Population: 2,747,312 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official), French

Background: 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...

Currency: ouguiya (MRO, No information)

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.