CountriesIndicatorsThis week
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026

Mauritania

Mauritania has 5.3 m people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $12 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of the oil it uses (EIA, 2024).

Written automatically from the figures on this page.

Population
5.3 m (2025)

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.

1

Dependencies at a glance

Mauritania imports all of the oil it uses.

Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
ResourceDependencePositionMain partners
OilImports mostImports all of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025, Senegal → Mauritania as reported by the exporterSenegal, Spain
Natural gasUses no gas, by this source PreliminaryEIA, 2024No partner data from the source
WheatNot reported by this source–
MaizeNot reported by this source–
RiceLow net tradeImports 11% of the rice it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023Thailand, India, Japan
SoybeansNot reported by this source–
PotashImports mostImports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025Morocco, Senegal
PhosphateImports mostImports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025United Arab Emirates, Morocco, China
ArmsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: China, 93% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025China, France, United Arab Emirates
ChipsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: United States, 30% of importsUN Comtrade, 2025United States, Belgium, Finland

Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).

  • OilImports most

    Imports all of the oil it uses

    Main partners: Senegal, Spain

    EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025, Senegal → Mauritania as reported by the exporter

  • Natural gas

    Uses no gas, by this source Preliminary

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, 2024

  • Wheat

    Not reported by this source

  • Maize

    Not reported by this source

  • RiceLow net trade

    Imports 11% of the rice it uses

    Main partners: Thailand, India, Japan

    FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • Soybeans

    Not reported by this source

  • PotashImports most

    Imports all of its potash supply Estimate

    Main partners: Morocco, Senegal

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • PhosphateImports most

    Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate

    Main partners: United Arab Emirates, Morocco, China

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • ArmsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: China, 93% of imports

    Main partners: China, France, United Arab Emirates

    SIPRI, 2021–2025

  • ChipsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: United States, 30% of imports

    Main partners: United States, Belgium, Finland

    UN Comtrade, 2025

Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRI; UN Comtradeyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Dependencies tool
2

Money and reserves

Mauritania’s economy produced $12 bn in 2025.

GDP, 2000–2025

$0$2.5 bn$5.0 bn$7.5 bn$10 bn$13 bn200020052010201520202025

Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026

Economic growth4.0%2025 · 70th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation1.5%2025 · 121st of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment10.3%2025 · 35th of 181 · World Bank
Trade94% of GDP2024 · 70th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$634million2025 · 115th of 200 · World Bank
3

People

Mauritania had 5.3 m people in 2025.

Population, 1950–2100

05.0 m10 m15 m20 m25 m195019701990200020102030205020702100Projection
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios

Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Mauritania’s population by age

1950200020502100
MenWomen01020304050607080901001m01m
Millions of people in each five-year age group, men left and women right. Years after 2023 are UN projections (medium variant).

Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Births per woman4.702023 · 11th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age17.12023 · 225th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over3.2%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
4

Climate and hazards

Mauritania emitted 5.2 Mt of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.

Mauritania’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024

0 Mt2 Mt4 Mt6 Mt1990199520002005201020152024

Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026

CO2 emissions5Mt2024 · 137th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person1.0t2024 · 160th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 1750100Mt2024 · 147th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress2.72023 · 53rd of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
5

More figures

Shown only where a source covers Mauritania.

Refugees

308,868refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
72,344from it, abroad, 2025

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025

Sanctions

9entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 4, EU 3 and UK 2

Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.

Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Chinese loans and grants

US$1.59billioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021

Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021

Cyber incidents

No publicly known incidents affecting Mauritania in EuRepoC’s dataset, 2000–2024.

Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted.

Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024

6

All figures

50 measures on this site have a recent figure for Mauritania.

GDP$12 bn2025147th of 186World Bank
GDP per person$2,1982025151st of 186World Bank
Economic growth4.0%202570th of 186World Bank
Inflation1.5%2025121st of 169World Bank
Government debt40%2025129th of 191IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Government budget balance−0.3%202546th of 195IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Current account balance−5.8%2025149th of 194IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Unemployment10.3%202535th of 181World Bank
Trade94%202470th of 172World Bank
Foreign investment in$634 m2025115th of 200World Bank
Remittances received0.9%2024110th of 162World Bank
Population5.3 m2025125th of 216World Bank
Population with UN projections5.0 m2023127th of 237UN WPP 2024
Births per woman4.70202311th of 237UN WPP 2024
Median age17.12023225th of 237UN WPP 2024
Life expectancy68.52023183rd of 237UN WPP 2024
Refugees from the country72,344202544th of 206UNHCR
Refugees and others needing protection, by host308,868202535th of 176UNHCR
Refugees hosted per 1,000 people58.120256th of 176UNHCR
Crude oil production0 kb/d2025100th of 214EIA
Oil consumption31 kb/d2024127th of 212EIA
Natural gas productionPreliminary202497th of 213EIA
Natural gas consumption0.0 bcm2024126th of 213EIA
Electricity generated2 TWh2024142nd of 193Ember
Low-carbon electricity23%2024121st of 193Ember
Electricity from coal0%202482nd of 193Ember
Electricity from wind and solar13%202461st of 193Ember
Wheat production0.0 Mt2024106th of 123FAOSTAT
Wheat imports0.9 Mt202448th of 180FAOSTAT
Maize production0.0 Mt2024126th of 169FAOSTAT
Maize imports0.0 Mt2024115th of 196FAOSTAT
Rice production0.3 Mt202452nd of 135FAOSTAT
Rice imports0.0 Mt2024113th of 197FAOSTAT
Soybean imports0.0 Mt202398th of 181FAOSTAT
Potash fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024142nd of 199FAOSTAT
Phosphate fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024145th of 199FAOSTAT
CO2 emissions5 Mt2024137th of 214Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person1.0 t2024160th of 213Global Carbon Budget
CO2 emitted since 1750100 Mt2024147th of 214Global Carbon Budget
Water stress2.7202353rd of 164WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
Water from abroad96%20235th of 193FAO AQUASTAT
Military spending, share of GDP2.7%202533rd of 150World Bank
Military spending$322 m2025110th of 150World Bank
Deaths in organised violence3202452nd of 62UCDP
Arms imports127 TIV m202444th of 117SIPRI
People using the internet46%2024150th of 182World Bank
ICT service exports$3 m2024150th of 162World Bank
ICT service exports, share of service exports1.2%2024138th of 162World Bank
Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK)92026114th of 181US CSL
Chinese loans and grants committed$43 m202158th of 122AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0

Sources for this page

  • World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Trade, …
  • IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
  • UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
  • UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
  • U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
  • Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
  • FAOSTATWheat production, Wheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, …
  • Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750
  • WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
  • FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
  • UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
  • SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseArms imports, Dependencies at a glance
  • US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
  • AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
  • UN ComtradeDependencies at a glance
  • EU financial sanctions listSanctions
  • UK Sanctions ListSanctions
  • EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents

Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure

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