Mauritania

Exact population: 3,177,388 (July 2006 est.)
Literacy: Total population: 41.7%; male: 51.8%; female: 31.9%
Ethnicities: Mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Land boundaries: Total: 5,074 km; border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Terrain: Mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Extremes: Lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m; highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Imports: France 14.1%, US 7.6%, China 6.4%, Spain 5.8%, UK 4.6%, Germany 4.3%, Belgium 4.2% (2004)
Exports: Japan 13.1%, France 11%, Spain 9.7%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 9.6%, Belgium 7.5%, China 6.1%, Russia 4.6%, Cote d''Ivoire 4.1% (2004)
Industries: Fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Source: CIA World Factbook