Mauritania: public finances

What is Mauritania's budget for 2026?

Mauritania's original finance law for 2026 set state budget resources at MRU 128.79 billion, excluding deficit financing, and budget spending at MRU 132.18 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance's report on state financial operations for the first half of 2026 (in Arabic). The budget assumes economic growth of about 5.1% in 2026. The ministry has since published an amended finance law for 2026.

2026 is the first budget prepared entirely as a programme budget, which links appropriations to policy objectives and results, according to the ministry. The ministry publishes the finance law, amended finance laws and half-yearly execution reports on its site.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: ROFE report, first half of 2026 (PDF, Arabic)

Does Mauritania have a budget deficit?

Mauritania's state budget recorded an overall surplus of MRU 4.54 billion, including grants, in January to June 2026, according to the Ministry of Finance's half-year report on state financial operations. Revenue and grants were MRU 63.61 billion, 24.7% more than a year earlier and 49.4% of the annual estimate. Tax revenue was MRU 46.47 billion, 54.6% of the annual target. Spending and net lending were MRU 59.07 billion, 44.7% of appropriations and 22.2% more than a year earlier.

A half-year surplus does not mean the year will end in surplus: the ministry notes that revenue collection and spending follow seasonal patterns, so execution rates should be read with caution. The original 2026 budget planned spending above resources.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: ROFE report, first half of 2026 (PDF, Arabic)

How much tax does Mauritania collect?

Mauritania's state collected MRU 75.24 billion in tax in 2025, up from MRU 66.12 billion in 2024 and MRU 51.87 billion in 2023, according to the Treasury's table of state financial operations in ANSADE's Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025. Taxes on goods and services brought in MRU 32.01 billion and taxes on income and profits MRU 26.54 billion.

Trade taxes added MRU 13.45 billion. Total revenue excluding grants was MRU 101.46 billion: besides tax, it includes non-tax revenue of MRU 28.85 billion, such as fishing fees (MRU 7.86 billion) and dividends from state companies (MRU 6.40 billion). Grants from donors added MRU 5.09 billion. Figures for 2025 are those available when the yearbook was published in August 2026.

Official sources: Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025

What does Mauritania's government spend money on?

Mauritania's state spent MRU 112.36 billion in 2025, including net lending, according to the Treasury figures in ANSADE's Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025. Current spending was MRU 63.87 billion, of which wages and salaries were MRU 28.61 billion. Investment spending was MRU 48.35 billion, up from MRU 37.49 billion in 2024.

Most investment, MRU 39.02 billion, was financed from domestic resources and MRU 9.32 billion from abroad. Interest on public debt cost MRU 3.59 billion, MRU 2.58 billion of it on external debt. Subsidies and transfers fell from MRU 20.02 billion in 2023 to MRU 12.11 billion in 2025. These are cash figures for the whole year; half-year figures for 2026 are in the Ministry of Finance's execution reports.

Official sources: Economic Statistics Yearbook 2025

What is Mauritania's government debt?

The IMF puts general government gross debt in Mauritania at 40.4% of GDP in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 71.1% of GDP; its low point was 2006, at 38.0% of GDP. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 53.0% of GDP, and Mauritania placed 37th highest of 46. Of 185 countries with 2025 data, 127th highest.

What is Mauritania's budget deficit?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is -0.3% of GDP, which is a deficit. Its high point since 2005 was 2018, at 3.2% of GDP; its low point was 2009, at -3.6% of GDP. Sub-Saharan Africa median: -3.0% of GDP; Mauritania is 6th highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 40th of 188.

What is Mauritania's government revenue?

According to the IMF, general government revenue in Mauritania was 22.5% of GDP in 2025. The peak was 25.6% of GDP in 2022 and the low 16.0% of GDP in 2009. It is 14th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 18.4% of GDP. Worldwide: 116th of 187.

How much does Mauritania's government spend?

The IMF puts general government spending in Mauritania at 22.8% of GDP in 2025. The peak was 28.7% of GDP in 2022 and the low 17.0% of GDP in 2011. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 20.8% of GDP, and Mauritania placed 20th highest of 46. Worldwide: 128th of 186.

What is Mauritania's defence spending?

In 2025, military spending in Mauritania was 2.7% of GDP, according to SIPRI. Since 2005 it has ranged from 2.0% of GDP (2013) to 3.1% of GDP (2009). It is 8th highest of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 1.3% of GDP. Worldwide: 33rd of 149.