Country Flag:
Country Map: United Nations Maps: Mauritania
Country Name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Name of Capital City: Nouakchott
Date of Independence: Mauritania gained independence from France on November 28, 1960.
 

Regions, Provinces or Governorates: 12 provinces (wilayat) + the city of Nouakchott: Al-Hawd al-Sharqi, Al-Hawd al-Gharbi, Al-Osaba, Gorgoul, Al-Barakinah, Al-Trarzah, Adrar, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Tagant, Kidimaga, Terszammour, Insheeri.
Country Area (sq km): 1031000
Population (million): 3.1 (2007)
Population, annual growth rate (%) 1975-2005: 2.7
Population, estimated growth rate (%) 2005-2015: 2.4
 

Type of State: Republic/Unitary
Date of Constitution: The first constitution was promulgated on May 20, 1961. A second constitution was approved by public referendum on July 12, 1991. The current constitution, an amended version of the 1991 constitution, was approved by public referendum on June 25, 2006.
 

Type: The head of state is the President.
Name of Current: Former President Mohammed Ould Abdulaziz won the presidential elections from the first round in July 19, 2009. General Mohammed Ould Abdulaziz had previously resigned from the chairmanship of the ruling Military Council on Thursday night, 15 April 2009 in order to nominate himself in the presidential elections.
 

About: The prime minister is appointed by the president, and they both participate in the naming of the ministers and the formation of the government.
Name of Current: Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf (born 1957) has served as the Prime Minister of Mauritania since August 2008.
 

Type: Bicameral elected parliament
- National Assembly [Arabic][French]
 

Suffrage:
- See Also: Mauritania - Election Calendar and Results  

Human development index (HDI): 0.52 (2007)
HDI rank (worldwide): 154 (2007)
Adult literacy rate (% aged 15 and older): 55.8 (2007)
Female secondary gross enrollment (%): 23.6 (2007)
Gross enrollment, tertiary level education (%): 4 (2007)
Life expectancy at birth (years): 56.6 (2007)
Poverty index (HP1-1) value (%): 36.2 (2007)
GDP per capita (PPP US$): 1927 (2007)
GDP per capita (PPP US$) rank minus HDI rank: -12 (2007)
* See more human development indicators on Arab Statistics (external link)  

Legal system and codification: Civil Law.
Administration: The Higher Judicial Council manages judicial affairs. It is responsible for transfer, promoting and disciplining of judges.
Supreme Court:
Constitutional Court:
Shari'a or Personal Status:
 

United Nations (UN): October 27, 1961
International Monetary Fund (IMF): September 10, 1963
World Trade Organization (WTO): May 31, 1995
Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC):
World Bank – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): September 10, 1963
World Bank – International Finance Corporation (IFC): January 29, 1967
World Bank – Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA): September 8, 1992
World Bank – International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID): October 14, 1966
 

- Human Rights Conventions
- International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions
- UN Conventions against Corruption and Transnational Organized Crime
- Environment Treaties