According to allcitypopulation, Mauritania is a North African country on the Atlantic coast that shares borders with Algeria, Mali, Senegal, and Western Sahara. It covers an area of 1,030,700 square kilometers and has a population of almost 4.6 million people. The country is divided into twelve administrative regions and is one of the largest countries in the region.
The geography of Mauritania is mainly desert but also includes some grassy savannas in the south and east. The highest point in Mauritania is Kediet ej Jill at 915 meters above sea level. The climate in Mauritania is mostly hot and dry with occasional rainfall during the summer months. According to Petwithsupplies, the capital city of Mauritania is Nouakchott with a population of 1,314,600 (UN estimate 2020). Other major cities include Nouâdhibou with a population of 118,200 (Census 2013).
Mauritania’s economy relies heavily on its natural resources such as iron ore, oil, fish, gold and copper. Agriculture is also important for the economy as it accounts for 12% of GDP with exports mainly consisting of dates and livestock products such as goats and sheep. The fishing industry has also been growing steadily over recent years due to increased investment into fisheries infrastructure along with providing employment opportunities for many Mauritanians living near coastal areas.
The service sector has been growing steadily over recent years due to increased investment into tourism infrastructure along with providing employment opportunities for many Mauritanians living near coastal areas. This sector now accounts for around 60% of GDP while mining accounts for around 25%.
Mauritania’s economy has grown steadily over recent years due to increased investment into infrastructure along with government reforms aimed at improving economic growth and reducing poverty levels within the country significantly over recent years.
Foreign Trade of Mauritania
Mauritania is a small country located in the western part of Africa. It has a population of approximately 4.5 million people and an area of 1,030,000 km2. The country has a mainly export-oriented economy with mineral resources such as iron ore and oil being the main contributors to its foreign trade. In 2019, exports from Mauritania were valued at $1.2 billion while imports were worth $1.1 billion, resulting in a positive balance of trade for the country.
Mauritania’s major exports are iron ore (50%), fish (19%), and petroleum products (13%). Other major exports include gold, copper, livestock products, and textiles. The main destination for Mauritanian exports is China which accounts for 55% of total exports followed by France (7%) and Senegal (6%). Imports into Mauritania consist mainly of machinery and transport equipment (25%), food products (21%), manufactured goods (15%) and chemicals (10%). The main sources of imports are France which accounts for 29%, China 19%, Spain 11% and Senegal 8%. In recent years, Mauritania has also been able to increase its participation in regional trade through increased membership in various regional organizations such as the African Union and Economic Community of West African States.
Major Trading Partners of Mauritania
Mauritania’s major trading partners are France, China, Spain, and Senegal. France is the largest trading partner of Mauritania and accounted for 29% of total imports in 2019. The main imports from France are machinery and transport equipment, food products, and manufactured goods. China is the second largest trading partner of Mauritania accounting for 19% of total imports in 2019. Major imports from China include machinery and transport equipment as well as consumer electronics. Spain is the third largest trading partner of Mauritania accounting for 11% of total imports in 2019. The main imports from Spain are food products and chemicals. Senegal is the fourth largest trading partner of Mauritania accounting for 8% of total imports in 2019. Imports from Senegal include food products, textiles, and livestock products.
Mauritania also has significant trade relations with other African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Algeria and Angola. In addition to these countries, Mauritania also has a growing trade relationship with India which is now its sixth largest import source country after France, China,Spain,Senegal and United States.India’s exports to Mauritania have grown significantly over the last decade due to increased demand for Indian goods such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemical products and engineering goods. In 2018-19 India exported US$ 229 million worth of goods to Mauritania which was an increase by 17% over 2017-18.
Major Imports and Exports of Mauritania
Mauritania’s major imports include machinery and transport equipment, food products, manufactured goods, and chemicals. Machinery and transport equipment account for the largest share of imports (30%), followed by food products (26%), manufactured goods (15%) and chemicals (10%). The main sources of imports are France which accounts for 29%, China 19%, Spain 11% and Senegal 8%.
Mauritania’s major exports include iron ore, fish, agricultural products, and petroleum. Iron ore accounts for the largest share of exports (58%), followed by fish (24%), agricultural products (8%) and petroleum (7%). The main destinations for exports are China which accounts for 43%, Italy 21%, Spain 10% and France 9%.
In addition to traditional trading partners such as France, China,Spain,Senegal, Mauritania also has significant trade relations with other African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Algeria and Angola. In 2018-19 India exported US$ 229 million worth of goods to Mauritania which was an increase by 17% over 2017-18.
Overall, Mauritania’s trade balance has improved in recent years due to increased trade with regional partners as well as increased membership in various regional organizations such as the African Union and Economic Community of West African States. This has helped to diversify its export markets while at the same time providing access to a wider range of imported goods.