Names: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah

Capital City: Nouakchott

Population: 3,177,388 (July 2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita: $2,600 (2006 est.)

Currency: ouguiya (MRO)

Languages: Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof

Total Area: total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Region: Africa

Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Agriculture: dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep

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

Labor Force: 786,000 (2001)
agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2001 est.)

Exports: $784 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Imports: $1.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Overview: Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for nearly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt which now stands at more than three times the level of annual exports. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. Mauritania has an estimated 1 billion barrels of proved reserves. Substantial oil production and exports began in early 2006 and averaged 75,000 barrels per day for the year. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.

_{CIA World Book}

In 2007 Missouri exported $546,214 in goods to Mauritania. This ranks Mauritania 80^th among the 223 international buyers of Missouri goods. Missouri exports to Mauritania increased from the previous year by $308,569 a change of 129.84%. State exports to Mauritania have decreased over the last 5 years by $546,214 a change of NA%. Missouri exports account for .00%. of all 2007 US exports to Mauritania.