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 -14.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-14.3%
Change on year
down 32.9%
World rank
148th
of 191 countries
All-time high
19.5%
in 1966
All-time low
-34.7%
in 2005
Years of data
65
1961–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Mauritania, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritania is -14.3%, 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 19.5% in 1966 and was at its lowest, -34.7%, 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 | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -7.3% | — |
| 1962 | -9.9% | +36.1% |
| 1963 | -0.4% | -95.7% |
| 1964 | 18.9% | -4495.1% |
| 1965 | 18.5% | -2.0% |
| 1966 | 19.5% | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 16.9% | -13.6% |
| 1968 | 15.0% | -11.4% |
| 1969 | 14.6% | -2.8% |
| 1970 | 15.1% | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 14.9% | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 4.2% | -71.5% |
| 1973 | 5.1% | +20.7% |
| 1974 | -2.7% | -152.0% |
| 1975 | -11.2% | +322.0% |
| 1976 | -23.7% | +111.0% |
| 1977 | -24.8% | +4.7% |
| 1978 | -18.3% | -26.2% |
| 1979 | -15.0% | -18.3% |
| 1980 | -16.8% | +12.4% |
| 1981 | -16.0% | -4.8% |
| 1982 | -26.7% | +66.7% |
| 1983 | -16.4% | -38.5% |
| 1984 | -14.4% | -12.6% |
| 1985 | -8.3% | -42.2% |
| 1986 | -10.3% | +23.6% |
| 1987 | -7.1% | -31.1% |
| 1988 | -3.7% | -47.9% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -108.5% |
| 1990 | -5.8% | -1937.7% |
| 1991 | -0.7% | -87.2% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -428.4% |
| 1993 | 4.6% | +92.3% |
| 1994 | 6.7% | +44.5% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | +42.3% |
| 1996 | 7.9% | -17.6% |
| 1997 | 4.0% | -48.7% |
| 1998 | -2.5% | -161.3% |
| 1999 | -3.9% | +56.9% |
| 2000 | -7.9% | +103.8% |
| 2001 | -9.6% | +21.8% |
| 2002 | -7.2% | -24.8% |
| 2003 | -17.1% | +135.8% |
| 2004 | -28.7% | +68.0% |
| 2005 | -34.7% | +21.1% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -105.6% |
| 2007 | -5.0% | -358.7% |
| 2008 | -10.9% | +117.5% |
| 2009 | -7.5% | -31.1% |
| 2010 | -1.9% | -74.2% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -196.8% |
| 2012 | -14.3% | -858.7% |
| 2013 | -11.3% | -20.8% |
| 2014 | -16.8% | +48.9% |
| 2015 | -17.0% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | -5.3% | -68.7% |
| 2017 | -9.8% | +84.9% |
| 2018 | -16.0% | +62.9% |
| 2019 | -8.7% | -45.6% |
| 2020 | -4.0% | -54.4% |
| 2021 | -8.6% | +116.8% |
| 2022 | -22.6% | +162.4% |
| 2023 | -15.4% | -31.9% |
| 2024 | -10.8% | -29.8% |
| 2025 | -14.3% | +32.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.5% | -9.9% | 19.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | -5.6% | -24.8% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | -11.9% | -26.7% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | -5.8% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -12.7% | -34.7% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | -9.9% | -17.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -12.6% | -22.6% | -4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 145 Philippines -13.7% compare
- 146 North Macedonia -13.7% compare
- 147 Central African Republic -14.2% compare
- 149 Mozambique -14.3% compare
- 150 Samoa -15.4% compare
- 151 Guatemala -15.4% compare
More economy & growth data for Mauritania
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 3.90 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0004 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.7539 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.44 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 69.78 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1324 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 278.62 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 36.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2211 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 430.54 includes gold, current US$ per person (2021)
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 -14.3% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by 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 19.5% 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 -34.7% 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 National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by 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.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.