Mauritania Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Mauritania's military spending was 2.08% in 2025, ranked 54th globally. This represents a 3.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1985–2025.
Overview
Mauritania's military spending stood at 2.08% in 2025, a decline of +0.07% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.08% by 2025. Mauritania ranked 54th globally.
Mauritania’s military outlays have fallen sharply since the mid‑1980s, slipping from an all‑time peak of 5.95 % of GDP in 1985 to a historic low of 1.86 % in 1998, before stabilising at 2.08 % in 2025, a level that places the country 54th globally. Over the 38‑year series, the downward trajectory reflects both reduced defence procurement and broader fiscal constraints, while the modest rebound to just above two percent mirrors a regional pattern observed in peers such as Albania (2.10 %) and Sweden (2.04 %). The persistence of a sub‑3 % share suggests that Mauritania’s security spending is now anchored to a modest baseline, yet future shifts in regional security dynamics or domestic political reforms could either press the share upward or sustain the current plateau.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.98% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.03% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.08% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.08% | −0.07% | #54 |
| 2024 | 2.16% | −0.11% | #101 |
| 2023 | 2.26% | +0.20% | #109 |
| 2022 | 2.06% | −0.23% | #110 |
| 2021 | 2.29% | −0.10% | #118 |
| 2020 | 2.39% | +0.39% | #119 |
| 2019 | 2.00% | −0.13% | #109 |
| 2018 | 2.13% | +0.01% | #118 |
| 2017 | 2.12% | −0.02% | #116 |
| 2016 | 2.15% | −0.01% | #114 |
| 2015 | 2.16% | −0.04% | #114 |
| 2014 | 2.20% | +0.20% | #115 |
| 2013 | 2.00% | −0.12% | #109 |
| 2012 | 2.11% | −1.02% | #109 |
| 2009 | 3.14% | +0.08% | #116 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Mauritania matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2006. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Mauritania's military spending was 2.08% in 2025. Ranked 54th globally. This represents a 3.4% decrease from the previous year.
Mauritania's military spending peaked at 5.95% in 1985.
The lowest military spending in Mauritania was 1.86% in 1998.
Mauritania ranks 54th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Mauritania's military spending is projected to reach 2.08% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Mauritania in 2025 was 2.08%. This ranks 54th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_mauritania_military-spending,
title = {Mauritania Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/mauritania/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}