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Mauritania vs Namibia
Side-by-side comparison of Mauritania and Namibia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Mauritania
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
In short
Namibia scores 31.8 in the NationsTree Index (159th in the world) and Mauritania scores 31.0 (162nd), a gap of 0.7 points. Their trees are 3.4 m and 3.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Mauritania has 72% more people than Namibia. Mauritania has 25% more land area than Namibia. The economy of Mauritania is 10% larger than that of Namibia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Mauritania 5.3 million and Namibia 3.1 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $11,986 in Namibia and $7,676 in Mauritania (2025, international dollars). People in Mauritania live on average 1.2 years longer (68.7 vs 67.5 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Mauritania ranks higher in the world on 11 and Namibia on 19. Mauritania is clearly stronger in military and economy. Namibia is clearly stronger in tourism, institutions & safety and environment & energy.
As a nation, Mauritania is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Namibia (since 1990). Over the last five years Mauritania improved faster (direction score 72 vs 16 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Mauritania and Namibia.
Mauritaniabetter
-0.3%
42nd of 192
Namibia
-5.9%
163rd of 192
High-tech exportsTrade
Mauritaniabetter
9.4%
68th of 168
Namibia
0.1%
160th of 168
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Mauritania
46.5
185th of 200
Namibiabetter
14.2
77th of 200
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Mauritania
2.00
148th of 164
Namibiabetter
2.80
63rd of 164
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Mauritaniabetter
1.0
43rd of 145
Namibia
11.2
117th of 145
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Mauritania overtook Namibia in GDP (PPP) in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Namibia overtook Mauritania in the NationsTree Index in 1996 and has stayed ahead since.
Mauritania overtook Namibia in life expectancy in 1994 and has stayed ahead since.
Namibia has been ahead of Mauritania in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Mauritania has been ahead of Namibia in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
MauritaniaNamibia All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Mauritania | Namibia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,030,70028th/216 · 2024 | 824,29233rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,030,70028th/216 · 2024 | 823,29033rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.3 m125th/217 · 2025 | 3.1 m136th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.78%18th/217 · 2025 | 2.05%46th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 5.0206th/216 · 2024 | 3.7213th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 61.5%123rd/217 · 2025 | 50.9%154th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 42.4%12th/217 · 2025 | 36.7%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.2%186th/217 · 2025 | 3.8%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $11.68 bn153rd/210 · 2025 | $15.08 bn145th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $40.80 bn141st/199 · 2025 | $37.07 bn144th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $34.86 bn141st/199 · 2025 | $31.68 bn144th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,198173rd/210 · 2025 | $4,876141st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $7,676152nd/199 · 2025 | $11,986134th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,210161st/201 · 2025 | $4,340137th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.0%77th/210 · 2025 | 1.7%157th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.5%51st/180 · 2025 | 3.5%102nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 10.3%150th/187 · 2025 | 19.3%180th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 4.7%2015 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 40.4%62nd/189 · 2025 | 67.5%132nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.3%42nd/192 · 2025 | -5.9%163rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 20.0%37th/197 · 2025 | 7.0%91st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 29.7%54th/200 · 2025 | 28.9%59th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 4.6%157th/192 · 2025 | 10.0%99th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 42.4%176th/200 · 2025 | 55.0%120th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $4.65 bn133rd/182 · 2025 | $6.74 bn120th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $6.33 bn134th/182 · 2025 | $9.64 bn120th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 39.9%83rd/183 · 2025 | 44.7%64th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 54.2%65th/183 · 2025 | 63.9%49th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 94.0%71st/183 · 2025 | 108.6%50th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%128th/170 · 2024 | 1.3%114th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%167th/171 · 2024 | 18.4%108th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 25.5%55th/171 · 2024 | 28.0%53rd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 33.7%14th/171 · 2024 | 32.3%17th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 9.4%68th/168 · 2024 | 0.1%160th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.8%148th/191 · 2025 | -13.1%173rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 5.4%39th/196 · 2025 | 9.6%22nd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 11.4%42nd/209 · 2021 | 4.0%80th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.67%10th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 9.59%12th/209 · 2021 | 3.17%31st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.19%48th/209 · 2021 | 0.86%57th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 0.4%198th/206 · 2024 | 1.0%183rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 82172nd/183 · 2022 | 2,132104th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 30,0002000 | 187,100153rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $6.4 m171st/175 · 2020 | $155.0 m134th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.2%164th/168 · 2020 | 4.0%91st/168 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 68.7164th/217 · 2024 | 67.5172nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 36.9148th/196 · 2024 | 39.5159th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.26137th/174 · 2022 | 0.55120th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.42006 | 2.72009 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 86%125th/193 · 2024 | 74%160th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 18.4%2015 | 76.8%78th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 36.0%2020 | 82.0%124th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 45.2%2014 | 43.7%2015 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.0%181st/217 · 2025 | 6.4%169th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.3%146th/193 · 2023 | 9.5%35th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 59.5%88th/98 · 2020 | 87.6%59th/98 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 6.0%2020 | 26.1%110th/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.563163rd/193 · 2023 | 0.665136th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 32.02019 | 59.12015 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 10.2%2019 | 22.9%2015 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 52.2%200th/215 · 2024 | 59.3%188th/215 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 45.8%153rd/186 · 2024 | 64.9%134th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 92156th/210 · 2024 | 85164th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.9170th/208 · 2024 | 2.8153rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.00148th/164 · 2022 | 2.8063rd/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 72870th/82 · 2021 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 328,992123rd/161 · 2023 | 60,304141st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.9763rd/203 · 2024 | 1.2069th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 19.6%108th/212 · 2022 | 30.0%80th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 46.5185th/200 · 2023 | 14.277th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 1.0%198th/214 · 2024 | 9.8%168th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 677111th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 36.9160th/205 · 2025 | 54.4102nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 29.0165th/207 · 2025 | 51.083rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 45.3152nd/207 · 2025 | 64.879th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 54.1165th/207 · 2025 | 78.664th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 43.1153rd/205 · 2025 | 56.786th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 41.2147th/205 · 2025 | 64.681st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.043rd/145 · 2020 | 11.2117th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $321.8 m115th/156 · 2025 | $410.5 m110th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.7%37th/156 · 2025 | 2.8%35th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 10.8%27th/154 · 2025 | 7.0%49th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 21,000104th/170 · 2020 | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.00%27th/168 · 2020 | 1.67%36th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 126.0 m45th/163 · 2024 | 0158th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.01%2018 | 0.65%55th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 1126th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 47156th/197 · 2023 | 231124th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Mauritania or Namibia?
Mauritania has the larger population: 5.3 m (2025) compared with 3.1 m for Namibia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Mauritania or Namibia?
Mauritania is larger: 1,030,700 km² (2024) compared with 824,292 km² for Namibia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Mauritania or Namibia?
Mauritania has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $40.80 bn intl. (2025) compared with $37.07 bn intl. for Namibia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Mauritania or Namibia?
Namibia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $11,986 intl. (2025) compared with $7,676 intl. for Mauritania (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Mauritania or Namibia?
Mauritania has the higher life expectancy at birth: 68.7 years (2024) compared with 67.5 years for Namibia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Mauritania or Namibia?
Namibia spends more on the military: $410.5 m (2025) compared with $321.8 m for Mauritania (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Mauritania or Namibia?
Namibia: 31.8 points (159th in the world); Mauritania: 31.0 points (162nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Congo
Malawi
Mauritius
Equatorial Guinea
Sierra Leone
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
TogoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Mauritania vs Namibia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/mauritania-vs-namibia. Data as of 26 October 2026.