Definition of Youth
The Mauritanian national youth policy (2004) defines youth as between 12-30 years.
Marriageable Age
- Opposite Sex
- Same Sex
- Without parental consent
- with parental consent
- Male
- 18
- --
- XX
- Female
- 18
- --
- XX
According to the UNCRC report (2008), marriage is “subject to consent, except in cases determined by a judicial decision”. Homosexual acts illegal, with punishment being death by public stoning. Source: UNSD, ILGA, UN Child Rights Periodic Report (2008)
Candidacy Age
- Lower House
- 25 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Upper House
- 35
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Partially indirectly elected and by other means.
Criminal Responsibility
(2008)
Situation of Young People
Literacy Rates
- 70.04% Male (15-24) %
- 54.98% Female (15-24) %
- Year: 2015
- Source: UNESCO
Net Enrolment Rate
Secondary School- 15.31%Male %
- 13.52% Female %
- Year: 2006
- Source: UNESCO
Situation of Young People
Tobacco Use
Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.- 27.50% Male (13-15) %
- 17.70% Female (13-15) %
- Year: 2010
- Source: WHO
Policy & Legislation
The national youth policy (2004) aims to promote youth development within the framework of national values. It has five strategic priorities: 1) Developing a legal framework of the youth sector; 2) Capacity-building of administrative structures; 3) Promoting youth employment and socio-economic integration; 4) Promoting cultural activities, recreation and leisure; 5) Advocacy and protection of young people and adolescents. This includes themes such as youth participation, social inclusion, entrepreneurship, reproductive health, peace and democracy. A 2006 version of the youth policy, states that it is valid between 2004-2010. According to an article on 14 May 2013, UNFPA have supported the Government of Mauritania in defining a national youth policy, however no revised or new policy can be found online.
Public Institutions
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Youth and Representation
Budget & Spending
- % of GDP
- % of gov. expenditure
Source: World Bank
Gaps indicate missing data from the original data source. (Accessed May 2014).
Additional Background
In 2010, 32 per cent of Mauritania’s population of 3.5 million consisted of young people between 10 and 24 years of age. The number of young people is projected to increase to 1.5 million by 2025 and to 1.9 million by 2050.Education
Compared to other countries in the region, progression to secondary education is low: Thirty-eight per cent of male adolescents progress from primary to secondary school; 31 per cent of females advance. In addition, many adolescents do not go on to complete their secondary education. Forty-eight per cent of adolescents of lower secondary-school age do not attend school. To ensure individuals, communities, and countries can reap the social and economic benefits of increased access to education, more efforts must be directed towards improving school retention and completion rates.Employment
Fifty-seven per cent of young men aged 15 to 24 are looking for or have a job in Mauritania; only 22 per cent of young women participate in the labour force—the lowest rate in the region. This disparity may reflect cultural attitudes that encourage women to stay in the home and limit their role in society and public life.Sexual and reproductive health and rights
In Mauritania, 35 per cent of young women aged 20 to 24 were married by age 18. Early childbearing is relatively high with 7 per cent of female adolescents aged 15 to 19 giving birth each year.Gender equality and social protection
Child labour is low with 18 per cent of children aged 5 to 14 involved in child labour, which includes economic activity or household chores such as cooking, cleaning or caring for children. Sixty-nine per cent of young women aged 20 to 24 have undergone the harmful traditional practice of female genital mutilation/cutting, one of the higher rates in sub-Saharan Africa.HIV
HIV prevalence is low in Mauritania with 0.4 per cent of young men and 0.3 per cent of women aged 15 to 24 infected. More information is needed about young people’s attitudes and behaviour towards HIV to strengthen prevention efforts.