Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Mauritania
Mauritania: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 42.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Mauritania, 1971–2021
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Mauritania is 42.6%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 62.2% on the previous year and up 217.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Mauritania peaked at 61.9% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2003.
That places Mauritania 43rd out of 112 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 19.3% | — |
| 1972 | 24.1% | +24.9% |
| 1973 | 40.2% | +66.9% |
| 1974 | 61.9% | +54.0% |
| 1975 | 25.4% | -59.0% |
| 1976 | 20.2% | -20.5% |
| 1977 | 9.8% | -51.6% |
| 1978 | 11.9% | +22.3% |
| 1979 | 16.5% | +38.4% |
| 1980 | 17.5% | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 17.3% | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 12.7% | -26.4% |
| 1983 | 8.7% | -32.0% |
| 1984 | 6.2% | -28.9% |
| 1985 | 4.3% | -29.6% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | -30.2% |
| 1987 | 3.8% | +26.3% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | -23.0% |
| 1989 | 4.4% | +50.2% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -37.3% |
| 1991 | 3.3% | +17.3% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | -5.0% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | -27.0% |
| 1994 | 2.0% | -13.6% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | +92.4% |
| 1996 | 5.9% | +57.8% |
| 1997 | 8.2% | +38.2% |
| 1998 | 2.2% | -73.4% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | -29.1% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +36.4% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | -16.0% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | +87.1% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | -58.5% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | +22.8% |
| 2005 | 3.1% | +83.0% |
| 2006 | 12.5% | +304.2% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | -35.2% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -13.7% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 8.1% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 13.4% | +65.8% |
| 2012 | 22.6% | +68.7% |
| 2013 | 22.1% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 14.0% | -36.5% |
| 2015 | 16.5% | +17.4% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 16.7% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 17.9% | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 19.1% | +6.9% |
| 2020 | 26.3% | +37.4% |
| 2021 | 42.6% | +62.2% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 42.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 42.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 1.8× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Mauritania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +304.2% | 3.1% | 12.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.5% | 9.8% | 61.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 8.1% | 2.9% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.5% | 1.5% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 1.4% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 8.1% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.4% | 26.3% | 42.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 40 Chad 46.2% compare
- 41 Kyrgyzstan 43.5% compare
- 42 Eswatini 43.3% compare
- 44 Democratic Republic of Congo 42.5% compare
- 45 Madagascar 41.9% compare
- 46 Mauritius 41.8% compare
More financial sector data for Mauritania
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0019 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 4.19 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0014 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 3.06 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0019 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 4.19 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Mauritania?
- Total reserves in Mauritania was 42.6% in 2021, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 61.9% in 1974.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2003.
- How does Mauritania rank for total reserves?
- Mauritania ranks 43rd out of 112 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 217.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total reserves (% of total external debt). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of total external debt which are all liabilities that require payment(s) of interest and/or principal by the debtor at some point(s) in the future and that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy.