Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 38% forests and woodland: 4% other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
@Mauritania:People
Population: 2,511,473 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 584,303; female 583,526) 15-64 years: 51% (male 624,144; female 660,478) 65 years and over: 3% (male 24,813; female 34,209) (July 1998 est.)