Overview: The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly textiles), and tourism. Despite significant expansion in other sectors over the past decade, sugarcane remains dominant and is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area, accounting for 40% of export earnings. The government's development strategy is centered on industrialization (with a view to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. In FY87 estimated economic performance was impressive with a 5.4% real growth rate, low inflation, and substantially reduced unemployment.

GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $1,280; real growth rate 5.4% (FY87 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.0% (FY87 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1987)

Budget: revenues $351 million; expenditures $414 million, including capital expenditures of $76 million (FY87 est.)

Exports: $676 million (f.o.b., 1986); @m5commodities--textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%; @m5partners--EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15%

Imports: $684 million (c.i.f., 1986); @m5commodities--manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%; @m5partners--EC, US, South Africa, Japan

External debt: $545 million (December 1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (FY87)

Electricity: 233,000 kW capacity; 423 million kWh produced, 380 kWh per capita (1988)

Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel, chemical and chemical products, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Agriculture: about 90% of cultivated land area is planted in sugarcane; sugar derivatives, tea, tobacco; most food imported

Aid: NA

Currency: Mauritian rupee (plural--rupees); 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1--14.257 (January 1989), 13.438 (1988), 12.878 (1987), 13.466 (1986), 15.442 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritius on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mauritius Economy 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritius Economy 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.