Population 2,411,317 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 49% (male 586,972; female 580,408)
15-64 years: 49% (male 579,071; female 612,343)
65 years and over : 2% (male 22,098; female 30,425) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate 3.17% (1997 est.)

Birth rate 46.55 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate 14.82 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio
at birth : 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate 80 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 49.49 years
male : 46.52 years
female: 52.58 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate 6.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Religions Muslim 100%

Languages Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)

Literacy
definition : age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.7%
male: 49.6%
female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritania on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mauritania People 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritania People 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.