MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Mauritania
Index
Population: Census of 1979 enumerated population of
over 1.4 million, including nomadic population of approximately
513,000. In 1987 approximately 1.8 million population with annual
growth rate of 2.9 percent. At least 40 percent, and perhaps as
much as 80 percent, of population urban and concentrated in
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou; remainder farmers or small town
dwellers. Rural population densities ranged from 0.1 per square
kilometer in north to 35 per square kilometer in south, with
overall average of 1.8 per square kilometer. Over 46 percent of
population under age fifteen.
Ethnic Groups: Six ethnic groups; one primarily ArabBerber (Maure), remainder black African (Toucouleur, Fulbe,
Soninké, Wolof, and Bambara). Numerical proportions of each a
source of contention; in 1978 government claimed 70 percent
Maure; others said blacks constituted 50 percent or more.
Languages: Official languages: Hassaniya Arabic, spoken
primarily by Maures, and French, preferred by blacks for
political reasons. Fulfulde, Azayr, Wolof, and Mandé-kan spoken
by black groups in south.
Education: Secular education not compulsory; in 1985
approximately 35 percent of primary-school-age children and 4 to
10 percent of secondary-school-age children enrolled. Secular
schooling based on French system with six years of primary
schooling followed by four-year lower cycle of secondary
schooling and three-year upper cycle. One major secular
university and various teacher training and vocational
institutes, all government owned. Islamic education common
throughout country; usually limited to rote learning of Quran.
One Islamic institute of higher learning providing instruction in
Islamic subjects and teaching methods. Literacy rate estimated at
5 percent at independence, about 18 percent in 1985.
Religion: Virtually entire population Sunni Muslims and
adhere to Maliki rite.
Health: Infectious and parasitic diseases, including
malaria, endemic. Health standards low and facilities woefully
inadequate; severe shortages of equipment, supplies, and trained
personnel.
Data as of June 1988
|
|