Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Population
3,359,185
194,320
Life Expectancy
61.530 years
72.660 years
Capital City
Nouakchott
Largest city
Nouakchott (population: 661,400)
Apia (population: 40,407)
Human Development Index
0.557
0.76
GDP per capita
$2,200 US
Literacy Rate
51.2%
99.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.8
4.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
19.9%
8.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
30.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Abolished
Political System
military junta
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
28 November 1960 (from France)
Religions
Muslim 100%
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Exports
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
External Debt
$2,816,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
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
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Area
1,030,700 km sq
2,831 km sq
Coastline
754 km
403 km
Climate
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
