 0.5
US Share of Mauritania's imports (%)5.6 6.5 6.7

Principal Exports: Fish products and iron ore. Major markets: France (21%); Italy (20%); Japan (11%); Spain (9%); and Nigeria (6%).

Principal Imports: machinery; vehicles and spare parts; petroleum; foodstuffs; tools; construction materials; clothing; and miscellaneous equipment and supplies.

Major suppliers are France (35%); German (8%); USA. (7%); and Spain (5%).

Principal US Exports to Mauritania: machinery, mining equipment and supplies, cigarettes, miscellaneous tools and beauty products.

Principal US Imports from Mauritania: Concentrated iron ore.

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Note* International Copyright, United States Government, 1999. All rights under foreign copyright laws are reserved. All portions of this publication are protected against any type or form of reproduction, communications to the public and the preparation of adaptations, arrangement and alterations outside the United States. U. S. copyright is not asserted under the U.S. Copyright Law, Title 17, United States Code.

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