Economy - overview Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on foreign investment. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector and responsible fiscal management, was well-poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

GDP purchasing power parity - $12.9 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 5.2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $10,800 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 6%
industry: 33%
services: 61% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line 10% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index 0.37 (1987 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.2% (2001 est.)

Labor force 514,000 (1995)

Labor force - by occupation construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)

Unemployment rate 8.6% (2001 est.)

Budget
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate 8% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production 1.285 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 91.05%
hydro: 8.95%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 1.195 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000)

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

Exports $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Exports - partners UK 25.8%, France 20.8%, US 16.0%, South Africa 10.9%, Germany, Italy (2000 est.)

Imports $2 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1996)

Imports - partners South Africa 20.0%, France 19.0%, India 9.0%, Hong Kong 5.2%, UK (2000 est.)

Debt - external $2.3 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient $42 million (1997)

Currency Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Currency code MUR

Exchange rates Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 30.345 (January 2002), 29.129 (2001), 26.250 (2000), 25.186 (1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997)

Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritius on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mauritius Economy 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritius Economy 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.