Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO)

What Is the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO)?

MRO is an abbreviation seen in the foreign exchange (forex) market for the Republic of Mauritania ouguiya (sometimes also spelled as the ougiya). Locally, it is denoted by 'UM'.

One ouguiya divides into five khoums. It has the rare distinction of being one of only two world currencies that are not divisible by units of 10 or 100, the other being the Malagasy ariary, a currency found in Madagascar.

As of November 2022, $1 U.S. is worth roughly 38 MRO. Most commonly, the MRO is exchanged with the euro in the FX market.

Understanding the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO)

The Mauritanian ouguiya first began as the official currency of Mauritania in 1973. At this time, it replaced the CFA franc, which is a shared currency used in areas of mainland Africa, exchanged at a rate of 5 ouguiyas to 1 CFA franc. Banknotes have denominations of 100, 200, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 ouguiyas. Coins also circulate in values of 1 khoum, and 1, 5, 10, and 20 ouguiyas. 

The Central Bank of Mauritania manages and issues the currency. It has recently finished a process of adjusting the denominations of currency to adjust for inflation. Redenomination of the currency began in December 2017 at a central bank-set rate of 1:10.

These new notes are the second ouguiya. The second ouguiya, which is worth ten times its comparable version in the old system, began to go into circulation in January 2018. The currency in circulation at the time gradually transitioned to the new styles of coins and banknotes throughout 2018.

Government officials said the new money is more durable and less prone to counterfeiting, making it safer and more secure. The updated currency designs also have a more modern and innovative style.

The Economy of Mauritania

The Republic of Mauritania is a country in northwestern Africa that sits along the Atlantic coast. It is made up mostly of a desert landscape with 90% of its landmass lying in the Sahara desert. Many of its residents have a nomadic lifestyle and abide by strict cultural traditions.

Nearly 50% of the nation's gross domestic product comes from fishing, but Mauritania still imports 70% of its food sources. Agriculture and mining also contribute to the nation's income as the majority of its citizens rely on livestock for income and survival. The Mauritania nation experienced several droughts and famine, which coupled with inadequate economic policy, led the country to build up massive foreign debt. Financial assistance through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank has helped the nation. However, the country still struggles. 

Portions of Mauritanian existed under various nomadic tribal rulers for many years until they became part of French West Africa in 1920. During the period of tribal rule, conflicts often flared between groups. Later, when the nation gained its independence in 1960, a new series of conflicts between culturally diverse groups ensued. Slavery remains a problem in the country, as well as an ongoing caste-like system of hierarchy and wide differences in the population's income. 

According to World Bank data, the Republic of Mauritanian has a growing population, and the country experienced a 3.5% annual inflation rate and had a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of -1.8% in 2020, which is the most current full-year available data.