Mauritania: Military expenditure (current USD)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Mauritania's military expenditure (current USD) rose 16.8% on 2024 (from 275.4 million to 321.76 million).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1988 to 2024), the average change was +5.8% and a typical year strayed about 20.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 72.1% in 2003 and the biggest yearly fall was 38.4% in 1998. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 20.51 million a year. A straight line explains 96% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Mauritania had the 110th highest value of the 150 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Mauritania in the 2025 ranking

• Zambia — 107th of 150: 405.86 million
• North Macedonia — 108th of 150: 374.75 million
• Gabon — 109th of 150: 356.11 million
• Jamaica — 111th of 150: 286.65 million
• Guyana — 112th of 150: 247.64 million
• Tajikistan — 113th of 150: 246.93 million

What this measures

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)

Limitations: SIPRI strives to compile reliable, consistent military expenditure data by assessing multiple sources, but accuracy depends on the quality and transparency of those sources. Challenges arise from two key issues: whether reported figures reflect actual spending and how closely they match SIPRI’s definition. While data is generally accurate in developed and many developing countries, weak governance, corruption, and secret transfers in others can lead to major discrepancies. SIPRI sometimes makes estimates, when sources conflict or lack coverage, introducing uncertainty, especially for countries like China or the UAE.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 37 values

Military expenditure (current USD) in nearby economies

• Angola — 1.46 billion (2025)
• Benin — 216.91 million (2025)
• Botswana — 614.35 million (2025)
• Burkina Faso — 891.56 million (2025)
• Burundi — 226.62 million (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 20.08 million (2025)
• Cameroon — 627.47 million (2025)
• Central African Republic — 74.19 million (2025)
• Chad — 648.81 million (2025)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 1.23 billion (2025)
• Congo, Rep.

More public sector data for Mauritania

• Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 126 million (2024)
• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 12.81 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 2.75% (2025)
• Armed forces personnel, total — 21,000 (2020)
• Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) — 2% (2020)
• CPIA business regulatory environment rating (1=low to 6=high) — 3.5 (2025)
• CPIA debt policy rating (1=low to 6=high) — 3.5 (2025)
• CPIA economic management cluster average (1=low to 6=high) — 4.17 (2025)
• CPIA policy and institutions for environmental sustainability rating (1=low to 6=high)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Mauritania's military expenditure (current USD)?

321.76 million in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1985?

It is up 683.66% from 41.06 million in 1985 (5.28% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 321.76 million in 2025 and the lowest 25.61 million in 1998.

How does Mauritania rank?

110th highest of 150 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in military expenditure (current USD) unusual for Mauritania?

In 2025, Mauritania's military expenditure (current USD) rose 16.8% on 2024 (from 275.4 million to 321.76 million). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1988 to 2024), the average change was +5.8% and a typical year strayed about 20.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator MS.MIL.XPND.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), uri: https://www.sipri.org/databases Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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