Mauritania's Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Mouhamedou Ould Ahmedou Mhaimid, announced that the country's poverty rates have continued to decline. According to the minister, the monetary poverty rate decreased from 28.2% in 2019 to 25.7% in 2025. The extreme poverty rate also saw a decline, dropping from 12.8% to 11.2% over the same period. These statistics were released during a forum focused on the findings of a survey conducted by the National Agency of Statistics and Demographic and Economic Analysis, in collaboration with the World Bank.
The survey, which covers the period from 2025 to 2026, provides insight into the living conditions of households in Mauritania. The minister highlighted that despite a challenging international context and inflationary pressures that led to increased consumer prices and food costs, the government's measures to support household purchasing power have had a mitigating effect. He emphasized that the recorded indicators are encouraging and confirm the effectiveness of national orientations.
In addition to the decline in poverty rates, the minister noted a significant reduction in multidimensional poverty, which decreased by 4 points, from 58.7% to 54.7%. This decline suggests that households in Mauritania are experiencing improvements in various aspects of their lives. The minister attributed these positive trends to the government's efforts to address poverty and promote economic development.
The minister also reported progress in the social and service sectors. He noted a substantial increase in the primary school enrollment rate, which rose from 79.9% to 96.1%, representing an increase of 16.2 points. Similarly, the secondary school enrollment rate saw a modest increase, rising from 31.9% to 36.8%. These improvements indicate a positive trend in education.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted advancements in healthcare and access to basic services. He reported that the rate of supervised deliveries by qualified personnel increased from 73% to 82.7%. Additionally, the coverage rate for health insurance doubled, rising from 6.4% to 11.9%. These developments suggest that Mauritania is making progress in improving its healthcare services.
The minister also noted improvements in access to clean water. He stated that the proportion of households with access to taps inside their homes increased from 39.4% in 2019 to 52.6% in 2025. This increase is a positive indicator of the government's efforts to improve living standards and provide basic services to its citizens.
Overall, the minister's statements suggest that Mauritania is experiencing a decline in poverty rates and improvements in various sectors, including education, healthcare, and access to basic services. While challenges persist, the country's progress is encouraging, and the government's efforts to address poverty and promote economic development appear to be yielding positive results.
Key points
- The poverty rate in Mauritania decreased from 28.2% in 2019 to 25.7% in 2025.
- The extreme poverty rate declined from 12.8% to 11.2% between 2019 and 2025.
- Multidimensional poverty decreased by 4 points, from 58.7% to 54.7%, over the same period.
