Page:CIA World Factbook(1982).djvu/173

MAURITANIA (Continued) Highways: 7,540 km total; 1,350 km paved; 710 km gravel, crushed stone, or otherwise improved; 5,480 km unimproved

Inland waterways: 800 km

Ports: 2 major (Nouadhibouand and Nouakchott), 2 minor

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 31 total, 31 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, a minor radio-relay link, and radiocommunications stations; 3,000 telephones (0.2 per 100 popl.); 2 AM, no FM or TV stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Military manpower: males 15-49, 337,000; 164,000 fit for military service; conscription law not implemented

Supply: primarily dependent on France; has also received material from Algeria, Morocco, UK, Spain, and Romania

Military budget: for fiscal year ending 31 December 1981, $60.0 million; 26.0% of central government budget

 

LAND
1,856 km$2$ (excluding dependencies); 50% agricultural, intensely cultivated; 39% forests, woodlands, mountains, river, and natural reserves; 3% built-up areas; 5% water bodies, 2% roads and tracks, 1% permanent wastelands

WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm)

Coastline: 177 km

PEOPLE
Population: 990,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.7%

Nationality: noun—Mauritian(s); adjective—Mauritian

Ethnic divisions: 67% Indians, 29% Creoles, 3.5% Chinese, 0.5% English and French

Religion: 51% Hindu, 30% Christian (mostly Catholic with a few Anglican Protestants), 17% Muslim

Language: English official language; Hindi, Chinese, French, Creole

Literacy: estimated 60% for those over 21 and 90% for those of school age

Labor force: 335,000; 30% agriculture, 24% industry; 20% government services; 14% are unemployed, 12% other

Organized labor: about 35% of labor force, forming over 270 unions

GOVERNMENT
Official name: Mauritius

Type: independent state since 1968, recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State

Capital: Port Louis

Political subdivisions: 5 organized municipalities and various island dependencies

Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas; constitution adopted 6 March 1968  155