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Economy of Mauritania vs Morocco compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritania has a GDP of $10.9B compared to $161B for Morocco, ranking 153/197 and 58/197 by economy size, respectively.

Mauritania has $4.67B in government debt (42.8% of GDP), compared to $109B (67.7% of GDP) in Morocco.

Mauritania vs Morocco GDP by year

Mauritania
Morocco
1x
Year GDP, current $
Mauritania Morocco
2024 $10,908,045,687 $160,610,994,055
2023 $10,726,838,461 $146,036,093,667
2022 $9,557,966,698 $131,245,312,804
2021 $9,222,536,364 $142,022,058,447
2020 $8,260,752,385 $121,353,645,057
2019 $7,894,764,886 $128,920,266,409
2018 $7,473,550,557 $127,341,147,582
2017 $6,800,135,898 $118,540,573,368
2016 $6,398,747,592 $111,572,947,005
2015 $6,166,863,897 $110,413,823,842
2014 $6,592,537,782 $119,130,841,412
2013 $7,223,071,097 $115,739,287,305
2012 $6,728,208,836 $106,937,392,311
2011 $6,764,627,746 $110,080,631,332
2010 $5,628,878,798 $100,865,329,473
2009 $4,714,595,548 $101,154,952,241
2008 $5,206,437,194 $101,822,906,949
2007 $4,346,212,355 $86,947,913,287
2006 $3,919,577,286 $75,883,823,301
2005 $2,936,019,526 $68,852,658,069
2004 $2,362,501,023 $66,114,145,451
2003 $2,051,147,607 $58,029,363,354
2002 $1,777,057,481 $47,077,192,188
2001 $1,746,063,558 $43,831,480,208
2000 $1,779,520,886 $43,017,455,402
1999 $1,985,922,776 $46,266,428,648
1998 $2,032,347,665 $46,497,608,725
1997 $2,071,996,564 $39,147,844,526
1996 $2,132,087,009 $43,161,571,528
1995 $2,091,726,101 $39,030,285,468
1994 $1,944,876,755 $35,604,137,423
1993 $1,847,353,211 $31,655,473,664
1992 $2,164,298,425 $33,711,069,431
1991 $2,133,692,697 $32,285,573,574
1990 $1,506,914,408 $30,179,954,775
1989 $1,450,647,019 $26,314,313,191
1988 $1,414,951,290 $25,705,296,184
1987 $1,344,664,725 $21,765,195,948
1986 $1,186,628,778 $19,462,085,540
1985 $1,009,723,326 $14,991,283,216
1984 $1,074,373,230 $14,824,667,954
1983 $1,165,171,263 $16,251,408,128
1982 $1,108,776,653 $17,692,276,734
1981 $1,105,494,682 $17,788,185,479
1980 $1,047,925,106 $21,728,516,153
1979 $951,900,945 $15,911,994,817
1978 $804,629,877 $13,236,946,234
1977 $799,030,017 $11,049,783,872
1976 $775,045,517 $9,584,297,284
1975 $703,377,837 $8,984,853,005
1974 $613,010,553 $7,675,466,449
1973 $493,237,876 $6,242,145,880
1972 $391,669,449 $5,074,117,545
1971 $335,568,907 $4,356,669,034
1970 $309,405,316 $3,956,336,244
1969 $295,062,308 $3,651,622,669
1968 $311,395,937 $3,271,422,333
1967 $282,615,310 $3,046,345,314
1966 $266,533,605 $2,876,401,297
1965 $255,340,475 $2,948,331,090
1964 $224,495,744 $2,798,345,299
1963 $168,186,297 $2,657,252,578
1962 $164,271,558 $2,379,611,125
1961 $159,213,430 $2,025,693,540
1960 - $2,037,154,742

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/morocco | CC BY

GDP per capita in Mauritania vs Morocco by year

Mauritania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Morocco
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Mauritania Morocco
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,110 $7,369 $4,218 $10,415
2023 $2,136 $6,966 $3,872 $9,895
2022 $1,960 $6,485 $3,516 $9,310
2021 $1,948 $5,837 $3,843 $8,623
2020 $1,796 $5,741 $3,317 $7,705
2019 $1,767 $5,610 $3,560 $8,046
2018 $1,723 $5,429 $3,553 $7,801
2017 $1,615 $5,353 $3,344 $8,115
2016 $1,566 $4,683 $3,186 $7,853
2015 $1,555 $3,978 $3,190 $7,799
2014 $1,713 $3,865 $3,483 $7,237
2013 $1,934 $3,831 $3,425 $7,542
2012 $1,859 $3,465 $3,206 $7,308
2011 $1,931 $3,271 $3,345 $7,274
2010 $1,660 $3,178 $3,107 $6,849
2009 $1,435 $3,159 $3,158 $6,629
2008 $1,636 $3,236 $3,222 $6,437
2007 $1,405 $3,278 $2,788 $6,058
2006 $1,301 $3,342 $2,466 $5,781
2005 $999 $2,809 $2,268 $5,275
2004 $824 $2,570 $2,207 $5,025
2003 $732 $2,447 $1,962 $4,741
2002 $649 $2,296 $1,612 $4,436
2001 $652 $2,280 $1,521 $4,269
2000 $681 $2,304 $1,513 $3,930
1999 $781 $2,411 $1,651 $3,801
1998 $821 $2,355 $1,683 $3,740
1997 $859 $2,325 $1,439 $3,502
1996 $904 $2,436 $1,610 $3,551
1995 $905 $2,306 $1,478 $3,152
1994 $865 $2,114 $1,369 $3,315
1993 $850 $2,209 $1,236 $2,979
1992 $1,036 $2,122 $1,337 $2,979
1991 $1,062 $2,116 $1,302 $3,025
1990 $772 $2,070 $1,238 $2,777
1989 $762 - $1,099 -
1988 $762 - $1,094 -
1987 $746 - $944 -
1986 $677 - $861 -
1985 $593 - $678 -
1984 $650 - $687 -
1983 $725 - $772 -
1982 $710 - $862 -
1981 $729 - $890 -
1980 $711 - $1,117 -
1979 $664 - $839 -
1978 $578 - $716 -
1977 $590 - $613 -
1976 $589 - $545 -
1975 $551 - $524 -
1974 $494 - $459 -
1973 $410 - $382 -
1972 $335 - $319 -
1971 $296 - $280.6 -
1970 $281.3 - $261.5 -
1969 $276.6 - $247.8 -
1968 $301 - $228 -
1967 $281.5 - $218.1 -
1966 $273.6 - $211.5 -
1965 $270 - $222.7 -
1964 $244.3 - $216.9 -
1963 $188.2 - $211.3 -
1962 $189 - $194.2 -
1961 $188.2 - $169.8 -
1960 - - $175.2 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/morocco | CC BY

Mauritania's GDP per capita is $2,110, ranking 156/197, compared to $4,218 in Morocco, ranking 127/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Mauritania ranks 147th at $7,369, while Morocco ranks 132nd at $10,415.

Economic indicators

Mauritania Morocco
Gross domestic product
$10.9B
2024
$161B
2024
GDP rank
153/197
2024
58/197
2024
GDP growth
6.31%
2023-2024
3.79%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,110
2024
$4,218
2024
GDP per capita rank
156/197
2024
127/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,369
2024
$10,415
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
147/197
2024
132/197
2024
Government debt
$4.67B
2024
$109B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.8%
2024
67.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$904
2024
$2,857
2024
Government debt per person rank
145/185
2024
104/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,078
2026
$5,678
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$74.5B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
3
2025
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2019
31.9%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2019
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
33%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.49%
2023-2024
0.99%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
10.4%
2019
11.8%
2022
Population
5505206
38871720

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Mauritania
Spending

Debt
Morocco
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Mauritania Morocco
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.6% 42.8% 33% 67.7%
2023 24.8% 47.1% 32% 68.7%
2022 28.7% 50.5% 33.7% 71.4%
2021 20.8% 54.5% 31% 69.4%
2020 18.5% 56.5% 34.1% 72.2%
2019 17.8% 57.7% 27.6% 60.3%
2018 19% 59.2% 27.8% 60.5%
2017 20.3% 55.7% 27.9% 60.3%
2016 20.8% 57.6% 28.6% 60.1%
2015 25.7% 59.9% 28.5% 58.4%
2014 23.9% 49.5% 30.7% 58.6%
2013 20.1% 40.7% 30.4% 57.1%
2012 21.5% 39.3% 32.5% 52.3%
2011 17% 38.8% 31.2% 48.6%
2010 17.3% 43.9% 28.7% 45.3%
2009 19.6% 54.3% 28.1% 42.6%
2008 19.8% 57.2% 28.3% 42%
2007 19.7% 61.5% 26.4% 47.1%
2006 19% 38% 26% 50.6%
2005 21.3% 71.1% 28.6% 54.8%
2004 23.9% 22% 24.5% 54.4%
2003 - 22.9% 24.1% 56.9%
2002 - 59.5% 25.8% 59.4%
2001 - 63.5% 23.7% 60.4%
2000 - 55.5% 22.8% 64.9%
1999 - - 18.4% 63.4%
1998 - - 18.7% 64.5%
1997 - - 18.6% 68%
1996 - - 17.6% 65.3%
1995 - - 21.3% 72.2%
1994 - - 21.7% 69.3%
1993 - - 23.1% 74.7%
1992 - - 22.3% 67%
1991 - - 20.8% 59.1%
1990 - - 22.6% 70.5%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/morocco | CC BY

In 2024, Mauritania's government spending was $2.57B, accounting for 23.6% of its GDP, while Morocco spent $53.1B, or 33% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 42.8% in Mauritania and 67.7% in Morocco, ranking 126/185 and 60/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Mauritania

Morocco
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Mauritania Morocco
2024 -1.35% -3.92%
2023 -2.45% -4.41%
2022 -3.09% -5.37%
2021 2.6% -5.92%
2020 2.78% -7.15%
2019 2.65% -3.8%
2018 3.23% -3.52%
2017 0.53% -3.3%
2016 0.13% -4.49%
2015 -2.44% -4.59%
2014 -2.64% -4.78%
2013 -0.66% -4.7%
2012 1.67% -6.63%
2011 0.07% -6.08%
2010 -0.45% -3.93%
2009 -3.59% -1.63%
2008 -3.32% 0.63%
2007 -1.38% -0.12%
2006 2.05% -1.8%
2005 -3.16% -5.46%
2004 -3.06% -3.31%
2003 - -3.74%
2002 - -4.37%
2001 - -3.79%
2000 - -1.97%
1999 - 3.21%
1998 - 1.47%
1997 - 1.5%
1996 - 0.87%
1995 - -2.54%
1994 - -2.51%
1993 - -2%
1992 - -1.84%
1991 - -0.9%
1990 - -1.32%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/morocco | CC BY

In 2024, Mauritania's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $148M, equivalent to 1.35% of GDP. This compares to Morocco's deficit of $6.3B, or 3.92% of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Mauritania recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of those years, while Morocco ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Mauritania posted an annual deficit equal to 0.57% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.01% of GDP for Morocco.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Mauritania

Morocco
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Mauritania Morocco
2024 2.49% 0.99%
2023 4.95% 6.09%
2022 9.53% 6.66%
2021 3.57% 1.4%
2020 2.39% 0.71%
2019 2.3% 0.3%
2018 3.07% 1.8%
2017 2.25% 0.75%
2016 1.47% 1.64%
2015 3.25% 1.56%
2014 3.53% 0.44%
2013 4.13% 1.88%
2012 4.9% 1.29%
2011 5.69% 0.91%
2010 6.28% 0.99%
2009 2.22% 0.97%
2008 7.35% 3.71%
2007 7.25% 2.04%
2006 6.24% 3.28%
2005 12.1% 0.98%
2004 10.4% 1.49%
2003 5.15% 1.17%
2002 3.9% 2.8%
2001 4.71% 0.62%
2000 3.25% 1.89%
1999 4.07% 0.68%
1998 8.03% 2.75%
1997 4.63% 1.04%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/morocco | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Mauritania has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.97%, compared with 1.82% in Morocco. In 2024, inflation was 2.49% in Mauritania and 0.99% in Morocco.

Top exports between countries

Mauritania
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $1.78M
Raw agricultural goods $940K
Textiles & consumer goods $837K
Wood & paper products $663K
Machinery & equipment $600K
Chemicals & pharma $292K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $98K
Weapons & explosives $86K
Metals $30K
Raw materials & minerals $7K
Morocco
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $83.9M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $58.6M
Raw agricultural goods $43.9M
Chemicals & pharma $37.6M
Raw materials & minerals $29M
Textiles & consumer goods $20M
Wood & paper products $17.9M
Metals $16.1M
Animal & marine products $14.4M
Weapons & explosives $1.07M

Balance of trade

Mauritania Morocco
Current account balance
-$1.04B
2024
-$1.87B
2024
Current account balance ranking
124/190
2024
141/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-9.53%
2024
-1.16%
2024
Goods imports
$4.32B
2024
$66.5B
2024
Goods exports
$3.83B
2024
$39.3B
2024
Service imports
$1.05B
2024
$14.3B
2024
Service exports
$230M
2024
$28.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.2%
2024
50.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.4%
2024
42%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Mauritania Morocco
Economic freedom 53.9 61.8
Economic freedom ranking 136/197 91/197
Property rights 32.6 55.2
Government integrity 24.5 35.6
Judicial effectiveness 26.4 32.5
Tax burden 75.5 65.5
Government spending 80.2 67.5
Fiscal health 87.9 57.5
Business freedom 38.7 72.1
Labor freedom 53.6 46.2
Monetary freedom 77.8 79.6
Trade freedom 59.6 69.8
Investment freedom 50 80
Financial freedom 40 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Mauritania
Morocco
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Mauritania Morocco
2026 53.9 61.8
2025 54.9 60.3
2024 55.3 56.8
2023 55.3 58.4
2022 55.3 59.2
2021 56.1 63.3
2020 55.3 63.3
2019 55.7 62.9
2018 54 61.9
2017 54.4 61.5
2016 54.8 61.3
2015 53.3 60.1
2014 53.2 58.3
2013 52.3 59.6
2012 53 60.2
2011 52.1 59.6
2010 52 59.2
2009 53.9 57.7
2008 55.2 55.6
2007 53.6 56.4
2006 55.7 51.5
2005 59.4 52.2
2004 61.8 56.7
2003 59 57.8
2002 52.5 59
2001 48.5 63.9
2000 46 63.2
1999 42.8 63.8
1998 43.7 61.1
1997 47 64.7
1996 45.5 64.3
1995 - 62.8

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/morocco | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Mauritania is 53.9, ranking 136/197, compared to 61.8 for Morocco, ranking 91/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Mauritania Morocco
Services, % of GDP
42.4%
2024
52.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.5%
2024
25.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19.3%
2024
10.6%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$11B
2024
$149B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,300
2024
$10,260
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.04B
2021
$37.1B
2024
Total reserves ranking
126/177
2021
52/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.44B
2024
-$948M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.44B
2024
$1.64B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.9M
2024
$691M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.82%
2024
5.63%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
31.8%
2019
3.9%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
43.1%
2024
30.1%
2024

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/morocco | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023–2024, 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.