About Us Fact Sheet

Factsheet on Mauritania


1.

Name and Capital

Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Nouakchott

2.

Neighbours

Senegal, Mali, Algeria & 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. Mohamed Ould Bilal (since 06 August 2020)

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

Major Political Parties

  • Union for the Republic (UPR)
  • Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD)
  • Tewassoul
  • Union for Democracy and Progress (UDP)
  • El Karam
  • National Democratic Alliance
  • Union of the Forces of Progress (UFP)

14. (a)

GDP at current prices

US$ 7.59billion (2019 est.)
Source: Trading Economics

(b)

GDP(PPP)

US$ 24.49 billion (2019)
Source: World Bank

(c )

GDP Per Capita

US$ 1756.10 (2019 est.)
Source: Trading Economics

(d)

Real GDP Growth

6.7% (2019 est.)
Source: Trading Economics

15.

Inflation

2% (2020 est.)
Source: Trading Economics

16.

Principal natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

17. (a)

Total Exports to major importing countries

US$ 2.02billion (2018)
Mauritania’s main export is iron (44 percent of total exports) followed by fish, oil, gold and copper.
Mauritania’s main export partner is China (36 percent of total exports). Others include: Japan, Switzerland, Spain, France, Italy and Germany.

(b)

Total imports from major exporting countries

US$ 2.95 billion (2018)
Mauritania main imports are: fuel (27 percent of total imports), machinery (25 percent), foodstuffs and construction materials. Mauritania’s main import partners are the United Arab Emirates (26 percent of total imports) and Belgium (11 percent). Others include: France, Spain, China and the United States.

18.

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, G5 Sahel and WTO

19.

Bilateral Trade with India

Total Trade – US$ 94.53 Million (2019-20)
India’s Import from Mauritania–US$ 10.70 Million
(2019-20)
India’s Export to Mauritania – US$ 83.83 Million (2019-20)

20.

Indian community

100-150 approx.