Mauritania External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Mauritania's external debt was $4.0B in 2025, ranked 89th globally. This represents a 9.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Mauritania's external debt stood at $4.0B in 2025, a decline of +$438.7M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $4.0B by 2025. Mauritania ranked 89th globally.
Mauritania’s external debt has risen sharply from a modest 26,315,139.80 in 1970 to 4,021,206,121.67 in 2025, placing the country 89th globally and situating it among peers such as Guyana (4,043,918,868.81) and Malawi (3,960,612,293.76). The debt trajectory accelerated after the 1990s, reaching an all‑time peak of 5,685,048,948.80 in 2020 before retreating by roughly 29 % over the subsequent five years. This decline reflects a combination of fiscal consolidation, debt‑service restructuring, and modest growth in export revenues, yet the stock remains well above the 1970 trough and continues to exceed the level recorded in the early 2000s. The 56‑year coverage shows that debt accumulation has been persistent, with the post‑2020 reduction representing the first substantive reversal in three decades. If current reforms are sustained and external financing conditions remain favourable, Mauritania’s external debt is likely to continue its downward path, potentially bringing the country closer to the debt levels of its regional comparators.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $3.5B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $3.8B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $4.0B | - | - |
| 2025 | $4.0B | −$438.7M | #89 |
| 2024 | $4.5B | −$128.1M | #36 |
| 2023 | $4.6B | +$28.7M | #38 |
| 2022 | $4.6B | −$226.5M | #37 |
| 2021 | $4.8B | −$899.2M | #38 |
| 2020 | $5.7B | +$303.8M | #43 |
| 2019 | $5.4B | +$157.5M | #43 |
| 2018 | $5.2B | −$17.3M | #41 |
| 2017 | $5.2B | +$160.8M | #45 |
| 2016 | $5.1B | +$86.7M | #45 |
| 2015 | $5.0B | +$461.9M | #46 |
| 2014 | $4.5B | +$9.1M | #43 |
| 2013 | $4.5B | +$245.1M | #44 |
| 2012 | $4.3B | +$534.4M | #47 |
| 2011 | $3.7B | +$186.5M | #45 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Mauritania matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2006. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Mauritania's external debt was $4.0B in 2025. Ranked 89th globally. This represents a 9.8% decrease from the previous year.
Mauritania's external debt peaked at $5.7B in 2020.
The lowest external debt in Mauritania was $26.3M in 1970.
Mauritania ranks 89th globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Mauritania's external debt is projected to reach $4.0B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Mauritania's external debt was approximately 4.02 billion ($4.0B) in 2025.
The external debt of Mauritania in 2025 was $4.0B. This ranks 89th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_mauritania_external-debt,
title = {Mauritania External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/mauritania/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}