Factsheet on Mauritania

GENERAL

Official Name

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Capital

Nouakchott

Area

1,030,700 sq km

Neighbours

Senegal, Mali, Algeria & Morocco

Head of State

President: H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh EL Ghazouani (since 01 August 2024)

Head of Government

Prime Minister: H.E. Mr. Mokhtar Ould Diay (since 03 August 2024)

Foreign Minister

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug (since April 2022, and reappointed on 06 August 2024 for second term)

Form of Government

Presidential

Time Difference from India

(-) 5.1/2 hours

Religion

Islam (the State religion)

Ethnic Groups 

Haratine (40%), Beydane (30%), Senegal river valley origin – Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, Bambara (30%)

Language

Arabic (official), French, Soninke, Pulaar & Wolof

Major Political Parties

• The Equity Party (El Insaf)
• Refoundation for a Global Action (RAG)
• Tewassoul
• Union for Democracy and Progress (UDP)
• National Democratic Alliance
• El Karama

Currency
[Exchange rate with US$]

Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
US$1= approx.39.55 Mauritania Ouguiya (June 2025)
Source: Central Bank of Mauritania

GDP

US$ 10.89 billion (Dec 2024)
Source: Trading Economics

GDP Growth Rate

4.6% (Dec 2024)
Source: Trading Economics

Inflation

2.3% (February 2025)
source: National Agency for Statistics, Demographic and Economic Analysis (ANSADE)

GDP Per Capita

US$ 1670 (Dec 2024)
Source: Trading Economics

Population

4.92 million (Dec 2023)

Life Expectancy

65 years

Principal natural resources

Iron ore, gypsum, copper, lithium, uranium, phosphate, diamonds, gold, fish, oil & gas, solar, wind energy; and hydrogen.

Total Exports

US$ 4.78 billion (January to December 2024)

Mauritania's key exports were gold, fish and iron ore (. Gold exports rose in Q4 by 13% to 19,177 million MRU, mainly to Canada (50%) and Switzerland (41%). Fish exports fell 18% to 9,227 million MRU, mainly to Spain, Côte d'Ivoire, and the DRC. Iron ore dropped 33% to 7,354 million MRU, mostly going to China, Algeria, and Italy.

Total imports

US$ 5.46 billion (January to December 2024)

Imports consist mainly of petroleum, food, equipment, and transport materials. Europe, Asia, the Middle East and America are the top suppliers.

BILATERAL

Total Bilateral trade

US$ 137.46 Million (2024-25)

India’s Exports

US$ 114.83 Million (2024-25)

India’s Imports

US$ 22.63 Million (2024-25)

India’s Main Exports

Sugars & Confectionary, cereals, chemicals, plastics, ceramic, vehicles, Cotton fabrics, garments, articles of iron or steel, machinery and mechanical appliances, aluminum and articles thereof, wires and cables, pharmaceutical products.

India’s Main Imports

Battery waste, Waste and scrap of metals (aluminum, iron, copper, brass, nickel)

Indian Community

150 approx. (mostly expatriates)