Achieving Mauritania’s goal of reaching upper-middle-income status by 2050 will require accelerated economic diversification, according to the World Bank Group’s Growth and Jobs Report released in November 2025. The report provides an analytical framework to support the government’s efforts to foster inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Over the past twenty years, Mauritania’s economy has grown at an average rate of 3.5%, but sustaining and accelerating this growth will depend on broadening the productive base and increasing labor force participation, which currently remains below 50%. The report highlights significant opportunities in sectors complementary to extractive industries, including agriculture, fisheries, energy, and digital services.
Mauritania possesses key assets to support its economic transformation. Beyond its mineral wealth, the country is leveraging solar energy, modernizing agricultural land into agri-food chains, and expanding digital connectivity to develop high-value services. The World Bank has committed to supporting these diversification efforts to enhance the country’s competitiveness and resilience. A dynamic private sector is central to this transformation, with entrepreneurial activity playing a critical role in driving innovation, scaling startups, and promoting women-led enterprises. Mobilizing private capital and creating an enabling environment are considered essential for turning ideas into viable businesses and fostering shared prosperity.
The report identifies three major drivers for inclusive and sustainable growth: strengthening human and infrastructure capital, improving the regulatory framework, and promoting private sector development. Priority reform areas include early childhood education, land management, labor code reform, competition policy, and the development of STEM skills. By addressing these areas, Mauritania can build a more resilient and diversified economy capable of attracting investment, generating sustainable jobs, and supporting long-term growth.
Mauritania’s strategic position, political stability, and resource potential in gas, mining, and agriculture are significant assets for economic diversification. The strategic dialogue between the World Bank and the government underscores the importance of leveraging these advantages to create an inclusive economy, strengthen private sector participation, and ensure sustainable development for the country’s future.
