Mauritania: economy

What is the GDP growth rate of Mauritania?

Mauritania's real GDP was 6.6% higher in the second quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, and 2.8% higher than in the first quarter after seasonal adjustment, according to the quarterly growth note of the National Agency for Statistics and Demographic and Economic Analysis (ANSADE). Excluding gas, growth on a year earlier was 5.9%. For the whole of 2025, ANSADE's provisional annual accounts show growth of 3.6%, down from 5.9% in 2024.

ANSADE explains the 2025 slowdown by a 10.4% fall in mining output, with gold production at Tasiast down 19.1% and copper down 17.9%. Quarterly figures are revised: first-quarter 2026 growth was raised from 0.4% to 0.5%.

Official sources: ANSADE: Economic growth note, Q2 2026 (PDF) · ANSADE: Provisional national accounts 2025 (PDF)

What is the inflation rate in Mauritania?

Consumer prices in Mauritania were 9.3% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to the monthly national consumer price index (INPC) note from ANSADE. Average inflation over the last twelve months was 6.3%, up from 1.2% in September 2025. Prices rose 0.6% in the month of September alone.

ANSADE's headline "inflation rate" is the twelve-month average, which moves more slowly than the year-on-year change. The index jumped 3.1% in March 2026. Core inflation, excluding fresh products and energy, was 8.0% year on year. Prices of local products rose 11.6% and imported products 6.0% over the year.

Official sources: ANSADE: INPC monthly note, September 2026 (PDF)

What does Mauritania export?

Mauritania exported goods worth MRU 51,211 million in the second quarter of 2026, 12.3% less than in the first quarter, while imports rose 18.4% to MRU 63,017 million, according to ANSADE's quarterly foreign trade note. Gold made up 40.6% of exports (MRU 20,512 million), iron ore 21.6%, fish products 21.2%, liquefied natural gas 8.2% and copper ore 4.4%.

The trade balance was in deficit by about MRU 11.8 billion in the quarter, with exports covering 81.3% of imports. Europe took 44% of exports. The figures come from customs data. LNG exports began in 2025 from the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim field, according to ANSADE's national accounts note.

Official sources: ANSADE: Quarterly foreign trade note, Q2 2026 (PDF) · ANSADE: Provisional national accounts 2025 (PDF)

What is the exchange rate of the ouguiya?

The US dollar was worth an average of MRU 39.82 in 2025, against MRU 39.74 in 2024 and MRU 36.50 in 2023, according to ANSADE's Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025, which reproduces Central Bank of Mauritania (BCM) rates. The monthly rate stayed between MRU 39.60 and MRU 40.10 throughout 2025.

The ouguiya (MRU) has been in its current form since 2018, when one new ouguiya replaced ten old ones. The rate moved little from month to month in 2025. The yearbook also gives rates against the euro, the CFA franc, the Moroccan dirham and other currencies.

Official sources: Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025

How much fish does Mauritania catch?

1,016,731 tonnes of fish were caught in Mauritania's exclusive economic zone in 2025, up from 1,005,305 tonnes in 2024, according to ANSADE's Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025, citing the Ministry of Fisheries. Industrial fishing landed 670,248 tonnes and small-scale (artisanal) fishing 346,483 tonnes.

Small pelagic species such as horse mackerel and sardinella made up 623,031 tonnes of the industrial catch. Fishing fees and fines brought the state MRU 7.86 billion in 2025, the yearbook's public finance tables show. Fish products were 21.2% of exports in the second quarter of 2026. Catches in the zone include those of foreign vessels fishing under licence.

Official sources: Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025

What is the GDP per person in Mauritania?

Mauritania's GDP per person was US$2,197.51 in 2025, up from US$2,104.54 in 2024, according to World Bank Open Data, based on national accounts data. The population was 5,315,065 in 2025, the same source shows.

The figure is in current US dollars, so it moves with the exchange rate and prices as well as with real growth. It is an average and says nothing about how income is shared: ANSADE's Socio-demographic Statistics Yearbook gives a Gini index of inequality by wilaya from the 2019 household survey. Much of GDP comes from mining (gold, iron ore and copper), whose output and prices vary a lot from year to year.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · the same source shows

What is Mauritania's economic growth rate?

In 2025, real GDP growth in Mauritania was 4.0%, according to the World Bank. Since 2005 it has ranged from -2.0% (2007) to 18.3% (2006). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 4.6%, and Mauritania placed 27th highest of 46. Worldwide: 68th of 180.

What is Mauritania's GDP per person?

$2,198: that is GDP per person in Mauritania for 2025, according to the World Bank. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was $1,351, and Mauritania placed 17th highest of 46. Worldwide: 145th of 180.

How does Mauritania's income per person compare after prices?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is $7,676 in international dollars. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was $4,425 in international dollars, and Mauritania placed 14th highest of 46. Worldwide: 135th of 179.

How much does Mauritania export?

39.9% of GDP: that is exports of goods and services in Mauritania for 2025, according to the World Bank. The peak was 50.2% of GDP in 2011 and the low 26.8% of GDP in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 26.1% of GDP, and Mauritania placed 12th highest of 38. Of 133 countries with 2025 data, 59th highest.

What is Mauritania's current account balance?

According to the IMF, the current account balance in Mauritania was -9.6% of GDP in 2024 (a deficit). Since 2012 it has ranged from -22.3% of GDP (2014) to -7.0% of GDP (2020). It is 30th highest of 36 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is -4.2% of GDP. Of 162 countries with 2024 data, 143rd highest.

How much foreign investment does Mauritania receive?

According to the IMF, net inflows of foreign direct investment in Mauritania was 5.4% of GDP in 2025. The peak was 27.7% of GDP in 2005 and the low -11.2% of GDP in 2019. It is 10th highest of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.0% of GDP. Worldwide: 33rd of 179.

How high are loan rates in Mauritania?

In 2017, the average bank lending rate in Mauritania was 17.0%, according to the IMF. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 11th highest of 30 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 13.5%. Of 122 countries with 2017 data, 19th highest.