President: The presidency rotates every eight months between a Serb, a Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and a Croat.
President: Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz
Population
3,875,723
3,437,610
Life Expectancy
76.120 years
61.910 years
Capital City
Sarajevo
Nouakchott
Largest city
Sarajevo (population: 696,731)
Nouakchott (population: 661,400)
Human Development Index
0.802
0.557
GDP per capita
$8,300 US
$2,100 US
Literacy Rate
96.7%
51.2%
Corruption Perception Index
3.2
2.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.3%
19.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
43.300%
30.000%
Death Penalty
NA
Abolished in practice
Political System
emerging federal democratic republic
military junta
Independence date
1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence completed 1 March 1992; independence declared 3 March 1992)
28 November 1960 (from France)
Religions
Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%
Muslim 100%
Languages
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Exports
metals, clothing, wood products
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
External Debt
$9,051,000,000 $
$2,942,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.3083 (2008 est.), 1.4419 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004) note: the convertible mark is pegged to the euro
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Area
51,197 km sq
1,030,700 km sq
Coastline
20 km
754 km
Climate
hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
