NOUAKCHOTT, JUNE 19, 2025 - The World Bank Group has released the eighth edition of its Mauritania Economic Update. The report highlights Mauritania's ongoing efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability and strengthen social safety nets despite a moderate economic slowdown in 2024.
Mauritania's economic growth reached 5.2% in 2024, a decrease from 6.4% in 2023. This decline was mainly due to reduced extractive production and weaker public consumption. However, the country's economic performance remains above the regional average.
Globally, Mauritania benefited from declining inflation, supported by stricter monetary policy and lower international food and energy prices. Fiscal consolidation efforts have further decreased the fiscal deficit, demonstrating prudent public financial management.
Urbain Thierry Yogo, Senior Country Economist of the World Bank Group in Mauritania, stated: “Mauritania should maintain the momentum of macroeconomic and structural reforms that will help diversifying the economy and create productive jobs while protecting the most vulnerable against economic and climate shocks.”
The medium-term economic outlook is favorable with growth projected to average 4.9%. Nonetheless, risks persist due to commodity price volatility and climate-related shocks. The report stresses the need for economic diversification, investing mining revenues into non-extractive sectors, and continuing sound fiscal and monetary policies.
The 2025 edition emphasizes social protection reform. Mauritania is transitioning from generalized subsidies to targeted cash transfer programs using the national Social Registry for better coverage and identification of vulnerable households. Social assistance spending was at 1.51% of GDP in 2022—below the regional average—but reforms aim for more effective interventions aligned with vulnerable populations' needs.
Ibou Diouf, World Bank Country Manager for Mauritania, remarked: “As Mauritania continues its commendable efforts to preserve macroeconomic stability, it is becoming increasingly important to strengthen the coverage, targeting accuracy, and efficiency of its social protection programs to ensure sustainable and inclusive development.”
The report indicates that social protection programs positively impact vulnerable populations and reduce inequalities—particularly through the Tekavoul program noted for its effectiveness. Increasing benefit levels sustainably and refining targeting mechanisms are essential for maximizing poverty reduction.
To improve social assistance delivery, recommendations include updating the Social Registry, enhancing targeting precision, aligning food subsidies with household needs, strengthening institutional coordination via a national platform with harmonized monitoring tools, expanding economic inclusion programs, and developing graduation strategies for beneficiaries.