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.)