Economy - overview Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income,agriculturally based economy to a middle income diversified economy with growingindustrial, financial services, and tourist sectors. For most of the period,annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievementhas been reflected in increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality,and a much improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of thecultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government'sdevelopment strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to modernizationand to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performancein 1991-96 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.

GDP purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 5% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $10,300 (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 9.3%
industry : 31.6%
services: 59.1% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate - consumer price index 6% (1995)

Labor force
total : 479,500 (1993 est.)
by occupation: construction and industry 37%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing15%, trade, restaurants, hotels 14%, transportation and communication 7%,finance 3%

Unemployment rate 2.4% (1991 est.)

Budget
revenues: $732 million
expenditures: $550 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (FY94/95est.)

Industries food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel;chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism

Industrial production growth rate 5.8% (1992)

Electricity - capacity 235,000 kW (1991)

Electricity - production 425 million kWh (1991)

Electricity - consumption per capita 393 kWh (1991 est.)

Agriculture - products sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Exports
total value: $1.57 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: clothing and textiles 67%, sugar 25%
partners: UK 34%, France 21%, US 15%, Germany 6%, Italy 4%

Imports
total value: $1.98 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities : manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleumproducts 8%, chemicals 7%
partners: France 20%, India 8%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 6%, Germany 5%

Debt - external $996.8 million (1993 est.)

Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Exchange rates Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 18.528 (January 1997), 17.948 (1996),17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563 (1992)

Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritius on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mauritius Economy 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritius Economy 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.