Report by Mauritania

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is situated in north-west Africa, covering an area of 1,031,000 km2 - four fifths of which are desert - and has a population of 3.2 million. Population density is around three inhabitants per square kilometre. The annual rate of demographic growth is approximately 3 per cent, life expectancy is 56.6 years and the literacy rate among adults (over 15 years old) is 55.8 per cent.