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Economy of Mauritania vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritania has a GDP of $10.9B compared to $219B for Qatar, ranking 153/197 and 56/197 by economy size, respectively.

Mauritania has $4.67B in government debt (42.8% of GDP), compared to $90.2B (41.2% of GDP) in Qatar.

Mauritania vs Qatar GDP by year

Mauritania
Qatar
1x
Year GDP, current $
Mauritania Qatar
2024 $10,908,045,687 $219,162,637,363
2023 $10,726,838,461 $217,308,516,484
2022 $9,557,966,698 $235,709,340,659
2021 $9,222,536,364 $179,732,142,857
2020 $8,260,752,385 $144,411,538,462
2019 $7,894,764,886 $176,371,428,571
2018 $7,473,550,557 $183,335,164,835
2017 $6,800,135,898 $161,099,175,824
2016 $6,398,747,592 $151,732,142,857
2015 $6,166,863,897 $161,739,835,165
2014 $6,592,537,782 $206,224,725,275
2013 $7,223,071,097 $198,727,747,253
2012 $6,728,208,836 $186,833,516,484
2011 $6,764,627,746 $167,775,274,725
2010 $5,628,878,798 $123,627,197,802
2009 $4,714,595,548 $97,798,351,648
2008 $5,206,437,194 $115,270,054,945
2007 $4,346,212,355 $79,712,087,912
2006 $3,919,577,286 $60,882,142,857
2005 $2,936,019,526 $44,530,494,505
2004 $2,362,501,023 $31,734,065,934
2003 $2,051,147,607 $23,533,791,209
2002 $1,777,057,481 $19,363,736,264
2001 $1,746,063,558 $17,538,461,538
2000 $1,779,520,886 $17,759,890,110
1999 $1,985,922,776 $12,393,131,868
1998 $2,032,347,665 $10,255,495,027
1997 $2,071,996,564 $11,297,802,115
1996 $2,132,087,009 $9,059,340,385
1995 $2,091,726,101 $8,137,911,978
1994 $1,944,876,755 $7,374,450,769
1993 $1,847,353,211 $7,156,593,654
1992 $2,164,298,425 $7,646,153,984
1991 $2,133,692,697 $6,883,516,484
1990 $1,506,914,408 $7,360,439,423
1989 $1,450,647,019 $6,487,912,088
1988 $1,414,951,290 $6,038,187,033
1987 $1,344,664,725 $5,446,428,681
1986 $1,186,628,778 $5,053,021,951
1985 $1,009,723,326 $6,153,296,456
1984 $1,074,373,230 $6,704,395,824
1983 $1,165,171,263 $6,467,582,308
1982 $1,108,776,653 $7,596,703,214
1981 $1,105,494,682 $8,661,263,764
1980 $1,047,925,106 $7,829,165,262
1979 $951,900,945 $5,632,962,997
1978 $804,629,877 $4,052,000,413
1977 $799,030,017 $3,617,564,638
1976 $775,045,517 $3,284,273,987
1975 $703,377,837 $2,512,773,166
1974 $613,010,553 $2,401,403,227
1973 $493,237,876 $793,885,560
1972 $391,669,449 $510,262,500
1971 $335,568,907 $387,703,106
1970 $309,405,316 $301,791,302
1969 $295,062,308 -
1968 $311,395,937 -
1967 $282,615,310 -
1966 $266,533,605 -
1965 $255,340,475 -
1964 $224,495,744 -
1963 $168,186,297 -
1962 $164,271,558 -
1961 $159,213,430 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Mauritania vs Qatar by year

Mauritania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Mauritania Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,110 $7,369 $76,689 $126,046
2023 $2,136 $6,966 $81,817 $129,368
2022 $1,960 $6,485 $88,701 $122,921
2021 $1,948 $5,837 $71,752 $116,833
2020 $1,796 $5,741 $51,684 $82,149
2019 $1,767 $5,610 $66,841 $107,503
2018 $1,723 $5,429 $71,040 $110,033
2017 $1,615 $5,353 $63,280 $99,358
2016 $1,566 $4,683 $61,254 $89,935
2015 $1,555 $3,978 $68,985 $102,546
2014 $1,713 $3,865 $95,841 $148,389
2013 $1,934 $3,831 $103,697 $169,203
2012 $1,859 $3,465 $108,470 $180,939
2011 $1,931 $3,271 $103,262 $174,620
2010 $1,660 $3,178 $76,463 $151,646
2009 $1,435 $3,159 $60,786 $125,898
2008 $1,636 $3,236 $80,781 $126,015
2007 $1,405 $3,278 $65,954 $124,056
2006 $1,301 $3,342 $62,582 $127,181
2005 $999 $2,809 $53,950 $115,250
2004 $824 $2,570 $41,036 $110,958
2003 $732 $2,447 $31,602 $94,120
2002 $649 $2,296 $27,227 $93,177
2001 $652 $2,280 $25,871 $89,805
2000 $681 $2,304 $27,535 $88,849
1999 $781 $2,411 $20,234 $84,690
1998 $821 $2,355 $17,665 $84,486
1997 $859 $2,325 $20,523 $79,219
1996 $904 $2,436 $17,125 $62,331
1995 $905 $2,306 $15,823 $60,321
1994 $865 $2,114 $14,765 $59,415
1993 $850 $2,209 $14,770 $59,125
1992 $1,036 $2,122 $16,280 $60,387
1991 $1,062 $2,116 $15,133 $54,759
1990 $772 $2,070 $16,722 $55,659
1989 $762 - $15,243 -
1988 $762 - $14,682 -
1987 $746 - $13,719 -
1986 $677 - $13,213 -
1985 $593 - $16,815 -
1984 $650 - $19,272 -
1983 $725 - $19,616 -
1982 $710 - $24,385 -
1981 $729 - $29,505 -
1980 $711 - $28,375 -
1979 $664 - $21,777 -
1978 $578 - $16,757 -
1977 $590 - $16,058 -
1976 $589 - $15,710 -
1975 $551 - $13,014 -
1974 $494 - $13,540 -
1973 $410 - $4,905 -
1972 $335 - $3,483 -
1971 $296 - $2,952 -
1970 $281.3 - $2,594 -
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/qatar | CC BY

Mauritania's GDP per capita is $2,110, ranking 156/197, compared to $76,689 in Qatar, ranking 11/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Mauritania ranks 147th at $7,369, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,046.

Economic indicators

Mauritania Qatar
Gross domestic product
$10.9B
2024
$219B
2024
GDP rank
153/197
2024
56/197
2024
GDP growth
6.31%
2023-2024
2.36%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,110
2024
$76,689
2024
GDP per capita rank
156/197
2024
11/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,369
2024
$126,046
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
147/197
2024
5/197
2024
Government debt
$4.67B
2024
$90.2B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.8%
2024
41.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$904
2024
$31,579
2024
Government debt per person rank
145/185
2024
23/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,078
2026
$35,660
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$170M
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
26,163
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2025
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2019
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2019
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
26%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.49%
2023-2024
1.27%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.1%
2025
Unemployment rate
10.4%
2019
0.13%
2022
Population
5505206
2999260

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Mauritania
Spending

Debt
Qatar
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Mauritania Qatar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.6% 42.8% 26% 41.2%
2023 24.8% 47.1% 27.3% 43.7%
2022 28.7% 50.5% 24.3% 42.6%
2021 20.8% 54.5% 29.4% 58.4%
2020 18.5% 56.5% 34.7% 72.6%
2019 17.8% 57.7% 32.5% 62.1%
2018 19% 59.2% 28.9% 52.2%
2017 20.3% 55.7% 34.7% 51.6%
2016 20.8% 57.6% 40.1% 46.7%
2015 25.7% 59.9% 38.6% 35.5%
2014 23.9% 49.5% 32.3% 24.9%
2013 20.1% 40.7% 28.3% 30.9%
2012 21.5% 39.3% 31% 32.1%
2011 17% 38.8% 28.5% 33.5%
2010 17.3% 43.9% 32% 30.4%
2009 19.6% 54.3% 36.4% 36%
2008 19.8% 57.2% 23.5% 11.4%
2007 19.7% 61.5% 29.5% 9.37%
2006 19% 38% 29.5% 13.9%
2005 21.3% 71.1% 29% 19.1%
2004 23.9% 22% 29.9% 30.1%
2003 - 22.9% 28.5% 38.8%
2002 - 59.5% 31.6% 47.7%
2001 - 63.5% 32.1% 59.2%
2000 - 55.5% 29.8% 51.6%
1999 - - 42.4% 81.8%
1998 - - 55.1% 76.6%
1997 - - 47.6% 54.4%
1996 - - 55.2% 57.8%
1995 - - 52.2% 50.2%
1994 - - 59.8% 54.8%
1993 - - 62.8% 46.3%
1992 - - 54.2% 19.9%
1991 - - 57.5% 21.8%
1990 - - 50% 12.6%

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

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

In 2024, Mauritania's government spending was $2.57B, accounting for 23.6% of its GDP, while Qatar spent $56.9B, or 26% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 42.8% in Mauritania and 41.2% in Qatar, ranking 126/185 and 130/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Mauritania

Qatar
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Mauritania Qatar
2024 -1.35% 0.69%
2023 -2.45% 5.56%
2022 -3.09% 10.4%
2021 2.6% 0.24%
2020 2.78% -2.13%
2019 2.65% 1%
2018 3.23% 2.26%
2017 0.53% -6.82%
2016 0.13% -9.2%
2015 -2.44% 18.4%
2014 -2.64% 13.4%
2013 -0.66% 19.3%
2012 1.67% 8.55%
2011 0.07% 5.24%
2010 -0.45% 4.6%
2009 -3.59% 14.1%
2008 -3.32% 9.49%
2007 -1.38% 10.3%
2006 2.05% 8.39%
2005 -3.16% 9.8%
2004 -3.06% 17.7%
2003 - 6.71%
2002 - 7.89%
2001 - 4.48%
2000 - 4.62%
1999 - -4.35%
1998 - -7%
1997 - -9.4%
1996 - -8.73%
1995 - -5.78%
1994 - -11.8%
1993 - -9.53%
1992 - -2.74%
1991 - -2.57%
1990 - 3.23%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/qatar | 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 Qatar's surplus of $1.52B, or 0.69% of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Mauritania recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of those years, while Qatar ran a deficit in 3 years. On average, Mauritania posted an annual deficit equal to 0.57% of GDP, compared to surplus of 6.73% of GDP for Qatar.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Mauritania

Qatar
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Mauritania Qatar
2024 2.49% 1.27%
2023 4.95% 3.03%
2022 9.53% 5%
2021 3.57% 2.3%
2020 2.39% -2.54%
2019 2.3% -0.67%
2018 3.07% 0.26%
2017 2.25% 0.39%
2016 1.47% 2.68%
2015 3.25% 1.81%
2014 3.53% 3.35%
2013 4.13% 3.22%
2012 4.9% 2.32%
2011 5.69% 1.14%
2010 6.28% -2.43%
2009 2.22% -4.86%
2008 7.35% 15.1%
2007 7.25% 13.8%
2006 6.24% 11.8%
2005 12.1% 8.81%
2004 10.4% 6.8%
2003 5.15% 2.26%
2002 3.9% 0.24%
2001 4.71% 1.47%
2000 3.25% 1.65%
1999 4.07% 2.18%
1998 8.03% 2.95%
1997 4.63% 4.83%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Mauritania has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.97%, compared with 3.15% in Qatar. In 2024, inflation was 2.49% in Mauritania and 1.27% in Qatar.

Top exports between countries

Mauritania
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $57K
Wood & paper products $1K
Qatar
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $1.9M
Machinery & equipment $488K
Animal & marine products $223K
Miscellaneous $49K
Metals $36K
Raw agricultural goods $17K

Balance of trade

Mauritania Qatar
Current account balance
-$1.04B
2024
$37.9B
2024
Current account balance ranking
124/190
2024
16/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-9.53%
2024
+17.3%
2024
Goods imports
$4.32B
2024
$32.6B
2024
Goods exports
$3.83B
2024
$95B
2024
Service imports
$1.05B
2024
$37.1B
2024
Service exports
$230M
2024
$30.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.2%
2024
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.4%
2024
68.6%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Mauritania Qatar
Economic freedom 53.9 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 136/197 37/197
Property rights 32.6 66.2
Government integrity 24.5 53.5
Judicial effectiveness 26.4 41.5
Tax burden 75.5 99.9
Government spending 80.2 79.9
Fiscal health 87.9 96.6
Business freedom 38.7 68
Labor freedom 53.6 58.5
Monetary freedom 77.8 76
Trade freedom 59.6 81.8
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 40 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Mauritania
Qatar
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Mauritania Qatar
2026 53.9 70.2
2025 54.9 70.2
2024 55.3 68.8
2023 55.3 68.6
2022 55.3 67.7
2021 56.1 72
2020 55.3 72.3
2019 55.7 72.6
2018 54 72.6
2017 54.4 73.1
2016 54.8 70.7
2015 53.3 70.8
2014 53.2 71.2
2013 52.3 71.3
2012 53 71.3
2011 52.1 70.5
2010 52 69
2009 53.9 65.8
2008 55.2 62.2
2007 53.6 62.9
2006 55.7 62.4
2005 59.4 63.5
2004 61.8 66.5
2003 59 65.9
2002 52.5 61.9
2001 48.5 60
2000 46 62
1999 42.8 62
1998 43.7 -
1997 47 -
1996 45.5 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Mauritania is 53.9, ranking 136/197, compared to 70.2 for Qatar, ranking 37/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Mauritania Qatar
Services, % of GDP
42.4%
2024
46.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.5%
2024
58.2%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19.3%
2024
0.29%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$11B
2024
$221B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,300
2024
$121,900
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.04B
2021
$54B
2024
Total reserves ranking
126/177
2021
40/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.44B
2024
$1.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.44B
2024
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.9M
2024
$1.56B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.82%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
31.8%
2019
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
43.1%
2024
30.6%
2022

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/qatar | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2020–2024, 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.