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. 39.87 Mauritania Ouguiya (August 2025)
Source: Central Bank of Mauritania

GDP

US$ 10.77 billion (Dec 2024)
Source: World Bank

GDP Growth Rate

Mauritania GDP Growth (Q1 2025):
Quarterly change (vs Q4 2024): -3.0%
Annual change (vs Q1 2024): +1.8%
Source: ANSADE (National Statistics Office of Mauritania)

Inflation

1.6% (July 2025)
source: National Agency for Statistics, Demographic and Economic Analysis (ANSADE)

GDP Per Capita

US$ 2082 (2024)
Source: World Bank

Population

5.17 million (2025)

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$ 1.155 Million (January to March 2025)
Imports consisted mainly of petroleum products (37.9%), food products (21.1%) and equipment (15.9%). Petroleum imports increased 30% to 448.6 million USD, primarily gas-oil (56%) and fuel-oil (25%), mainly sourced from Europe (Spain, Belgium). Food imports declined 17% to 249.7 million USD, dominated by cereals (wheat 84% of cereal imports), sugar and edible oils. Europe (46%), Asia (18%) and the Middle East (14%) were the top suppliers, with Spain (20.3%), China (8.5%) and UAE (13.7%) as leading partners.

Total imports

US$ 1.183 Million (January to March 2025)
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)
US$ 55.70 Million (Apr-May 2025)

India’s Exports

US$ 114.83 Million (2024-25)
US$ 23.42 Million (Apr-May 2025)

India’s Imports

US$ 22.63 Million (2024-25)
US$ 32.28 Million (Apr-May 2025)

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)