Economy - overview:
Mauritania's economy is dominated by extractive industries (oil and mines), fisheries, livestock, agriculture, and services. Half the population still depends on farming and raising livestock, even though many nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s, 1980s, 2000s, and 2017. Recently, GDP growth has been driven largely by foreign investment in the mining and oil sectors.

Mauritania's extensive mineral resources include iron ore, gold, copper, gypsum, and phosphate rock, and exploration is ongoing for tantalum, uranium, crude oil, and natural gas. Extractive commodities make up about three-quarters of Mauritania's total exports, subjecting the economy to price swings in world commodity markets. Mining is also a growing source of government revenue, rising from 13% to 30% of total revenue from 2006 to 2014. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, and fishing accounts for about 15% of budget revenues, 45% of foreign currency earnings. Mauritania processes a total of 1,800,000 tons of fish per year, but overexploitation by foreign and national fleets threaten the sustainability of this key source of revenue.

The economy is highly sensitive to international food and extractive commodity prices. Other risks to Mauritania's economy include its recurring droughts, dependence on foreign aid and investment, and insecurity in neighboring Mali, as well as significant shortages of infrastructure, institutional capacity, and human capital. In December 2017, Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three year agreement under the Extended Credit Facility to foster economic growth, maintain macroeconomic stability, and reduce poverty. Investment in agriculture and infrastructure are the largest components of the country’s public expenditures.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.28 billion (2017 est.)
$16.7 billion (2016 est.)
$16.4 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 154
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.935 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2017 est.)
1.8% (2016 est.)
0.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 99
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,500 (2017 est.)
$4,400 (2016 est.)
$4,400 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 173
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
24.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
24.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
19% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 68
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 64.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 21.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 56.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: -3.2% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 39% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -78.6% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 27.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 29.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 42.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, camel and sheep

Industries:
fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper)
note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited

Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 157
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
1.437 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 133
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 1.9%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 48.1% (2014 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2017 est.)
10.1% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 142
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
31% (2014 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (2014)
39 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 83
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 1.354 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 1.396 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
27.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 100
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 69
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
96.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
100% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 21
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2017 est.)
1.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 117
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2009)
12% (31 December 2007)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 32
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17% (31 December 2017 est.)
17% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 27
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$1.296 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.287 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 149
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$1.296 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.287 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 155
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$2.364 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.355 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 144
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
NA
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$711 million (2017 est.)
-$707 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 129
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$1.722 billion (2017 est.)
$1.401 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 147
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
China 31.2%, Switzerland 14.4%, Spain 10.1%, Germany 8.2%, Japan 8.1% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, livestock, gold, copper, crude oil

Imports:
$2.094 billion (2017 est.)
$1.9 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 166
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
Belgium 11.5%, UAE 11.3%, US 9.2%, China 7.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.1%, Morocco 6%, Slovenia 4.8%, Vanuatu 4.7%, Spain 4.7% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$875 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$849.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 138
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$4.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.899 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 138
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
(31 December 2009 est.)
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar -
363.6 (2017 est.)
352.37 (2016 est.)
352.37 (2015 est.)
319.7 (2014 est.)
299.5 (2013 est.)