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Economy of Mauritania vs Tunisia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritania has a GDP of $10.9B compared to $51.3B for Tunisia, ranking 153/197 and 93/197 by economy size, respectively.

Mauritania has $4.67B in government debt (42.8% of GDP), compared to $42.8B (83.4% of GDP) in Tunisia.

Mauritania vs Tunisia GDP by year

Mauritania
Tunisia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Mauritania Tunisia
2024 $10,908,045,687 $51,332,285,657
2023 $10,726,838,461 $48,205,328,303
2022 $9,557,966,698 $44,929,920,093
2021 $9,222,536,364 $47,073,234,359
2020 $8,260,752,385 $42,491,780,918
2019 $7,894,764,886 $41,905,642,419
2018 $7,473,550,557 $42,686,504,460
2017 $6,800,135,898 $42,163,530,591
2016 $6,398,747,592 $44,360,072,680
2015 $6,166,863,897 $45,779,494,042
2014 $6,592,537,782 $50,271,812,921
2013 $7,223,071,097 $48,685,446,414
2012 $6,728,208,836 $47,311,401,813
2011 $6,764,627,746 $48,123,325,825
2010 $5,628,878,798 $46,206,091,938
2009 $4,714,595,548 $43,455,740,497
2008 $5,206,437,194 $44,859,439,902
2007 $4,346,212,355 $38,915,353,867
2006 $3,919,577,286 $34,376,664,601
2005 $2,936,019,526 $32,272,186,695
2004 $2,362,501,023 $31,183,885,241
2003 $2,051,147,607 $27,453,902,261
2002 $1,777,057,481 $23,141,616,605
2001 $1,746,063,558 $22,065,832,449
2000 $1,779,520,886 $21,473,528,161
1999 $1,985,922,776 $22,943,202,175
1998 $2,032,347,665 $21,802,893,587
1997 $2,071,996,564 $20,746,210,354
1996 $2,132,087,009 $19,587,161,807
1995 $2,091,726,101 $18,030,876,599
1994 $1,944,876,755 $15,633,174,304
1993 $1,847,353,211 $14,608,335,608
1992 $2,164,298,425 $15,496,708,060
1991 $2,133,692,697 $13,074,782,609
1990 $1,506,914,408 $12,290,568,182
1989 $1,450,647,019 $10,101,851,745
1988 $1,414,951,290 $10,096,245,762
1987 $1,344,664,725 $9,696,715,911
1986 $1,186,628,778 $9,017,806,654
1985 $1,009,723,326 $8,410,226,053
1984 $1,074,373,230 $8,254,541,195
1983 $1,165,171,263 $8,350,582,748
1982 $1,108,776,653 $8,133,580,052
1981 $1,105,494,682 $8,428,445,294
1980 $1,047,925,106 $8,744,134,354
1979 $951,900,945 $7,188,863,904
1978 $804,629,877 $5,968,460,080
1977 $799,030,017 $5,109,324,009
1976 $775,045,517 $4,508,191,942
1975 $703,377,837 $4,328,965,588
1974 $613,010,553 $3,545,868,575
1973 $493,237,876 $2,730,813,385
1972 $391,669,449 $2,237,556,149
1971 $335,568,907 $1,685,162,272
1970 $309,405,316 $1,439,238,095
1969 $295,062,308 $1,289,904,762
1968 $311,395,937 $1,214,666,667
1967 $282,615,310 $1,085,714,286
1966 $266,533,605 $1,040,952,381
1965 $255,340,475 $991,047,619
1964 $224,495,744 $1,025,866,792
1963 $168,186,297 $1,026,737,600
1962 $164,271,558 $880,027,733
1961 $159,213,430 $866,155,429

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

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

GDP per capita in Mauritania vs Tunisia by year

Mauritania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tunisia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Mauritania Tunisia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,110 $7,369 $4,181 $14,521
2023 $2,136 $6,966 $3,951 $14,041
2022 $1,960 $6,485 $3,707 $13,619
2021 $1,948 $5,837 $3,907 $12,444
2020 $1,796 $5,741 $3,549 $11,918
2019 $1,767 $5,610 $3,529 $12,495
2018 $1,723 $5,429 $3,628 $11,841
2017 $1,615 $5,353 $3,619 $11,289
2016 $1,566 $4,683 $3,848 $10,994
2015 $1,555 $3,978 $4,015 $10,783
2014 $1,713 $3,865 $4,459 $10,947
2013 $1,934 $3,831 $4,370 $10,672
2012 $1,859 $3,465 $4,297 $10,615
2011 $1,931 $3,271 $4,421 $10,436
2010 $1,660 $3,178 $4,292 $10,555
2009 $1,435 $3,159 $4,080 $10,237
2008 $1,636 $3,236 $4,255 $9,975
2007 $1,405 $3,278 $3,727 $9,479
2006 $1,301 $3,342 $3,323 $8,729
2005 $999 $2,809 $3,147 $8,117
2004 $824 $2,570 $3,067 $7,672
2003 $732 $2,447 $2,726 $7,098
2002 $649 $2,296 $2,321 $6,715
2001 $652 $2,280 $2,236 $6,593
2000 $681 $2,304 $2,199 $6,279
1999 $781 $2,411 $2,376 $5,930
1998 $821 $2,355 $2,285 $5,579
1997 $859 $2,325 $2,202 $5,333
1996 $904 $2,436 $2,107 $5,040
1995 $905 $2,306 $1,968 $4,686
1994 $865 $2,114 $1,733 $4,555
1993 $850 $2,209 $1,649 $4,401
1992 $1,036 $2,122 $1,785 $4,292
1991 $1,062 $2,116 $1,538 $3,975
1990 $772 $2,070 $1,476 $3,780
1989 $762 - $1,239 -
1988 $762 - $1,266 -
1987 $746 - $1,245 -
1986 $677 - $1,187 -
1985 $593 - $1,135 -
1984 $650 - $1,143 -
1983 $725 - $1,184 -
1982 $710 - $1,177 -
1981 $729 - $1,247 -
1980 $711 - $1,324 -
1979 $664 - $1,113 -
1978 $578 - $946 -
1977 $590 - $830 -
1976 $589 - $752 -
1975 $551 - $741 -
1974 $494 - $624 -
1973 $410 - $493 -
1972 $335 - $415 -
1971 $296 - $320 -
1970 $281.3 - $280.5 -
1969 $276.6 - $257.7 -
1968 $301 - $248.9 -
1967 $281.5 - $228 -
1966 $273.6 - $223.8 -
1965 $270 - $217.3 -
1964 $244.3 - $228.5 -
1963 $188.2 - $231.9 -
1962 $189 - $201.4 -
1961 $188.2 - $200.7 -

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

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

Mauritania's GDP per capita is $2,110, ranking 156/197, compared to $4,181 in Tunisia, ranking 129/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Mauritania ranks 147th at $7,369, while Tunisia ranks 114th at $14,521.

Economic indicators

Mauritania Tunisia
Gross domestic product
$10.9B
2024
$51.3B
2024
GDP rank
153/197
2024
93/197
2024
GDP growth
6.31%
2023-2024
1.61%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,110
2024
$4,181
2024
GDP per capita rank
156/197
2024
129/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,369
2024
$14,521
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
147/197
2024
114/197
2024
Government debt
$4.67B
2024
$42.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.8%
2024
83.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$904
2024
$3,487
2024
Government debt per person rank
145/185
2024
94/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,078
2026
$3,951
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$8.3B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2019
27%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2019
3.1%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
33.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.49%
2023-2024
7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
7.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
10.4%
2019
15.1%
2023
Population
5505206
12437803

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Mauritania
Spending

Debt
Tunisia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Mauritania Tunisia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.6% 42.8% 33.8% 83.4%
2023 24.8% 47.1% 35.7% 84%
2022 28.7% 50.5% 36.5% 83%
2021 20.8% 54.5% 33.2% 79.7%
2020 18.5% 56.5% 34.5% 77.7%
2019 17.8% 57.7% 29.5% 67.3%
2018 19% 59.2% 28.7% 72.9%
2017 20.3% 55.7% 28.7% 67.1%
2016 20.8% 57.6% 27.2% 58.9%
2015 25.7% 59.9% 27.4% 52.4%
2014 23.9% 49.5% 27.7% 50.7%
2013 20.1% 40.7% 30.8% 45.6%
2012 21.5% 39.3% 28.3% 49%
2011 17% 38.8% 27.9% 43.3%
2010 17.3% 43.9% 24% 38.8%
2009 19.6% 54.3% 24.6% 40.3%
2008 19.8% 57.2% 23.7% 41.4%
2007 19.7% 61.5% 23.3% 42.7%
2006 19% 38% 22.9% 45.7%
2005 21.3% 71.1% 23% 50%
2004 23.9% 22% 23% 51.6%
2003 - 22.9% 23.5% 52.6%
2002 - 59.5% 24.1% 51.6%
2001 - 63.5% 24% 52.2%
2000 - 55.5% 24% 62.9%
1999 - - 24% 61.9%
1998 - - 24.2% 58.2%
1997 - - 24.5% 66.6%
1996 - - 26.7% 66.8%
1995 - - 26.6% 65.6%
1994 - - 25.9% 63.9%
1993 - - 26.7% 63.8%
1992 - - 25.7% 62.1%
1991 - - 27.6% 63.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Mauritania's government spending was $2.57B, accounting for 23.6% of its GDP, while Tunisia spent $17.4B, or 33.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 42.8% in Mauritania and 83.4% in Tunisia, ranking 126/185 and 40/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Mauritania

Tunisia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Mauritania Tunisia
2024 -1.35% -5.92%
2023 -2.45% -7.03%
2022 -3.09% -6.91%
2021 2.6% -7.6%
2020 2.78% -9.06%
2019 2.65% -3.6%
2018 3.23% -4.27%
2017 0.53% -5.61%
2016 0.13% -5.87%
2015 -2.44% -4.95%
2014 -2.64% -3.11%
2013 -0.66% -7.05%
2012 1.67% -4.9%
2011 0.07% -3.19%
2010 -0.45% -0.46%
2009 -3.59% -2.59%
2008 -3.32% -0.62%
2007 -1.38% -2.47%
2006 2.05% -2.33%
2005 -3.16% -2.59%
2004 -3.06% -2.1%
2003 - -2.64%
2002 - -2.55%
2001 - -2.87%
2000 - -3.22%
1999 - -3.05%
1998 - -2.84%
1997 - -3.7%
1996 - -5.18%
1995 - -4.53%
1994 - -2.87%
1993 - -3.22%
1992 - -3.45%
1991 - -5.25%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/mauritania/tunisia | 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 Tunisia's deficit of $3.04B, or 5.92% of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Mauritania recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of those years, while Tunisia ran a deficit in 21 years. On average, Mauritania posted an annual deficit equal to 0.57% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.39% of GDP for Tunisia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Mauritania

Tunisia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Mauritania Tunisia
2024 2.49% 7%
2023 4.95% 9.3%
2022 9.53% 8.3%
2021 3.57% 5.7%
2020 2.39% 5.6%
2019 2.3% 6.7%
2018 3.07% 7.3%
2017 2.25% 5.3%
2016 1.47% 3.6%
2015 3.25% 4.4%
2014 3.53% 4.6%
2013 4.13% 5.3%
2012 4.9% 4.6%
2011 5.69% 3.2%
2010 6.28% 4.4%
2009 2.22% 3.5%
2008 7.35% 4.9%
2007 7.25% 3.4%
2006 6.24% 4.1%
2005 12.1% 2%
2004 10.4% 3.7%
2003 5.15% 2.7%
2002 3.9% 2.7%
2001 4.71% 1.9%
2000 3.25% 2.8%
1999 4.07% 2.8%
1998 8.03% 3.1%
1997 4.63% 3.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Mauritania has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.97%, compared with 4.52% in Tunisia. In 2024, inflation was 2.49% in Mauritania and 7% in Tunisia.

Top exports between countries

Mauritania
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $836K
Animal & marine products $573K
Machinery & equipment $9K
Chemicals & pharma $8K
Raw materials & minerals $8K
Tunisia
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $9.18M
Metals $3.85M
Machinery & equipment $3.05M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.75M
Raw agricultural goods $1.2M
Wood & paper products $1.04M
Raw materials & minerals $789K
Textiles & consumer goods $274K
Miscellaneous $64K
Animal & marine products $20K

Balance of trade

Mauritania Tunisia
Current account balance
-$1.04B
2024
-$775M
2024
Current account balance ranking
124/190
2024
117/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-9.53%
2024
-1.51%
2024
Goods imports
$4.32B
2024
$18.7B
2024
Goods exports
$3.83B
2024
$8.95B
2024
Service imports
$1.05B
2024
$3.92B
2024
Service exports
$230M
2024
$11.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.2%
2024
56.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.4%
2024
50%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Mauritania Tunisia
Economic freedom 53.9 48.1
Economic freedom ranking 136/197 172/197
Property rights 32.6 55.7
Government integrity 24.5 42.1
Judicial effectiveness 26.4 39.7
Tax burden 75.5 68.5
Government spending 80.2 62.5
Fiscal health 87.9 16
Business freedom 38.7 59.4
Labor freedom 53.6 55.8
Monetary freedom 77.8 72.4
Trade freedom 59.6 54.6
Investment freedom 50 20
Financial freedom 40 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Mauritania
Tunisia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Mauritania Tunisia
2026 53.9 48.1
2025 54.9 49.1
2024 55.3 48.8
2023 55.3 52.9
2022 55.3 54.2
2021 56.1 56.6
2020 55.3 55.8
2019 55.7 55.4
2018 54 58.9
2017 54.4 55.7
2016 54.8 57.6
2015 53.3 57.7
2014 53.2 57.3
2013 52.3 57
2012 53 58.6
2011 52.1 58.5
2010 52 58.9
2009 53.9 58
2008 55.2 60.1
2007 53.6 60.3
2006 55.7 57.5
2005 59.4 55.4
2004 61.8 58.4
2003 59 58.1
2002 52.5 60.2
2001 48.5 60.8
2000 46 61.3
1999 42.8 61.1
1998 43.7 63.9
1997 47 63.8
1996 45.5 63.9
1995 - 63.4

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Mauritania is 53.9, ranking 136/197, compared to 48.1 for Tunisia, ranking 172/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Mauritania Tunisia
Services, % of GDP
42.4%
2024
62.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.5%
2024
22.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19.3%
2024
9.74%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$11B
2024
$47.7B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,300
2024
$14,230
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.04B
2021
$9.34B
2024
Total reserves ranking
126/177
2021
80/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.44B
2024
-$725M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.44B
2024
$760M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.9M
2024
$34.6M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.82%
2024
10.9%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
31.8%
2019
16.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
43.1%
2024
7.86%
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/tunisia | 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 (1991–2024, 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 (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.