Economy - overview:
Mauritania's economy is dominated by natural resources and agriculture. Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Recently, GDP growth has been driven 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 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 29% of total revenue between 2006 and 2013. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, and fishing accounts for about 25% of budget revenues, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue.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. Mauritania has sought additional IMF support by focusing efforts on poverty reduction. Investment in agriculture and infrastructure are the largest components of the country’s public expenditures.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.43 billion (2015 est.) $15.78 billion (2014 est.) $14.76 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 151
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.677 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2015 est.) 6.9% (2014 est.) 5.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,500 (2015 est.) $4,400 (2014 est.) $4,100 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 172
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
18.4% of GDP (2015 est.) 19.8% of GDP (2014 est.) 25.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 50.6%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 30.7%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 41%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 6.6%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 24.3%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 23.2%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 37.4%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 39.4% (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

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

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

Industrial production growth rate:
9.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
1.318 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 2%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 48% (2001 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
31% (2013 est.) 31% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 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:
39 (2000) 37.3 (1995)
country comparison to the world: 70
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: $2.076 billion
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: $2.22 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: Budget expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
44.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2015 est.) 3.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
[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: 33
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18% (31 December 2015 est.) 18% (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$2.157 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.969 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
[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:
-$856 million (2015 est.) -$1.471 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$1.705 billion (2015 est.) $2.265 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum

Exports - partners:
China 45.3%, Italy 7.6%, Spain 6.1% (2014)

Imports:
$2.142 billion (2015 est.) $2.74 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

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

Imports - partners:
China 21.6%, Netherlands 9.4%, France 7.8%, Spain 6%, Morocco 5.3%, US 4.6% (2014)

Debt - external:
$3.807 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $3.571 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 301.5 (2015 est.) 299.5 (2014 est.) 299.5 (2013 est.) 296.6 (2012 est.) 281.12 (2011 est.)