Fact Sheet
FACT SHEET – ISLAMIC REP OF MAURITANIA
| 1. | Name and Capital | Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Nouakchott |
| 2. | Neighbours | Senegal, Mali, Algeria & Western Sahara (Morocco) |
| 3. | Head of State / Head of Government |
President: H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh EL Ghazouani (since 01 August 2019) Prime Minister: H.E. Mr. Ismail Ould Bedda Ould Cheikh Sidiya (since 05 August 2019) |
| 4. | Foreign Minister | H.E. Mr. Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed |
| 5. | Form of Government | Presidential |
| 6. | Time Difference from India | -5.1/2 hours |
| 7. | Currency | Ouguiya (I US$ = 36.75 Mauritanian Ouguiya approx) |
| 8. | Population | 4.53 million (2019) |
| 9. | Area | 1.03 million sq kms |
| 10. | Religion | Almost 100% Islam |
| 11. | Languages | Arabic (official), French, Soninke, Pulaar & Wolof |
| 12. | National Day | Independence Day 28 November (1960) |
| 13. (a) | GDP at current prices | US$ 4.935 billion (2017 est.) Source: CIA world factbook |
| (b) | GDP(PPP) | 17.28 billion (2017 est.) Source: CIA world factbook |
| (c ) | GDP Per Capita | US$ 4500 (2017 est.) Source: CIA world factbook |
| (d) | Real GDP Growth | 3.5% (2017 est.) Source: CIA world factbook |
| 14. | Inflation | 2.3% (2017 est.) Source: CIA world factbook |
| 15. | Principal natural resources | iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish source: http://www.infoplease.com/country/mauritania.html?pageno=6 |
| 16. (a) | Total Exports to major importing countries | US$ 1.722 billion (2017 est.) Iron ore, fish and fish products, gold. The top export destinations of Mauritania are China (31.2%), Switzerland (14.4%), Japan (8.1%), Germany (8.2%) and Spain (10.1%). |
| (b) | Total imports from major exporting countries | US$ 2.094 billion (2017 est.) machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods The top import origins of Mauritania are: Belgium 11.5%, UAE 11.3%, US 9.2%, China 7.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.1%, Morocco – 6%. |
| 17. | Membership of the major multilateral and regional associations | Mauritania is a member of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, NAM, AU, the African Development Bank (AfDB), FAO, G-77, OIC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, WHO, WIPO, WMO and WTO |
| 18. | Bilateral Trade with India | Total Trade – US$ 131.36 Million (2018-19) India’s Import from Mauritania – US$ 15.77 Million (2018-19) India’s Export to Mauritania – US$ 115.59 Million (2018-19) |
| 19. | Indian community | 100-150 approx. |
