Population 2,828,858 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 46.1% (male 653,005; female 650,530)
15-64 years: 51.7% (male 720,473; female 741,094)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 26,251; female 37,505) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 2.92% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 51.53 years
female: 53.71 years (2002 est.)
male: 49.42 years

Total fertility rate 6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 1.8% (2000 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths 610 (1999 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: 41.2%
male: 51.5%
female: 31.3% (2002 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritania on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mauritania People 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritania People 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.