External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania
Mauritania: External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp was -14.32 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-14.32
Change on year
down 32.9%
World rank
148th
of 191 countries
All-time high
19.54
in 1966
All-time low
-34.73
in 2005
Years of data
65
1961–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania is -14.32, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 32.9% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania peaked at 19.54 in 1966 and was at its lowest, -34.73, in 2005.
Mauritania ranks 148th of 191 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -7.31 | — |
| 1962 | -9.95 | +36.1% |
| 1963 | -0.4297 | -95.7% |
| 1964 | 18.89 | -4495.1% |
| 1965 | 18.51 | -2.0% |
| 1966 | 19.54 | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 16.89 | -13.6% |
| 1968 | 14.97 | -11.4% |
| 1969 | 14.55 | -2.8% |
| 1970 | 15.11 | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 14.89 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 4.24 | -71.5% |
| 1973 | 5.12 | +20.7% |
| 1974 | -2.66 | -152.0% |
| 1975 | -11.24 | +322.0% |
| 1976 | -23.72 | +111.0% |
| 1977 | -24.83 | +4.7% |
| 1978 | -18.34 | -26.2% |
| 1979 | -14.99 | -18.3% |
| 1980 | -16.85 | +12.4% |
| 1981 | -16.04 | -4.8% |
| 1982 | -26.74 | +66.7% |
| 1983 | -16.44 | -38.5% |
| 1984 | -14.38 | -12.6% |
| 1985 | -8.31 | -42.2% |
| 1986 | -10.27 | +23.6% |
| 1987 | -7.07 | -31.1% |
| 1988 | -3.68 | -47.9% |
| 1989 | 0.3137 | -108.5% |
| 1990 | -5.76 | -1937.7% |
| 1991 | -0.7356 | -87.2% |
| 1992 | 2.42 | -428.4% |
| 1993 | 4.65 | +92.3% |
| 1994 | 6.71 | +44.5% |
| 1995 | 9.56 | +42.3% |
| 1996 | 7.87 | -17.6% |
| 1997 | 4.03 | -48.7% |
| 1998 | -2.47 | -161.3% |
| 1999 | -3.88 | +56.9% |
| 2000 | -7.91 | +103.8% |
| 2001 | -9.63 | +21.8% |
| 2002 | -7.24 | -24.8% |
| 2003 | -17.07 | +135.8% |
| 2004 | -28.68 | +68.0% |
| 2005 | -34.73 | +21.1% |
| 2006 | 1.94 | -105.6% |
| 2007 | -5.02 | -358.7% |
| 2008 | -10.91 | +117.5% |
| 2009 | -7.52 | -31.1% |
| 2010 | -1.94 | -74.2% |
| 2011 | 1.88 | -196.8% |
| 2012 | -14.27 | -858.7% |
| 2013 | -11.3 | -20.8% |
| 2014 | -16.83 | +48.9% |
| 2015 | -16.96 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | -5.3 | -68.7% |
| 2017 | -9.8 | +84.9% |
| 2018 | -15.97 | +62.9% |
| 2019 | -8.69 | -45.6% |
| 2020 | -3.96 | -54.4% |
| 2021 | -8.59 | +116.8% |
| 2022 | -22.55 | +162.4% |
| 2023 | -15.35 | -31.9% |
| 2024 | -10.78 | -29.8% |
| 2025 | -14.32 | +32.9% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's -14.32 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -9.16, 1.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's -14.32 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.89, 2.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +4495.1% | -0.4297 | 18.89 |
| 1990 | -1937.7% | 0.3137 | -5.76 |
| 2012 | -858.7% | 1.88 | -14.27 |
| 1992 | +428.4% | -0.7356 | 2.42 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.52 | -9.95 | 19.54 | 9 |
| 1970s | -5.64 | -24.83 | 15.11 | 10 |
| 1980s | -11.95 | -26.74 | 0.3137 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.24 | -5.76 | 9.56 | 10 |
| 2000s | -12.68 | -34.73 | 1.94 | 10 |
| 2010s | -9.92 | -16.96 | 1.88 | 10 |
| 2020s | -12.59 | -22.55 | -3.96 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 145 Philippines -13.69 compare
- 146 North Macedonia -13.74 compare
- 147 Central African Republic -14.22 compare
- 149 Mozambique -14.34 compare
- 150 Samoa -15.39 compare
- 151 Guatemala -15.41 compare
More economy & growth data for Mauritania
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -7.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -17.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 0.5389 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -21.71 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 0.3935 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 8.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0172 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 37.85 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania was -14.32 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 19.54 in 1966.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was -34.73 in 2005.
- How does Mauritania rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Mauritania ranks 148th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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