External health expenditure in Mauritania
Mauritania: External health expenditure was 19.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External health expenditure in Mauritania, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Mauritania recorded 19.5% for external health expenditure in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 118.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Mauritania peaked at 19.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2018.
Mauritania ranks 37th of 177 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External health expenditure in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.4% | — |
| 2001 | 3.9% | -10.9% |
| 2002 | 4.9% | +27.5% |
| 2003 | 9.3% | +87.8% |
| 2004 | 7.1% | -23.7% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | -25.7% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -52.4% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | +67.0% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | +24.0% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 5.3% | -9.7% |
| 2012 | 5.3% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 8.9% | +68.7% |
| 2014 | 10.3% | +15.3% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -16.1% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -73.5% |
| 2017 | 6.5% | +183.0% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -65.1% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +40.6% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | +29.9% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | +125.6% |
| 2022 | 19.3% | +107.5% |
| 2023 | 19.5% | +0.9% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 19.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 19.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.5%, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.2% | 2.5% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 2.3% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.1% | 4.1% | 19.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More health data for Mauritania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8878 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 653 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,563 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure in Mauritania?
- External health expenditure in Mauritania was 19.5% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 19.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2018.
- How does Mauritania rank for external health expenditure?
- Mauritania ranks 37th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 118.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from external sources. External sources compose of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country. External sources either flow through the government scheme or are channeled through non-governmental organizations or other schemes.