Mauritania Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 106th
MPR SCORE: 266
MPR Index: 0.0778 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8739 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.484 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Mauritania ranks 106th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. Its armed forces, the Mauritanian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Mauritaniennes), are structured primarily for internal stability, border defense, and counterterrorism operations, particularly as part of the broader Sahel security framework. Given Mauritania’s expansive desert geography and exposure to jihadist threats along its eastern and southeastern borders, the military is configured for mobility, desert patrol, and asymmetric warfare.
Mauritania is a committed member of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, working alongside Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad to combat regional insurgencies. The military receives training and equipment support from France, the United States, and European Union security missions, especially for surveillance, rapid reaction, and border fortification. Though limited in conventional firepower and technological sophistication, Mauritania’s armed forces are increasingly recognized for their role in territorial containment and Sahel stabilization.
Strengths
1. Effective Desert Warfare Doctrine
Mauritania’s military is trained for long-range desert operations, including mobile patrols, border surveillance, and ambush countermeasures across its vast, arid interior. Units are specialized in light vehicle movement and desert navigation under extreme conditions.
2. Active Role in G5 Sahel Security Operations
As a core member of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, Mauritania contributes troops to multinational anti-terrorism deployments and participates in joint intelligence sharing and counterinsurgency strategy aimed at groups like JNIM and ISGS.
3. International Military Assistance and Partnerships
The country receives training and logistical support from France, the U.S. (AFRICOM), and the EU, improving its border force readiness, command structure, and counterterrorist capacity. Select elite units are trained in reconnaissance, IED clearance, and forward operating base defense.
Why Mauritania Is Still Ranked 106th
1. Limited Conventional Power and Equipment
Mauritania lacks modern mechanized units, combat aircraft, and heavy artillery systems, relying primarily on light patrol vehicles, outdated firearms, and donated equipment for most operations.
2. Inadequate Strategic Mobility
While effective in desert patrols, Mauritania lacks airlift, logistics depth, and force projection capability, which limits its operational range in coordinated multinational efforts or high-tempo military campaigns.
3. Persistent Institutional Weaknesses
The military continues to face training inconsistencies, recruitment gaps, and organizational fragmentation, particularly in terms of aligning national forces with regional security structures and maintaining command and control in remote areas.
Conclusion
Mauritania’s military reflects a strategically vital yet resource-constrained force, tasked with internal protection, border defense, and regional counterterrorism in one of the world’s most unstable zones. While it lacks conventional strength, Mauritania plays an outsized role in the Sahel security environment, leveraging its desert warfare specialization, foreign training, and strategic alliances. Its current ranking reflects both its limited modernization and its growing role in regional threat containment.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Military Personnel: 18,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 5,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 10,000 (Gendarmerie and Border Forces)
Army Personnel: 15,000
Navy Personnel: 1,500
Air Force Personnel: 1,500
Ground Forces
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 30 (Older Soviet models)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 200+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 50+
Air Force
Combat Aircraft: 10+
Helicopters: 8+
Transport Aircraft: 5+
Aircraft Breakdown:
MiG-21 Fighter Jets: 3 (Soviet-era)
Mi-17 Helicopters: 6 (transport and utility)
Naval Forces
Mauritania’s navy is primarily tasked with protecting its extensive coastline from illegal fishing, smuggling, and other maritime security threats. The naval fleet is small but essential for patrolling the country’s waters and supporting counter-terrorism efforts.
Patrol Vessels: 12+
Fast Attack Craft: 5+
Missile Capabilities
Mauritania does not possess advanced missile systems or nuclear capabilities. Its military is focused on securing the country’s borders and countering internal security threats.
Strategic Partnerships
Mauritania plays a key role in the G5 Sahel coalition, working with Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad to combat terrorism and insurgency in the region. The country also receives military support and training from France and the United States, especially in areas related to counter-terrorism and border security.
Military History & Combat Experience
Mauritania’s military has focused largely on domestic counterinsurgency, border security, and more recently, its role in multilateral anti-terror operations. It has no history of conventional warfare but possesses significant experience in irregular security operations.
Western Sahara Conflict Involvement (1975–1979):
Mauritania entered the conflict over Western Sahara after Spain’s withdrawal, annexing the southern part of the territory. The country faced sustained guerrilla attacks from the Polisario Front, leading to domestic unrest and eventual military withdrawal from the conflict in 1979. The experience exposed the military’s lack of preparation for prolonged insurgency warfare.Internal Political Coups and Military Governance (1978–2008):
The military played a central role in national politics for decades, executing several coups d’état and maintaining influence in governance. While these events did not involve widespread armed conflict, they shaped the military’s structure and mission, often emphasizing regime protection over defense modernization.Anti-Terror Operations and Sahel Border Security (2010s–present):
Since the early 2010s, Mauritania has reinforced its eastern and southeastern borders to prevent infiltration by jihadist groups operating in Mali and southern Algeria. These operations include joint patrols, drone surveillance, and rapid deployment raids on suspected terrorist staging points.G5 Sahel Joint Operations (2014–present):
Mauritania actively contributes to the G5 Sahel Force, conducting intelligence coordination, counter-IED missions, and joint military exercises along shared borders. These operations focus on disrupting smuggling routes, tracking militant cells, and securing remote desert corridors vulnerable to armed infiltration.
Mauritania’s military history is marked not by conventional wars but by its adaptation to regional instability, its transformation from a politicized institution into a counterterrorism-focused force, and its operational relevance within the broader Sahel security framework.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~4.9 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~1.6 million
Geographic Area: 1,030,700 km²
Land Boundaries: 5,002 km
Bordering Countries: Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Western Sahara
Coastline: 754 km
Climate: Mostly desert; hot, dry, and dusty
Terrain: Mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Natural Resources: Iron ore, gold, copper, gypsum, fish, offshore oil and gas
Proven Oil Reserves: ~20 million barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~35 trillion cubic feet (BP-Tortue field)
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$310 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~2.6%
GDP (PPP): ~$30 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$5,900
External Debt: ~$6 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Increased due to counterterrorism and Sahel instability
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Sahel counterterrorism, border security, coastal surveillance
Military Industry Base: Basic; vehicle repair, uniforms
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Limited
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Structured into military zones under General Staff
Missile Inventory Highlights: Artillery, mortars, light MLRS
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Low to moderate; 45–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~20,000
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: General Directorate for National Security
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: France, G5 Sahel, AU
Airports (Total): ~26
Major Military Airports: Nouakchott, Atar, Néma
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~10 vessels
Major Ports: Nouakchott, Nouadhibou
Naval Infrastructure: Coastal defense fleet; moderate capability
Naval Replenishment Capability: Limited
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~717 km (iron ore transport)
Roadways: ~11,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~7,000 barrels/day
Energy Imports: Relies on fuel imports; plans to boost LNG exports
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Limited stockpiling
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Very limited
Military Installations (Domestic): Nouakchott, Atar, Néma
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: French advisors, U.S. trainers
Defense Alliances: G5 Sahel, AU, France cooperation
Strategic Airlift Capability: Basic; light aircraft and helicopters
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Very low
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Minimal
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: SNIM (mining), port services, oil terminal logistics
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Nouakchott
Founding Date: November 28, 1960 (independence from France)
System of Government: Unitary presidential Islamic republic
