| Attribute |
Mauritania × | 
Laos × |
| Geography | | |
| Area (km²) | 1,030,700 | 236,800 |
| Continent | Africa | Asia |
| Land area (km²) | 1,030,700 | 230,800 |
| Water area (km²) | 0 | 6,000 |
| Land boundaries (km) | 5,002 | 5,274 |
| Border countries | - Algeria
- Mali
- Senegal
- Western Sahara
| - Burma
- Cambodia
- China
- Thailand
- Vietnam
|
| Coastline (km) | 754 | 0 |
| Mean elevation (m) | 276 | 710 |
| Lowest point (m) | -5 | 70 |
| Highest point (m) | 915 | 2,817 |
| People | | |
| Population | 4,005,475 | 7,447,396 |
| Official languages | | |
| Religion | Muslim | Buddhist |
| Government | | |
| Long country name | Islamic Republic of Mauritania | Lao People's Democratic Republic |
| Short country name | Mauritania | Laos |
| Long local name | Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah | Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao |
| Short local name | Muritaniyah | Mueang Lao (unofficial) |
| Government type | Presidential republic | Communist state |
| Capital | Nouakchott | Vientiane |
| Economy | | |
| GDP (PPP) (USD) | 17,280,000,000 | 49,340,000,000 |
| GDP (OER) (USD) | 4,935,000,000 | 16,970,000,000 |
| GDP (real growth rate) (%) | 3.5 | 6.9 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) (USD) | 4,500 | 7,400 |
| Gross national saving (% of GDP) | 24.2 | 22.7 |
| Labor force | 1,437,000 | 3,582,000 |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 10.2 | 0.7 |
| Population below poverty line (%) | 31 | 22 |
| Budget revenues (USD) | 1,354,000,000 | 3,099,000,000 |
| Budget expenditures (USD) | 1,396,000,000 | 4,038,000,000 |
| Military expenditures (% of GDP) | 3.02 | 0.19 |
| Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP) | 27.4 | 18.3 |
| Budget surplus or deficit (% of GDP) | -0.8 | -5.5 |
| Public debt (% of GDP) | 96.6 | 63.6 |
| Inflation rate (%) | 2.3 | 0.8 |
| Central bank discount rate (%) | 9 | 4.3 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate (%) | 17 | 18.5 |
| Stock of narrow money (USD) | 1,296,000,000 | 1,131,000,000 |
| Stock of broad money (USD) | 1,296,000,000 | 1,131,000,000 |
| Stock of domestic credit (USD) | 2,364,000,000 | 9,300,000,000 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares (USD) | - | 1,012,000,000 |
| Current account balance (USD) | -711,000,000 | -2,057,000,000 |
| Exports (USD) | 1,722,000,000 | 3,654,000,000 |
| Imports (USD) | 2,094,000,000 | 4,976,000,000 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (USD) | 875,000,000 | 1,270,000,000 |
| External debt (USD) | 4,150,000,000 | 14,900,000,000 |
| National currency | ouguiyas | kips |
| National currency (code) | MRO | LAK |
| National currency (symbol) | UM | ₭ |
| 1↑National currency rate to USD | 363.6 | 8 |