Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 671,080; female 668,408)
15-64 years: 51.8% (male 743,573; female 764,358)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 26,669; female 38,496) (2003 est.)

Median age: total: 16.9 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 17.2 years (2002)

Population growth rate: 2.91% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 42.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 13.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 73.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.62 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.93 years
male: 49.78 years
female: 54.13 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.08 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.8% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 6,600 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 610 (2001 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian

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

Religions: Muslim 100%

Languages: Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official), French

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9% (2003 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritania on this page is re-published from the 2003 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Guinea Geography 2003 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritania People 2003 should be addressed to the CIA.