Population:
3,205,060 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
[see also: Population country ranks ]

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 643,436/female 638,793)
[see also: Age structure - 0-14 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 55.7% (male 818,778/female 923,046)
[see also: Age structure - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 44,836/female 60,597) (2010 est.)
[see also: Age structure - 65 years and over country ranks ]

Median age:
total: 19.3 years
[see also: Median age - total country ranks ]
male: 18.5 years
[see also: Median age - male country ranks ]
female: 20.2 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Median age - female country ranks ]

Population growth rate:
2.373% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
[see also: Population growth rate country ranks ]

Birth rate:
33.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
[see also: Birth rate country ranks ]

Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
[see also: Death rate country ranks ]

Net migration rate:
-0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
[see also: Net migration rate country ranks ]

Urbanization:
urban population: 41% of total population (2008)
[see also: Urbanization - urban population country ranks ]
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
[see also: Urbanization - rate of urbanization country ranks ]

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - at birth country ranks ]
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - under 15 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 65 years and over country ranks ]
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
[see also: Sex ratio - total population country ranks ]

Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 34
[see also: Infant mortality rate - total country ranks ]
male: 67.13 deaths/1,000 live births
[see also: Infant mortality rate - male country ranks ]
female: 56.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
[see also: Infant mortality rate - female country ranks ]

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.75 years
country comparison to the world: 185
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - total population country ranks ]
male: 58.57 years
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - male country ranks ]
female: 62.99 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - female country ranks ]

Total fertility rate:
4.37 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
[see also: Total fertility rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
[see also: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
[see also: HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
[see also: HIV/AIDS - deaths country ranks ]

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian

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

Religions:
Muslim 100%

Languages:
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
[see also: Literacy - total population country ranks ]
male: 59.5%
[see also: Literacy - male country ranks ]
female: 43.4% (2000 census)
[see also: Literacy - female country ranks ]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2007)

Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 95
[see also: Education expenditures country ranks ]