Country
Mauritania Seychelles
Leader
Population
3,359,185 90,024
Life Expectancy
61.530 years 73.770 years
Capital City
Nouakchott Victoria
Largest city
Nouakchott (population: 661,400) Victoria (population: 22,881)
Human Development Index
0.557 0.836 GDP per capita $2,200 US $25,000 US
Literacy Rate
51.2% 91.8%
Corruption Perception Index
2.8 4.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
19.9% 23.5% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 30.000% 2.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice Abolished
Political System
military junta republic
Independence date
28 November 1960 (from France) 29 June 1976 (from UK) Religions Muslim 100% Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census) Languages Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census) Exports iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports) External Debt $2,816,000,000 $ $1,470,000,000 US Exchange Rate ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003) Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 8 (2008 est.), 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 5.500% 2.000% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar Area 1,030,700 km sq 455 km sq Coastline 754 km 491 km Climate desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
