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Economy of Mauritania vs Vietnam compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritania has a GDP of $10.8B compared to $476B for Vietnam, ranking 152/197 and 34/197 by economy size, respectively.

Mauritania has $4.84B in government debt (45.7% of GDP), compared to $157B (33.6% of GDP) in Vietnam.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Mauritania
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Vietnam
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Mauritania Vietnam
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1961 $159,213,430 $1,064,724,230 - -
1962 $164,271,558 $1,072,460,606 - -
1963 $168,186,297 $1,051,185,480 - -
1964 $224,495,744 $1,342,268,057 - -
1965 $255,340,475 $1,558,887,712 - -
1966 $266,533,605 $1,562,488,150 - -
1967 $282,615,310 $1,618,224,178 - -
1968 $311,395,937 $1,783,225,478 - -
1969 $295,062,308 $1,805,489,621 - -
1970 $309,405,316 $2,021,894,364 - -
1971 $335,568,907 $2,059,155,581 - -
1972 $391,669,449 $2,044,063,867 - -
1973 $493,237,876 $1,950,348,507 - -
1974 $613,010,553 $2,187,561,811 - -
1975 $703,377,837 $2,075,244,196 - -
1976 $775,045,517 $2,252,596,743 - -
1977 $799,030,017 $2,210,279,603 - -
1978 $804,629,877 $2,199,124,016 - -
1979 $951,900,945 $2,304,462,932 - -
1980 $1,047,925,106 $2,382,151,222 - -
1981 $1,105,494,682 $2,464,342,310 - -
1982 $1,108,776,653 $2,406,678,570 - -
1983 $1,165,171,263 $2,496,576,246 - -
1984 $1,074,373,230 $2,416,015,114 - $34,363,462,780
1985 $1,009,723,326 $2,488,368,981 $14,094,687,821 $35,671,286,576
1986 $1,186,628,778 $2,630,543,917 $26,336,616,250 $36,666,262,767
1987 $1,344,664,725 $2,680,534,357 $36,658,108,850 $37,980,187,158
1988 $1,414,951,290 $2,726,650,215 $25,423,812,649 $39,930,474,201
1989 $1,450,647,019 $2,856,918,259 $6,293,304,975 $42,871,159,123
1990 $1,506,914,408 $2,806,313,536 $6,471,740,806 $45,057,981,855
1991 $2,133,692,697 $2,856,492,871 $9,613,369,520 $47,743,817,832
1992 $2,164,298,425 $2,910,027,139 $9,866,990,236 $51,871,770,981
1993 $1,847,353,211 $3,080,951,582 $13,180,953,598 $56,059,239,339
1994 $1,944,876,755 $2,986,651,906 $16,286,433,533 $61,014,304,827
1995 $2,091,726,101 $3,279,935,161 $20,736,164,459 $66,835,362,482
1996 $2,132,087,009 $3,470,788,902 $24,657,470,575 $73,077,797,034
1997 $2,071,996,564 $3,330,406,023 $26,843,700,442 $79,035,160,538
1998 $2,032,347,665 $3,422,918,202 $27,209,602,050 $83,591,107,164
1999 $1,985,922,776 $3,548,648,091 $28,683,659,007 $87,581,401,292
2000 $1,779,520,886 $3,409,611,141 $31,172,518,403 $93,525,828,109
2001 $1,746,063,558 $3,382,351,510 $32,685,198,809 $99,317,782,863
2002 $1,777,057,481 $3,429,078,154 $35,064,105,501 $105,595,482,131
2003 $2,051,147,607 $3,666,653,932 $39,552,513,232 $112,880,581,486
2004 $2,362,501,023 $3,840,187,785 $45,427,854,693 $121,387,725,605
2005 $2,936,019,526 $4,169,149,304 $57,633,255,738 $130,549,157,968
2006 $3,919,577,286 $4,933,487,730 $66,371,664,817 $139,658,819,217
2007 $4,346,212,355 $4,836,326,500 $77,414,425,532 $149,615,800,998
2008 $5,206,437,194 $4,820,314,428 $99,130,304,099 $158,086,705,343
2009 $4,714,595,548 $4,825,032,355 $106,014,659,565 $166,620,063,722
2010 $5,628,878,798 $4,951,459,275 $147,201,173,197 $177,322,478,338
2011 $6,764,627,746 $5,158,072,940 $172,595,049,184 $188,694,468,366
2012 $6,728,208,836 $5,388,639,481 $195,590,661,129 $199,081,239,732
2013 $7,223,071,097 $5,612,311,839 $213,708,811,665 $210,137,237,901
2014 $6,592,537,782 $5,852,228,253 $233,451,469,643 $223,632,762,208
2015 $6,166,863,897 $6,166,863,897 $239,258,328,382 $239,258,328,382
2016 $6,398,747,592 $6,244,622,453 $257,096,001,178 $255,264,731,908
2017 $6,800,135,898 $6,636,194,356 $281,353,605,987 $272,980,590,259
2018 $7,473,550,557 $6,952,885,074 $310,106,478,395 $293,358,610,037
2019 $7,894,764,886 $7,171,275,535 $334,365,270,497 $314,947,640,806
2020 $8,260,752,385 $7,145,411,800 $346,615,738,538 $323,972,192,107
2021 $9,222,536,364 $7,198,481,874 $366,474,752,771 $332,245,562,395
2022 $9,557,966,698 $7,687,691,069 $413,445,230,669 $360,611,028,838
2023 $10,651,709,314 $8,187,943,518 $433,857,681,378 $378,876,063,687
2024 $10,766,731,874 $8,613,716,581 $476,388,230,307 $405,742,875,628

Economic indicators

Mauritania Vietnam
Gross domestic product
$10.8B
2024
$476B
2024
GDP rank
152/197
2024
34/197
2024
GDP growth
1.08%
2023-2024
9.8%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,083
2024
$4,717
2024
GDP per capita rank
157/197
2024
123/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,271
2024
$16,386
2024
Government debt
$4.84B
2024
$157B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
45.7%
2025
33.6%
2025
Government debt per person
$936
2024
$1,550
2024
Government debt per person rank
144/185
2024
127/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,194
2025
$4,107
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$205B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
5
2025
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2019
28.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2019
2.6%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
25.5%
2025
22%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.49%
2023-2024
3.4%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.5%
2023
Unemployment rate
10.4%
2019
1.65%
2023
Population
5432542
102063551

GDP per capita in Mauritania vs Vietnam

Mauritania's GDP per capita is $2,083, ranking 157/197, compared to $4,717 in Vietnam, ranking 123/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Mauritania ranks 146th at $7,271, while Vietnam ranks 108th at $16,386.

Mauritania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Vietnam
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Mauritania Vietnam
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1961 $188.2 - - -
1962 $189 - - -
1963 $188.2 - - -
1964 $244.3 - - -
1965 $270 - - -
1966 $273.6 - - -
1967 $281.5 - - -
1968 $301 - - -
1969 $276.6 - - -
1970 $281.3 - - -
1971 $296 - - -
1972 $335 - - -
1973 $410 - - -
1974 $494 - - -
1975 $551 - - -
1976 $589 - - -
1977 $590 - - -
1978 $578 - - -
1979 $664 - - -
1980 $711 - - -
1981 $729 - - -
1982 $710 - - -
1983 $725 - - -
1984 $650 - - -
1985 $593 - $238.6 -
1986 $677 - $436 -
1987 $746 - $595 -
1988 $762 - $405 -
1989 $762 - $98.1 -
1990 $772 $2,070 $98.8 $1,210
1991 $1,062 $2,116 $143.7 $1,298
1992 $1,036 $2,122 $144.5 $1,413
1993 $850 $2,209 $189.4 $1,534
1994 $865 $2,114 $229.9 $1,674
1995 $905 $2,306 $287.8 $1,841
1996 $904 $2,436 $337 $2,019
1997 $859 $2,325 $362 $2,189
1998 $821 $2,355 $361 $2,308
1999 $781 $2,411 $376 $2,421
2000 $681 $2,304 $404 $2,614
2001 $652 $2,280 $419 $2,809
2002 $649 $2,296 $445 $3,002
2003 $732 $2,447 $497 $3,240
2004 $824 $2,570 $565 $3,543
2005 $999 $2,809 $711 $3,894
2006 $1,301 $3,342 $808 $4,237
2007 $1,405 $3,278 $926 $4,581
2008 $1,636 $3,236 $1,164 $4,844
2009 $1,435 $3,159 $1,226 $5,061
2010 $1,660 $3,178 $1,683 $5,389
2011 $1,931 $3,271 $1,951 $5,786
2012 $1,859 $3,465 $2,185 $6,377
2013 $1,934 $3,831 $2,360 $6,758
2014 $1,713 $3,865 $2,546 $7,297
2015 $1,555 $3,978 $2,578 $7,672
2016 $1,566 $4,683 $2,735 $8,375
2017 $1,615 $5,353 $2,956 $9,170
2018 $1,723 $5,429 $3,222 $10,010
2019 $1,767 $5,610 $3,441 $11,029
2020 $1,796 $5,741 $3,534 $11,609
2021 $1,948 $5,837 $3,704 $12,049
2022 $1,960 $6,485 $4,148 $13,905
2023 $2,121 $6,946 $4,323 $15,034
2024 $2,083 $7,271 $4,717 $16,386

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Mauritania's government spending was $2.6B, accounting for 25.5% of its GDP, while Vietnam's spent $95.2B, or 22% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 45.7% in Mauritania and 33.6% in Vietnam, ranking 116/185 and 154/185, respectively.

Mauritania
Government spending

Government debt
Vietnam
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Mauritania Vietnam
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1998 - - 16% -
1999 - - 16.7% -
2000 - 55.5% 17.8% 24.8%
2001 - 63.5% 19.2% 25.4%
2002 - 59.5% 19.7% 27.7%
2003 - 22.9% 22.2% 29.8%
2004 23.9% 22% 19.4% 29.4%
2005 21.3% 71.1% 20.6% 28.7%
2006 19% 38% 20.5% 30.2%
2007 19.7% 61.5% 22.3% 32.2%
2008 19.8% 57.2% 21.4% 31%
2009 19.6% 54.3% 25% 36.2%
2010 17.3% 43.9% 23.7% 37.3%
2011 17% 38.8% 21.2% 36.2%
2012 21.5% 39.3% 23.5% 38.3%
2013 20.1% 40.7% 24.5% 41.4%
2014 23.9% 49.5% 22.8% 43.6%
2015 25.7% 59.9% 24.2% 46.1%
2016 20.8% 57.6% 22.2% 47.9%
2017 20.3% 55.7% 21.5% 46.6%
2018 19% 59.2% 20.5% 43.8%
2019 17.8% 57.7% 19.8% 41%
2020 18.5% 56.5% 21.3% 41.3%
2021 20.8% 54.5% 20.1% 39.2%
2022 28.7% 50.5% 18.2% 34.9%
2023 25% 47.5% 19.3% 34.4%
2024 24.1% 44.9% 20% 32.9%
2025 25.5% 45.7% 22% 33.6%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Mauritania's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$13.5M, equivalent to -0.12% of GDP. This compares to Vietnam's deficit of -$7.43B, or -1.56% of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Mauritania recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of those years, while Vietnam ran a deficit in 19 years. On average, Mauritania posted an annual deficit equal to -0.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.22% of GDP for Vietnam.

Deficit/surplus
Mauritania

Vietnam
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Mauritania Vietnam
1998 - -0.1%
1999 - -1.25%
2000 - -1.61%
2001 - -2.19%
2002 - -1.85%
2003 - -2.56%
2004 -3.06% -0.15%
2005 -3.16% -0.95%
2006 2.05% 0.2%
2007 -1.38% -1.74%
2008 -3.32% -0.45%
2009 -3.59% -4.82%
2010 -0.45% -2.25%
2011 0.07% -0.9%
2012 1.67% -5.46%
2013 -0.66% -5.96%
2014 -2.64% -5.02%
2015 -2.44% -4.98%
2016 0.13% -3.16%
2017 0.53% -1.96%
2018 3.23% -1.02%
2019 2.65% -0.4%
2020 2.78% -2.86%
2021 2.6% -1.43%
2022 -3.09% 0.67%
2023 -2.47% -2.44%
2024 -0.12% -1.56%
2025 -1.27% -3.39%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Mauritania has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.96%, compared with 5.64% in Vietnam. In 2024, inflation was 2.49% in Mauritania and 3.4% in Vietnam.

Inflation
Mauritania

Vietnam
Year Inflation
Mauritania Vietnam Mauritania Vietnam
1996 4.68% 5.6%
1997 4.63% 3.1%
1998 8.03% 8.1%
1999 4.07% 4.1%
2000 3.25% -1.8%
2001 4.71% -0.4%
2002 3.9% 3.8%
2003 5.15% 3.1%
2004 10.4% 7.8%
2005 12.1% 8.3%
2006 6.24% 7.7%
2007 7.25% 8.4%
2008 7.35% 23.3%
2009 2.22% 6.7%
2010 6.28% 9.1%
2011 5.69% 18.7%
2012 4.9% 9.1%
2013 4.13% 6.6%
2014 3.53% 4.1%
2015 3.25% 0.6%
2016 1.47% 2.7%
2017 2.25% 3.5%
2018 3.07% 3.5%
2019 2.3% 2.8%
2020 2.39% 3.2%
2021 3.57% 1.8%
2022 9.53% 3.2%
2023 4.95% 3.3%
2024 2.49% 3.6%
2025 - 3.4%

Top exports between countries

Mauritania
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.16M
Raw materials & minerals $1.48M
Textiles & consumer goods $766K
Animal & marine products $51K
Machinery & equipment $17K
Vietnam
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Mauritania Vietnam
Current account balance
-$1.04B
2024
$28B
2024
Current account balance ranking
123/189
2024
18/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-9.65%
2024
+5.89%
2024
Goods imports
$4.32B
2024
$362B
2024
Goods exports
$3.83B
2024
$406B
2024
Service imports
$1.05B
2024
$36.2B
2024
Service exports
$230M
2024
$23.9B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.2%
2023
78.4%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38.3%
2023
86.5%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Mauritania Vietnam
Economic freedom 54.9 65.2
Economic freedom ranking 131/197 67/197
Property rights 35.8 49.9
Government integrity 23.8 39.1
Judicial effectiveness 28.3 35
Tax burden 75.8 81.8
Government spending 81.5 88.8
Fiscal health 95.4 95.8
Business freedom 38.8 73.9
Labor freedom 53.6 54.5
Monetary freedom 74.6 73.9
Trade freedom 60.6 79.8
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 40 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Mauritania is 54.9, ranking 131/197, compared to 65.2 for Vietnam, ranking 67/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Mauritania
Vietnam
Year Economic freedom index
Mauritania Vietnam
1995 - 41.7
1996 45.5 40.2
1997 47 38.6
1998 43.7 40.4
1999 42.8 42.7
2000 46 43.7
2001 48.5 44.3
2002 52.5 45.6
2003 59 46.2
2004 61.8 46.1
2005 59.4 48.1
2006 55.7 50.5
2007 53.6 49.8
2008 55.2 50.4
2009 53.9 51
2010 52 49.8
2011 52.1 51.6
2012 53 51.3
2013 52.3 51
2014 53.2 50.8
2015 53.3 51.7
2016 54.8 54
2017 54.4 52.4
2018 54 53.1
2019 55.7 55.3
2020 55.3 58.8
2021 56.1 61.7
2022 55.3 60.6
2023 55.3 61.8
2024 55.3 62.8
2025 54.9 65.2

More economic indicators

Mauritania Vietnam
Services, % of GDP
43.2%
2024
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.6%
2024
37.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
18.6%
2024
11.9%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$10.8B
2024
$454B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,200
2024
$15,850
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.04B
2021
$83.1B
2024
Total reserves ranking
126/177
2021
30/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.44B
2024
-$19.6B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.44B
2024
$20.2B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.9M
2024
$600M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.68%
2023
6.96%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
31.8%
2019
4.2%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
42.4%
2023
31.6%
2023

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.