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Mauritania economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritania ranked 153/197 by economy size with a GDP of $10.9B and 156/197 by GDP per capita at $2,110. Mauritania has $4.67B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 42.8%.

In 2024, Mauritania made up 0.01% of the world's economy, compared to 0.01% in 1961.

Mauritania GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $10,908,045,687 6.31%
2023 $10,726,838,461 6.81%
2022 $9,557,966,698 6.8%
2021 $9,222,536,364 0.74%
2020 $8,260,752,385 -0.36%
2019 $7,894,764,886 3.14%
2018 $7,473,550,557 4.77%
2017 $6,800,135,898 6.27%
2016 $6,398,747,592 1.26%
2015 $6,166,863,897 5.38%
2014 $6,592,537,782 4.27%
2013 $7,223,071,097 4.15%
2012 $6,728,208,836 4.47%
2011 $6,764,627,746 4.17%
2010 $5,628,878,798 2.62%
2009 $4,714,595,548 0.1%
2008 $5,206,437,194 -0.33%
2007 $4,346,212,355 -1.97%
2006 $3,919,577,286 18.3%
2005 $2,936,019,526 8.57%
2004 $2,362,501,023 4.73%
2003 $2,051,147,607 6.93%
2002 $1,777,057,481 1.38%
2001 $1,746,063,558 -0.8%
2000 $1,779,520,886 -3.92%
1999 $1,985,922,776 3.67%
1998 $2,032,347,665 2.78%
1997 $2,071,996,564 -4.04%
1996 $2,132,087,009 5.82%
1995 $2,091,726,101 9.82%
1994 $1,944,876,755 -3.06%
1993 $1,847,353,211 5.87%
1992 $2,164,298,425 1.87%
1991 $2,133,692,697 1.79%
1990 $1,506,914,408 -1.77%
1989 $1,450,647,019 4.78%
1988 $1,414,951,290 1.72%
1987 $1,344,664,725 1.9%
1986 $1,186,628,778 5.71%
1985 $1,009,723,326 2.99%
1984 $1,074,373,230 -3.23%
1983 $1,165,171,263 3.74%
1982 $1,108,776,653 -2.34%
1981 $1,105,494,682 3.45%
1980 $1,047,925,106 3.37%
1979 $951,900,945 4.79%
1978 $804,629,877 -0.5%
1977 $799,030,017 -1.88%
1976 $775,045,517 8.55%
1975 $703,377,837 -5.13%
1974 $613,010,553 12.2%
1973 $493,237,876 -4.58%
1972 $391,669,449 -0.73%
1971 $335,568,907 1.84%
1970 $309,405,316 12%
1969 $295,062,308 1.25%
1968 $311,395,937 10.2%
1967 $282,615,310 3.57%
1966 $266,533,605 0.23%
1965 $255,340,475 16.1%
1964 $224,495,744 27.7%
1963 $168,186,297 -1.98%
1962 $164,271,558 0.73%
1961 $159,213,430 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania | CC BY

Mauritania GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,110 $7,369
2023 $2,136 $6,966
2022 $1,960 $6,485
2021 $1,948 $5,837
2020 $1,796 $5,741
2019 $1,767 $5,610
2018 $1,723 $5,429
2017 $1,615 $5,353
2016 $1,566 $4,683
2015 $1,555 $3,978
2014 $1,713 $3,865
2013 $1,934 $3,831
2012 $1,859 $3,465
2011 $1,931 $3,271
2010 $1,660 $3,178
2009 $1,435 $3,159
2008 $1,636 $3,236
2007 $1,405 $3,278
2006 $1,301 $3,342
2005 $999 $2,809
2004 $824 $2,570
2003 $732 $2,447
2002 $649 $2,296
2001 $652 $2,280
2000 $681 $2,304
1999 $781 $2,411
1998 $821 $2,355
1997 $859 $2,325
1996 $904 $2,436
1995 $905 $2,306
1994 $865 $2,114
1993 $850 $2,209
1992 $1,036 $2,122
1991 $1,062 $2,116
1990 $772 $2,070
1989 $762 -
1988 $762 -
1987 $746 -
1986 $677 -
1985 $593 -
1984 $650 -
1983 $725 -
1982 $710 -
1981 $729 -
1980 $711 -
1979 $664 -
1978 $578 -
1977 $590 -
1976 $589 -
1975 $551 -
1974 $494 -
1973 $410 -
1972 $335 -
1971 $296 -
1970 $281.3 -
1969 $276.6 -
1968 $301 -
1967 $281.5 -
1966 $273.6 -
1965 $270 -
1964 $244.3 -
1963 $188.2 -
1962 $189 -
1961 $188.2 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania | CC BY

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $2,110, ranking 156/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $7,369, ranking 147/197, and a median annual after tax income of $2,078, ranking 164/197.

Mauritania GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 147 146 135
2023 149 152 141
2022 149 154 142
2021 147 155 142
2020 148 152 140
2019 149 154 141
2018 150 155 140
2017 150 154 137
2016 151 152 139
2015 153 150 150
2014 153 149 150
2013 151 145 145
2012 149 144 147
2011 148 143 146
2010 150 145 147
2009 150 146 147
2008 147 142 146
2007 148 140 144
2006 147 138 141
2005 151 145 145
2004 153 146 147
2003 153 145 147
2002 151 146 145
2001 148 143 145
2000 147 138 145
1999 144 131 140
1998 142 132 138
1997 144 130 135
1996 141 126 123
1995 139 120 125
1994 130 116 128
1993 135 118 122
1992 132 108 124
1991 133 107 126
1990 140 128 126
1989 124 115 -
1988 127 114 -
1987 123 110 -
1986 121 108 -
1985 123 113 -
1984 116 111 -
1983 113 104 -
1982 117 108 -
1981 118 108 -
1980 117 110 -
1979 112 102 -
1978 111 102 -
1977 104 92 -
1976 104 86 -
1975 105 90 -
1974 103 90 -
1973 104 89 -
1972 105 88 -
1971 104 90 -
1970 104 88 -
1969 100 72 -
1968 97 67 -
1967 95 67 -
1966 94 66 -
1965 94 65 -
1964 94 63 -
1963 98 72 -
1962 99 68 -
1961 97 68 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Mauritania is ranked 147th out of 182 by GDP (unchanged), 146th by GDP per capita (down from 138th), and 135th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 145th).

Economic indicators

Mauritania Rank
Gross domestic product
$10.9B
2024
153/197
GDP growth
6.31%
2023-2024
18/194
GDP per capita
$2,110
2024
156/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,369
2024
147/197
Government debt
$4.67B
2024
145/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.8%
2024
126/185
Government debt per person
$904
2024
145/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,078
2026
164/197
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2019
126/169
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2019
53/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
129/195
Consumer prices inflation
2.49%
2023-2024
124/195
Unemployment rate
10.4%
2019
37/196
Population
5505206
125/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 23.6% 42.8% -1.35%
2023 24.8% 47.1% -2.45%
2022 28.7% 50.5% -3.09%
2021 20.8% 54.5% 2.6%
2020 18.5% 56.5% 2.78%
2019 17.8% 57.7% 2.65%
2018 19% 59.2% 3.23%
2017 20.3% 55.7% 0.53%
2016 20.8% 57.6% 0.13%
2015 25.7% 59.9% -2.44%
2014 23.9% 49.5% -2.64%
2013 20.1% 40.7% -0.66%
2012 21.5% 39.3% 1.67%
2011 17% 38.8% 0.07%
2010 17.3% 43.9% -0.45%
2009 19.6% 54.3% -3.59%
2008 19.8% 57.2% -3.32%
2007 19.7% 61.5% -1.38%
2006 19% 38% 2.05%
2005 21.3% 71.1% -3.16%
2004 23.9% 22% -3.06%
2003 - 22.9% -
2002 - 59.5% -
2001 - 63.5% -
2000 - 55.5% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania | CC BY

This chart shows Mauritania's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Mauritania recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 0.57% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $2.57B (23.6% of GDP), with a deficit of 1.35%.

The national debt reached $4.67B, ranking 145th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 42.8%, ranking 126th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 2.49%
2023 4.95%
2022 9.53%
2021 3.57%
2020 2.39%
2019 2.3%
2018 3.07%
2017 2.25%
2016 1.47%
2015 3.25%
2014 3.53%
2013 4.13%
2012 4.9%
2011 5.69%
2010 6.28%
2009 2.22%
2008 7.35%
2007 7.25%
2006 6.24%
2005 12.1%
2004 10.4%
2003 5.15%
2002 3.9%
2001 4.71%
2000 3.25%
1999 4.07%
1998 8.03%
1997 4.63%
1996 4.68%
1995 6.54%
1994 4.13%
1993 9.37%
1992 10.1%
1991 5.63%
1990 6.6%
1989 12.9%
1988 1.32%
1987 8.15%
1986 7.43%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1986–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Mauritania has had an average annual inflation rate of 4.75%. In 2024, inflation was 2.49%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Mauritania Rank
Current account balance
-$1.04B
2024
124/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-9.53%
2024
161/190
Goods imports
$4.32B
2024
139/189
Goods exports
$3.83B
2024
130/189
Service imports
$1.05B
2024
144/189
Service exports
$230M
2024
162/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.2%
2024
72/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.4%
2024
79/193

Mauritania top 10 trading partners

Mauritania's biggest trading partner accounting for 17.1% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of +$559M: Mauritania exports $1.05B worth of goods and services to China and imports $487M.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Mauritania.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $1.53B 17.1% $1.05B $487M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 Canada $1.15B 12.8% $1.12B $30.5M Precious metals & jewellery Machinery & equipment
3 UAE $985M 11% $147M $839M Precious metals & jewellery Raw materials & minerals
4 Spain $985M 11% $333M $652M Animal & marine products Raw materials & minerals
5 Belgium $481M 5.36% $7.23M $474M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
6 Switzerland $374M 4.17% $371M $3.02M Precious metals & jewellery Raw materials & minerals
7 France $341M 3.8% $46.5M $295M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
8 Brazil $313M 3.49% $12K $313M Machinery & equipment Processed food, beverages & tobacco
9 Algeria $216M 2.4% $134M $81.6M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
10 Japan $214M 2.38% $100M $113M Animal & marine products Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Mauritania Rank
Precious metals & jewellery $1.64B 50/190
Raw materials & minerals $1.42B 101/193
Animal & marine products $950M 57/192
Transport & tourism services $118M 154/188
Government & miscellaneous services $107M 75/180
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $98.6M 131/192
Business & finance services $73.7M 130/188
Textiles & consumer goods $11.8M 144/193
Raw agricultural goods $10.7M 157/193
IT & IP services $9.3M 157/183

Top 10 imports

Mauritania Rank
Raw materials & minerals $1.9B 120/193
Machinery & equipment $1.05B 141/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $619M 126/193
Transport & tourism services $493M 147/188
Raw agricultural goods $401M 117/193
Business & finance services $370M 121/188
Metals $287M 140/193
Chemicals & pharma $213M 157/193
Textiles & consumer goods $136M 158/193
Animal & marine products $132M 124/193

Economic freedom indices

Mauritania Rank
Economic freedom 53.9 136/197
Property rights 32.6 137/182
Government integrity 24.5 147/182
Judicial effectiveness 26.4 136/182
Tax burden 75.5 117/182
Government spending 80.2 66/180
Fiscal health 87.9 56/181
Business freedom 38.7 156/182
Labor freedom 53.6 118/182
Monetary freedom 77.8 38/180
Trade freedom 59.6 150/181
Investment freedom 50 117/181
Financial freedom 40 117/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 53.9 26.4 75.5 80.2 87.9
2025 54.9 28.3 75.8 81.5 95.4
2024 55.3 28.1 76 85.9 94.8
2023 55.3 24.2 75.8 90 94.7
2022 55.3 29.9 75.2 89.4 92.9
2021 56.1 23.9 74.3 88.4 93.3
2020 55.3 20.8 80.9 76.4 85.9
2019 55.7 30.6 78 74.2 80.6
2018 54 17.6 75.9 72.8 71.8
2017 54.4 13.8 81.2 73.2 77.1
2016 54.8 - 81.6 75.3 -
2015 53.3 - 80.2 59.8 -
2014 53.2 - 81.7 75.8 -
2013 52.3 - 80.3 74.7 -
2012 53 - 80.5 71.9 -
2011 52.1 - 81.1 73.9 -
2010 52 - 75.1 73.4 -
2009 53.9 - 75.4 65.9 -
2008 55.2 - 75.4 66.3 -
2007 53.6 - 75.5 57.4 -
2006 55.7 - 81.7 70 -
2005 59.4 - 78.2 70.4 -
2004 61.8 - 76.2 80.5 -
2003 59 - 61.3 72.5 -
2002 52.5 - 51.3 79.7 -
2001 48.5 - 51.3 79.7 -
2000 46 - 51.3 84.1 -
1999 42.8 - 50.7 73.4 -
1998 43.7 - 50.1 82.7 -
1997 47 - 50.4 83.9 -
1996 45.5 - 49.8 80.3 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania | CC BY

Mauritania is ranked 121/174 for economic freedom with a score of 53.9, compared to 104/162 and a score of 55.7 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Mauritania Rank
Services, % of GDP
42.4%
2024
168/191
Industry, % of GDP
30.5%
2024
56/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19.3%
2024
40/193
GNI, Atlas method
$11B
2024
150/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,300
2024
142/191
Total reserves including gold
$2.04B
2021
126/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.44B
2024
129/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.44B
2024
85/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.9M
2024
124/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.82%
2024
64/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
31.8%
2019
56/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
43.1%
2024
4/178

Compare Mauritania vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.