Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Estimated population 3.5 million
Population density (people per square mile) 8
Population doubling time 24 years
GDP per capita US$ 1,069
Benchmark approximations
Population doubling time in years:
USA 79. Canada 81. Germany declining. UK 248. Russia declining. China 110. Philippines 41.
Population density (people per square mile)
USA 85. Canada 9. Germany 593. UK 660. Russia 21. China 368. Philippines 795.
GDP per capita in US$:
USA 53,000. Canada 52,000. Germany 46,200. UK 41,800. Russia 14,600. China 6,800. Philippines 2,770
RECENT HISTORY
Formerly a French colony until independence in 1960.
Post-colonial government was plagued by ethnic tensions between black French speaking Africa and nearby Arabic speaking Morocco, corruption, armed conflict with neighbours, military coups and international sanctions.
EDUCATION
The government of Mauritania attempts to provide free primary education. The effort, however, has been hindered by the nomadic character of the people. Primary schooling, which lasts for six years, begins at age six and is officially compulsory. Secondary education, which begins at age 12, lasts for six years, divided into two cycles of three years each. In 2002–2003 some 88 percent of eligible children attended primary school. Just 23 percent of secondary school-aged children were enrolled.
About half of the adult population is literate, although literacy rates for men are substantially higher than those for women.
At the time of independence in 1960, the language of the educational system was French, and a majority of students came from the southern part of the country, mainly from the Tukulor and Wolof populations, where there was a tradition of French colonial schooling. As a result, blacks in the country held most of the technical, professional, and diplomatic posts in the early 1960s, and the majority, Arabic-speaking Moors felt themselves to be disadvantaged. In the late 1980s, however, the military government accelerated a policy of Arabization that led to Arabic being taught in four-fifths of schools a decade later.
The University of Nouakchott (1981) has faculties of letters and human sciences and of law and economics. Other advanced education is provided by a research institute for mining and industry, a centre for Islamic studies, and a training facility for administrative personnel in Nouakchott.