Tenhemad - Demography and Religion

Demography and Religion

In 2000, the commune had a population of 2,264 people, with 155 people in the village of Ten Hamadi itself. As of 2007, the commune has 3,686 inhabitants in about 791 households. The population is generally young, and more than 53 percent are female. Most people belong to the Tenwajiw tribe, although small numbers belong to the Oulad Nasser, Smalil and Leglal tribes. Most live in the north and east of the commune owing to greater availability of water and land that can be used for crops or grazing. More than half the population live below the poverty line. There is seasonal migration from the commune to the cities of Aïoun and Nouakchott in the dry season, then back to the commune in the winter season, when many people return to help their families with tilling and planting. Like the rest of Mauritania, Islam is the primary religion, which according to the Central Intelligence Agency has a 100 percent following in the country.