The Human Truth Foundation

Mauritania (Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

https://www.humantruth.info/mauritania.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#mauritania

Mauritania
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index182nd best
CapitalNouakchott
Land Area1 030 700km21
LocationAfrica
Population4.4m2
Life Expectancy64.36yrs (2017)3
GNI$5 075 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesMR, MRT, 4785
Internet Domain.mr6
CurrencyOuguiya (MRO)7
Telephone+2228

1. Overview

#france #spain

Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976 but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ deposed him and installed a military council government. AZIZ was subsequently elected president in July 2009 and sworn in the following month. AZIZ sustained injuries from an accidental shooting by his own troops in October 2012, but has continued to maintain his authority. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverA seemingly endless realm of Saharan sands, lapped by the Atlantic, Mauritania is a bridge between North Africa and sub-Saharan regions. If West Africa is a playground for overlanders, then Mauritania often seems to be little more than a transit between the better-known attractions of Marrakesh, Dakar or Bamako. As the safest trans-Saharan route for overlanders, Mauritania has long been regarded as a waystation en route from Europe to West Africa. That´s a shame because Mauritania has some tremendous secrets to reveal.

Just as impressive as the cultural diversity is some of the continent´s grandest scenery. The Adrar region offers epic sand dunes, eye-popping plateaus and Africa´s biggest monolith. The Tagānt has similar charms, and both hide ancient caravan towns - Chinguetti, Ouadāne and Oualāta. The World Heritage feast continues along the coast at Parc National du Banc d´Arguin, which attracts millions of migratory birds and is a renowned birdwatching site.

If you just breeze through, you´ll miss out on a truly incredible country. No one in Mauritania is in a rush, and you shouldn´t be either.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Mauritania National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
155Solomon Islands0.564
156=Comoros0.558
156=Papua New Guinea0.558
158Mauritania0.556
159Ivory Coast0.550
160Tanzania0.549
161Pakistan0.544
162Togo0.539
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
136Samoa$5 308
137Honduras$5 298
138Ivory Coast$5 217
139Mauritania$5 075
140Djibouti$5 025
141Venezuela$4 811
142Nigeria$4 790
143Pakistan$4 624
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
179Yemen124.1
180Nauru124.3
181Guinea-Bissau125.6
182Mauritania126.0
183Papua New Guinea126.5
184Comoros128.6
185Sudan129.6
186Afghanistan130.3
Africa Avg112.4
World Avg87.9
q=196.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Mauritania's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Mauritania's population is predicted to rise to 5.2 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.40. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
123Ireland4.8m
124New Zealand4.7m
125Central African Rep.4.7m
126Mauritania4.4m
127Panama4.2m
128Croatia4.2m
129Kuwait4.1m
130Moldova4.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
151Ethiopia65.0
152Tuvalu64.5
153Madagascar64.5
154Mauritania64.4
155Ghana63.8
156Yemen63.8
157Bolivia63.6
158Nauru63.6
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
146Eritrea4.28
147Palestine4.31
148Cameroon4.33
149Mauritania4.40
150Congo, (Brazzaville)4.46
151Central African Rep.4.46
152Madagascar4.52
153Iraq4.57
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
41Swaziland06.6
42Central African Rep.06.8
43=Sudan06.8
43=Mauritania06.8
43=Kuwait06.8
46Congo, (Brazzaville)07.0
47=Solomon Islands07.0
47=Rwanda07.0
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
91Czechia4.1%
92Uganda3.9%
93Dominican Rep.3.9%
94Mauritania3.8%
95Namibia3.8%
96Burkina Faso3.7%
97Trinidad & Tobago3.7%
98Togo3.6%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
130Chile3.7%
131Peru3.7%
132Czechia3.6%
133Mauritania3.5%
134Canada3.5%
135Algeria3.4%
136Sweden3.4%
137Ghana3.4%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Mauritania's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Africa (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1S. Africa56.1
2Seychelles66.7
3Namibia69.4
...
46Zimbabwe134.3
47Angola136.0
48Eritrea139.5
49Djibouti140.6
50Comoros140.8
51Swaziland141.8
52Mauritania144.4
53Sudan148.6
54Somalia159.5
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
188Comoros140.8
189Pakistan141.3
190Swaziland141.8
191Mauritania144.4
192Cook Islands144.5
193N. Korea146.5
194Brunei147.1
195Sudan148.6
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
19
Pos.2009
Treaties19
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
122Sudan14
123=Cameroon14
123=Uzbekistan14
125Mauritania13
126=Sri Lanka13
126=Malawi13
126=Zambia13
126=Congo, (Brazzaville)13
Africa Avg14.8
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
20
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty20
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
159Ireland13.38
160Oman13.46
161Uzbekistan13.53
162Mauritania13.56
163Liberia13.61
164San Marino13.63
165Saudi Arabia13.73
166Timor-Leste (E. Timor)13.73
Africa Avg9.88
World Avg10.02
q=195.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
21
Pos.2014
Rank21
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
140Nigeria140
141China141
142Ethiopia142
143Mauritania143
144=Egypt144
144=Saudi Arabia144
146Chad146
147=Pakistan146
Africa Avg114.2
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Press Freedom
Lower is better
22
Pos.201322
1Finland638
2Netherlands648
3Norway652
...
63=Croatia2661
63=Central African Rep.2661
65Tonga2670
66Mauritania2676
67Bosnia & Herzegovina2686
68Guyana2708
69Tanzania2734
70Kenya2780
Africa Avg3511
World Avg3249
q=178.
Slavery
Lower is better
23
Pos.2018
% Victims23
1Japan0.03
2=Canada0.05
2=Taiwan0.05
...
159Cambodia1.68
160=Pakistan1.68
161S. Sudan2.05
162Mauritania2.14
163Afghanistan2.22
164Central African Rep.2.23
165Burundi4.00
166Eritrea9.30
Africa Avg0.96
World Avg0.65
q=167.

The life-destroying practice of slavery is "entrenched in Mauritanian society with slave status being inherited, and deeply rooted in social castes and the wider social system. Those owned by masters often have no freedom to own land, cannot claim dowries from their marriages nor inherit property or possessions from their families"24. In 2015 Mauritania did improve its law, but, the judiciary and the police are reluctant to comply24.

Gender Equality:

Mauritania is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women. Cultural Islamic beliefs are squarely the cause of this.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
25
Pos.201525
1Switzerland0.04
2Denmark0.04
3Netherlands0.04
...
144Benin0.61
145Malawi0.61
146Burkina Faso0.62
147Mauritania0.63
148Gambia0.64
149Central African Rep.0.65
150Liberia0.65
151Sierra Leone0.65
Africa Avg0.54
World Avg0.36
q=159.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Total
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
127=Gambia1960
128El Salvador1961
129=Rwanda1961
129=Mauritania1961
129=Burundi1961
129=Malawi1961
129=Paraguay1961
129=Sierra Leone1961
Africa Avg1961
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
26
Pos.2017
Score26
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
178=Uzbekistan-30
178=Tonga-30
178=Tuvalu-30
181Mauritania-32
182UAE-34
183=Kuwait-37
183=Algeria-37
185Tunisia-39
Africa Avg-10.4
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
27
Pos.202127
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
183Kuwait4.5
184=Syria4.5
184=Jordan4.5
186Mauritania4.8
187=UAE4.8
187=Maldives4.8
187=Sudan4.8
187=Brunei4.8
Africa Avg3.1
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Mauritania's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Mauritius64.5
2Morocco73.1
3=Eritrea77.0
...
21Lesotho106.3
22Botswana106.5
23Tanzania107.5
24Mauritania107.6
25Kenya107.9
26Senegal108.0
27Zimbabwe109.3
28Zambia109.9
29Sierra Leone110.9
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Health (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
146=Belarus107.1
147Ukraine107.3
148Tanzania107.5
149Mauritania107.6
150Samoa107.8
151Kenya107.9
152Senegal108.0
153Zimbabwe109.3
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau29.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean29, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa29.

For more, see:

Health:

Mauritania is a pretty unhealthy country. Mauritania does the best in its alcohol consumption rate30. It does better than average in its smoking rate31. However Mauritania performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in its adolescent birth rate25, its fertility rate13, its average life expectancy11 (still high for Africa) and in its immunizations take-up32. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance33 (amongst the worst in Africa). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Mauritania improved by +5.9yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
151Ethiopia65.0
152Tuvalu64.5
153Madagascar64.5
154Mauritania64.4
155Ghana63.8
156Yemen63.8
157Bolivia63.6
158Nauru63.6
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
30
Pos.2016
Per Capita30
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
6Yemen0.1
7=Afghanistan0.2
7=Saudi Arabia0.2
9Syria0.3
10=Pakistan0.3
11Kiribati0.4
12=Iraq0.4
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
146Eritrea4.28
147Palestine4.31
148Cameroon4.33
149Mauritania4.40
150Congo, (Brazzaville)4.46
151Central African Rep.4.46
152Madagascar4.52
153Iraq4.57
Africa Avg4.31
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
31
Pos.201431
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
29Ghana 121
30Benin 122
31Zimbabwe 134
32Mauritania 135
33Bhutan 155
34Chad 156
35Zambia 165
36Gambia 166
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
156Libya156
157Papua New Guinea157
158Belize158
159Algeria159
160Senegal160
161Mauritania161
162St Vincent & Grenadines162
163Angola163
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
34
Pos.2016
%34
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
55N. Korea32.4
56Thailand32.6
57Cameroon33.6
58Mauritania34.4
59Cape Verde34.8
60Sao Tome & Principe35.4
61Seychelles36.8
62Zimbabwe38.2
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
25
Pos.2015
Per 100025
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
144Ecuador75.9
145Namibia76.8
146Senegal78.6
147Mauritania78.6
148Venezuela79.4
149Guatemala80.7
150Bangladesh83.0
151Benin83.2
Africa Avg87.5
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
32
Pos.2015
Avg %32
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
156=Benin80.1
156=Guinea-Bissau80.1
158Tonga80.0
159Mauritania79.9
160Lebanon79.4
161San Marino79.3
162Gabon78.7
163Micronesia78.2
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Mauritania's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2023)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1Seychelles55.3
2Kenya57.4
3=Zambia57.6
...
44Lesotho109.7
45Sao Tome & Principe110.3
46Congo, (Brazzaville)111.8
47Mauritania114.5
48=S. Sudan118.0
49Zimbabwe119.0
50Liberia125.8
51Libya132.8
52Gabon141.7
Africa Avg90.1
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
164Croatia112.0
165Timor-Leste (E. Timor)114.3
166UAE114.4
167Mauritania114.5
168Tonga115.0
169Suriname115.3
170Kuwait115.4
171=Serbia118.0
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Mauritania is 167th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 5 data sets. Mauritania does better than average in annual meat consumption per person36 (but bad for Africa). However Mauritania performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population37 and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of its environmental performance38 and in its forested percent change 2000-202039.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
39
Pos.Total39
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
223Northern Mariana Islands-24.8%
224Cambodia-25.6%
225Benin-25.8%
226Mauritania-27.7%
227Uganda-28.0%
228St Pierre & Miquelon-29.1%
229Malawi-29.4%
230Paraguay-32.6%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

From 2000 to 2020, Mauritania destroyed a quarter of its forest cover, falling from 422 to 313 thousand hectares.

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
38
Pos.201838
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
163Djibouti40.0
164Papua New Guinea39.4
165Eritrea39.3
166Mauritania39.2
167Benin38.2
168Afghanistan37.7
169Pakistan37.5
170Angola37.4
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
155Kyrgyzstan1996 Nov 04
156=Iran1996 Nov 04
157S. Sudan2014 May 18
158Mauritania1996 Nov 14
159Qatar1996 Nov 19
160Bahrain1996 Nov 28
161Turkmenistan1996 Dec 17
162Laos1996 Dec 19
Africa Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better37
Pos.2011
%37
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
72France38.4%
73Mongolia38.4%
74Hungary38.0%
75Mauritania38.0%
76Croatia37.8%
77Cambodia37.1%
78Namibia36.6%
79Germany36.1%
Africa Avg38.3%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
36
Pos.2021
kg36
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
58Iran31.6
59Morocco32.1
60Tajikistan32.4
61Mauritania32.4
62Philippines32.9
63Burkina Faso33.3
64Central African Rep.34.4
65Comoros34.5
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Mauritania's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)40
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank40
1S. Africa52.8
2Egypt70.4
3Tunisia73.4
...
35Tanzania132.0
36Mozambique133.8
37=Congo, DR134.7
37=Mauritania134.7
39Lesotho137.2
40Congo, (Brazzaville)137.4
41Burundi139.0
42Madagascar142.5
43Benin143.3
Africa Avg120.7
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)40
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank40
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
179Tanzania132.0
180Mozambique133.8
181Yemen134.4
182=Mauritania134.7
182=Congo, DR134.7
184Afghanistan136.7
185Lesotho137.2
186Congo, (Brazzaville)137.4
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
41
Pos.201841
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
153Malawi21.8%
154Cambodia21.3%
155Mozambique19.3%
156Mauritania18.8%
157Senegal17.6%
158Sudan17.5%
159Ethiopia17.1%
160Rwanda16.3%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
42
Pos.2021
Years42
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
176Sierra Leone9.6
177Gambia9.4
178Tuvalu9.4
179Mauritania9.4
180Tanzania9.2
181Syria9.2
182Burkina Faso9.1
183Yemen9.1
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
138Congo, DR138
139Ecuador139
140Syria140
141Mauritania141
142Nigeria142
143Mali143
144Congo, (Brazzaville)144
145Qatar145
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
IQ
Higher is better43
Pos.200643
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
101=Guatemala79
101=Sri Lanka79
103Nepal78
104Mauritania76
105Uganda73
106=Tanzania72
106=Kenya72
106=S. Africa72
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
44
Pos.201644
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
158Cameroon18%
159Pakistan18%
160Nepal17%
161=Mauritania17%
161=S. Sudan17%
163Gambia17%
164Laos16%
165Namibia16%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
45
Pos.201345
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
50Italy1.15
51Vietnam1.15
52Nigeria1.18
53Mauritania1.19
54Azerbaijan1.21
55Belarus1.22
56Armenia1.22
57Malawi1.23
Africa Avg1.07
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
46
Pos.2017
Ratio46
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
140=Sao Tome & Principe0.0
140=Kiribati0.0
140=Ivory Coast0.0
140=Mauritania0.0
140=Iraq0.0
140=Oman0.0
140=Papua New Guinea0.0
140=French Polynesia0.0
Africa Avg0.04
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #happiness #politics

Corruption
Higher is better
47
Pos.2022
Points47
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
128Mexico31.0
129=Bolivia31.0
130Egypt30.0
131=Mauritania30.0
131=Togo30.0
131=Swaziland30.0
131=Djibouti30.0
131=Papua New Guinea30.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
48
Pos.2018
Score48
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
123Mozambique4.4
124Kenya4.4
125Zambia4.4
126Mauritania4.4
127Ethiopia4.4
128Georgia4.3
129Armenia4.3
130Myanmar (Burma)4.3
Africa Avg4.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
53UAE53
54Thailand54
55Macedonia55
56Mauritania56
57India57
58Philippines58
59Uruguay59
60Samoa60
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
155Grenada155
156Venezuela156
157Bahrain157
158Mauritania158
159Brunei159
160Algeria160
161Papua New Guinea161
162Brazil162
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
49
Pos.2023
Score49
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
111Lesotho2.19
112Djibouti2.20
113Congo, (Brazzaville)2.21
114Mauritania2.23
115Philippines2.23
116Belarus2.25
117Kenya2.25
118Mozambique2.26
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
92Pakistan92
93Estonia93
94Bahamas94
95Mauritania95
96Nicaragua96
97Peru97
98Czechia98
99Lithuania99
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
140Haiti140
141Mongolia141
142Syria142
143Mauritania143
144Rwanda144
145Chad145
146Central African Rep.146
147El Salvador147
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
50
Pos.2019
Score50
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
6Portugal0.00
7Croatia0.00
8Benin0.00
9Mauritania0.00
10Slovenia0.00
11Costa Rica0.00
12Romania0.00
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better51
Pos.201951
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
161Liberia29.80
162=Mozambique29.80
163Pakistan29.90
164Mauritania30.00
165Togo30.50
166Niger30.90
167Guinea31.30
168=Burkina Faso32.00
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
52
Pos.2017
%52
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
34Mongolia32.3
35=Switzerland32.3
36Bangladesh32.4
37Mauritania32.6
38=France32.7
38=Estonia32.7
40Nepal32.8
41=Tunisia32.8
Africa Avg42.6
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
53
Pos.2018
Severity53
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
73Malawi.243
74Togo.249
75Rwanda.259
76Mauritania.261
77Zambia.261
78Uganda.269
79Afghanistan.272
80Tanzania.273
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)54
Pos.Higher is better
%54
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
122=Niger0
122=Saudi Arabia0
122=Rwanda0
122=Cameroon0
122=Philippines0
122=Kuwait0
122=Madagascar0
122=Nigeria0
122=Malawi0
122=Chad0
122=Nepal0
122=Morocco0
122=Mauritania0
122=Mali0
122=Senegal0
122=Oman0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below55:

Christian0.3%
Muslim99%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.5%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim (official) 100%56.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)57, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Mauritania states:

The constitution and other laws and policies restrict freedom of religion or belief and the 1991 constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and recognizes Islam as the sole religion of its citizens and the state58. Due to this stance, all non-Muslims are restricted from being citizens of the country, and Mauritanians who leave Islam for another religion or no religion lose their citizenship. In addition, Article 306 of the penal code outlaws apostasy: anyone found guilty of converting from Islam will be given the opportunity to repent within three days and if the person does not repent, the individual will be sentenced to death and the person's property will be confiscated by the Treasury.

Sharia (Islamic law) provides legal principles upon which the law and legal procedures are based. The government and citizenry consider Islam to be the essential cohesive element unifying the country's various ethnic groups. There is a cabinet-level Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Traditional Education. The High Council of Islam, consisting of six imams, advised the government on conformance of legislation to Islamic precepts. The judiciary consists of a single system of courts that uses principles of Sharia in matters concerning the family and modern legal principles in all other matters.

The government requires members of the Constitutional Council and the High Council of Magistrates to take an oath of office that includes a promise to God to uphold the law of the land in conformity with Islamic precepts. Both public schools and private Islamic schools include classes on Islam, and attendance at these religious classes is required.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)59

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