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 Massoud (since 06 August 2020; and re-elected in April 2022)

4.

Foreign Minister

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug (since April 2022)

5.

Form of Government

Presidential

6.

Time Difference from India

-5.1/2 hours

7.

Currency

Ouguiya
(I US$ = 36.37 Mauritanian Ouguiya approx. June 2022)

8.

Population

4.42 million (2019)

9.

Area

1.03 million sq kms

10.

Religion

Islam (the State religion)

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$ 7.78 billion (2020)
Source: Trading Economics

(b )

GDP Per Capita

US$ 1683.86 (2020)
Source: Trading Economics

(c)

Real GDP Growth

3.9% (2021)
Source: Trading Economics

15.

Inflation

3.2% (2020)
source: Central Bank

16.

Principal natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish, Oil & gas

17. (a)

Total Exports to major importing countries

US$ 3.7 billion (2020)
Mauritania’s main export is iron ore (36 percent of total exports), gold 22.2% followed by fish, copper.
Mauritania’s main export partner is China (33.9 percent of total exports). Others include: Switzerland, Spain, Canada, Japan, Italy, Germany, Russia.

(b)

Total imports from major exporting countries

US$ 3.41 billion (2020)
Mauritania main imports are: fuel (27 percent of total imports), machinery (25 percent), foodstuffs and construction materials. Mauritania’s main import partners are the China (22.2 percent of total imports) followed by France, UAE, Morocco, Turkey, Netherlands, Spain, 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$108.91 Million (2021-22)
India’s Import from Mauritania–US$ 12.02 Million (2021-22)
India’s Export to Mauritania – US$ 96.90 Million (2021-22)

20.

Indian community

100-150 approx. (mainly expats)