Mauritius
Economic 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 expanding local financial institutions and building a domestic information telecommunications industry. 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 $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
GDP Growth rate: 4.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Trade per capita (US$, 2003-2005): 5 714
Trade to GDP ratio (2003-2005): 119.4
Exports: $2.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) | Imports: $3.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
Exports - commodities: Clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses | Imports - commodities: Manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals |
Exports - partners: UK 30.5%, France 15.2%, UAE 10.5%, US 10.3%, Madagascar 7% (2006) | Imports - partners: France 15.5%, South Africa 8.6%, India 7.4%, China 5.9%, Bahrain 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.2%, UAE 4.2%, Germany 4.1% (2006) |
Share in world total merchandise exports: 0.02
Share in world total merchandise imports: 0.03
Share in world total commercial services exports: 0.07
Share in world total commercial services imports: 0.05
Indicators
HEALTH | EDUCATIONAL | ECONOMIC | POLITICAL
GENERAL INDICATORS | ||
| HDI Rank | 63 | |
| GDP (US $ Bill.) | 2004 | 6 |
| GDP (PPP US $ Bill.) | 2004 | 14.8 |
| GDP Per Capita (PPP US $) | 2004 | 12027 |
| GDI Rank | 53 | |
| GDI Value | 0.792 | |
| GEM Rank | .. | |
| GEM Value | .. | |
| Total Population (Mill.) | 1975 | 0.9 |
| 2004 | 1.2 | |
| 2015a | 1.3 | |
| Total Female Population (in '000) | 2006 | 633 |
| Population living below $ 1 a day in Percentage | 1990-2004 | .. |
| Population living below the national poverty line in Percentage | 1990-2003 | .. |
| Total Fertility Rate (Births per Woman) | 1970-75 | 3.2 |
| 2000-05 | 2 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (Adjusted per 100000 live births) | 2000 | 24 |
| Probability of Female Survival at birth to 65 yrs | 2000-05 | 80.9 |
| Probability of Male Survival at birth to 65 yrs | 2000-05 | 66.9 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (years) | 2004a | 72.4 |
| Female Life Expectancy at Birth (Yrs) | 75.8 | |
| Male Life Expectancy at Birth (Yrs) | 69 | |
| Population without sustainable access to safe water in Percentage | 2004 | 0 |
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| Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio* in Percentage | 2004 | 74 |
| Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio* (F) in Percentage | 74 | |
| Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio* (M) in Percentage | 75 | |
| Female Legislators, Officials & Managers (% of Total) | .. | |
| Female Professionals & Technical Workers (% of Total) | .. | |
| Adult Literacy Rate (% ages 15 and older) | 2004 | 84.4 |
| Female Adult Literacy Rate ( % ages 15 and older) | 80.5 | |
| Female Adult Literacy Rate (as % of Male Rate) | 91 | |
| Female Youth Literacy Rate (% ages 15-24) | 95.4 | |
| Female Youth Literacy Rate (as % of Male Rate) | 102 | |
| Net Primary Enrolment Female Ratio (in %) | 96 | |
| Net Primary Enrolment Ratio of Female to Male | 1.02 | |
| Net Secondary Enrolement Female Ratio (in %) | 80 | |
| Net Secondary Enrolment Ratio of Female to Male | 1 | |
| Gross Tertiary Enrolment Female Ratio (in %) | 20 | |
| Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio Female to Male | 1.39 | |
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| Estimated Female Earned Income( PPP US$) | 6948 | |
| Estimated Male Earned Income (PPP US $) | 17173 | |
| Ratio of Female to Male Estimated Earned Income | 0.4 | |
| Female Economic Activity Rate (% ages 15 and older) | 42.2 | |
| Female Economic Activity ( index, 1990=100, ages 15 and older) | 101 | |
| Female Economic Activity ( as % of male rates, ages 15 and older) | 53 | |
| Female Employment Agriculture (%) | 13 | |
| Male Employment Agriculture (%) | 15 | |
| Female Employment Industry (%) | 43 | |
| Male Employment Industry (%) | 39 | |
| Female Employment Services (%) | 45 | |
| Male Employment in Services (%) | 46 | |
| Women Contributing Family Workers (%) | 75 | |
| Men Contributing Family Workers (%) | 25 | |
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| Seats in Parliament (Women as % of Total) | 17.1 | |
| Female Suffrage Granted (Year) | 1956 | |
| Elections Contesting Rights (Year) | 1956 | |
| Year of First Woman Elected (E=Elected, A=Appointed) | 1976 E | |
| Women Ministers (as % of total) | 8 | |
| Seats held in Lower/Single House by Women (as % of Total) | 17.1 | |
| Seats held in Upper House/Senate by Women (as % of Total) | — | |
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Source : UNDP HDR 2006
Notes:
.. Data Not Available
a.Data refer to medium-variant projections.
* For Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Schools
