Mauritania flagEconomy Guide · Mauritania

Economy Guide in Mauritania

Economic overview, job market trends, income levels, and financial landscape for expats

Economic Overview

GDP

$10.38B

Total economic output of the country

HDI

0.56

Medium human development

Quality of Life

N/A

Composite score based on cost of living, safety, healthcare & climate

Purchasing Power

18/100

Very weak purchasing power — limited buying capacity

Comparison data legendCompare:
Country
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

0510
Affordable

The Cost of Living Index is 40.2, indicating affordability compared to NYC. Groceries (28.9) and restaurant prices (23.0) are also relatively low.

Housing Market

0510
Very Poor

The property price to income ratio is 35.7 years, indicating a very expensive housing market. The rent index is 5.5, suggesting low rental costs relative to NYC.

Average Income Levels

0510
Very Poor

The purchasing power index is 48.1, indicating low buying power compared to NYC. GDP per capita was $2,429 in 2024.

Tax System

0510
Moderate

Mauritania has a progressive income tax system with a top marginal rate of 40%. The standard VAT rate is 16%. Property taxes are applied at 3-10% of rental value, typically 8%.

Business Environment

0510
Poor

Mauritania was ranked 152nd in the World Bank's 2019 Ease of Doing Business report. The country has a nascent startup ecosystem, but a 'Startup Act' was adopted in January 2024 to provide incentives and stimulate innovation.

Social Security

0510
Moderate

Mauritania's social security system covers sickness, old age, disability, occupational injuries, and family benefits, but does not include unemployment. There are ongoing efforts to extend coverage to the informal sector.

Banking & Financial Safety

0510
Poor

A formal deposit insurance scheme with a specified coverage limit in Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU) or its USD equivalent could not be definitively identified from recent sources. The Central Bank of Mauritania oversees the sector, which has a capital adequacy ratio of 20.1% (2023) but elevated non-performing loans (19.3% over 2021-2024).

Deposit Protection: up to $0 USD (see sources)