Gross domestic product (GDP)                         

The GDP at market prices increased by 5.7% in 2010 compared to the previous year amounting to MUR 299.5 billion.

(Source: National Statistics)

The real GDP growth rate increased to 4.2% in 2010 compared to 3.1% in 2009.

GDP per capita

In 2010, GDP per capita at market prices reached MUR 233,800, an increase of 5.4% over the previous year.

(Source: National Statistics)

Gross national income (GNI) per capita

The GNI per capita was MUR 238,000 in 2010. GNI per capita at PPP was USD 13,270.

(Source: National Statistics, World Bank)

Income tax

In 2010, the income tax imposed on an individual in Mauritius was 15%. VAT was levied at 15%.

(Source: taxrates.cc)

Corporate tax rate

The standard corporate tax rate and VAT is levied at 15%.

(Source: doingbusiness.org)

Inflation rate

The inflation rate was 9.7% in 2008 and declined sharply to 2.5% in 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

Foreign direct investment inflow

The total FDI inflow in 2010 amounted to MUR 10,561 million. The annual growth rate was 20.1% in the same year.

(Source: National Statistics)

Portfolio investment inflow

The portfolio investment inflow amounted to MUR 910 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

(Source: Central Bank)

Cash reserve ratio

In September 2010, the minimum cash reserve ratio on bank’s deposit was 5%.

(Source: Central Bank)

Banking sector assets

In December 2010, total bank sector assets were MUR 86.5 billion.

(Source: Central Bank)

Stock market capitalisation

The total market capitalisation in 2009 was MUR 151.2 billion compared to MUR 109.3 billion in the previous year. The market capitalisation as a percentage of GDP in 2009 was 55%.

(Source: National Statistics)

Consumer price index

CPI was 126.7 in February 2011, an increase of 6.8% compared to the previous period.

(Source: National Statistics, National Statistics1)

Producer price index (PPI)

PPI for agriculture declined to 2.5% in 2010 and PPI for manufacturing decreased to 1.3% in 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

Interest rate on savings deposit

The interest rate on savings deposit rate varied between 4%-4.75% in June 2010.

(Source: National Statistics)

Interest rate on time Ddposit

The interest rate on time deposits was between 4%-15% in 2010.

(Source: Central Bank pg 54)

Money supply

Broad money M3 increased by 12.5% at the end of June 2009 amounting to MUR 283,613 million. The broad money supply as a percentage of GDP was 103.3% in 2009 compared to 95.2% in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics)

Public debt

Total public sector debt was MUR 174,797 million in December 2010 corresponding to 58.4% of total GDP. Public debt increased by 3.9% in December 2010 compared to the previous period.

(Source: Ministry of finance)

Government expenditure

The total government expenditure in 2010 amounted to MUR 81,127.2 million and is estimated to be MUR 88,682 million in 2011.

(Source: Ministry of finance pg 8)

Official exchange rate

The exchange rate in Mauritius was MUR 30.89 per USD in 2010 compared to MUR 31.94 per USD in the previous year.

(Source: National Statistics)

Government finances

Public sector borrowing requirement/fiscal balance

The public sector borrowing requirement as a percentage of GDP was 3.2% and 3.6% in 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively.

(Source: National Statistics)

Total revenue

Total government revenue was MUR 62,925 million in 2010 and is estimated to be MUR 70,300 million in 2011.

(Source: National Statistics)

Tax revenue

The total tax collected in 2010 amounted to MUR 53,353 million. The majority of the taxes collected from goods and services was MUR 33,699 million and MUR 13,740 million from taxes on income, profit and gains.

(Source: National Statistics)

Current account balance

The current account deficit in 2010 was 9.38% of GDP compared to 7.81% in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Balance of payments

(Source: National Statistics, National Statistics1)

Total grants

Total grants amounted to MUR 1,470 million in 2010. The grants from international organisations like UNDP, EDF, GEF and AFD accounted for 95.7% of total grants. 4.3% of total grants were contributed by the governments of Japan, Germany and India. The total grants are estimated to be MUR 2,885 million in 2011.

(Source: National Statistics pg 5)

Labour force

The total labour force in 2010 was 596,200, an increase of 1.5% over the previous year. Mena and women accounted for 62.8% and 37.2% of the total labour force respectively. The tertiary sector accounted for 60.9% of total employment followed by secondary sector with a share of 30.9%. The primary sector accounted for only 8.2% of total employment.

(Source: National Statistics)

Labour force participation rate

The labour force participation rate was 59.1% in 2010. The male and female labour participation rate was 75.9% and 43% respectively.

(Source: National Statistics)

Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate in 2010 was 7.5% compared to 7.3% in 2009. The male unemployment rate was 4.8% and female unemployment rate was 12.1%.

(Source: National Statistics)

(Source: National Statistics)

Employment in agriculture

Total employment in agriculture was 46,200 in 2009. Employment in agriculture is made up of 71.8% men and 28.1% of women.

(Source: National Statistics)

Employment in industries

The employment rate in industries in larger establishments declined by 9.9% in 2009 and was 33.5%.

(Source: National Statistics)

Employment in services

The employment rate in services in larger establishments was 60.6%. The annual growth rate in employment in services was  1.26% in 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

Minimum wage

The average monthly wage for all occupational groups in 2009 was MUR 13,100. For men and women the average monthly wage was  MUR 14,800 and MUR 9,900 respectively.

 (Source: National Statistics page: 4)

Level of unionisation

Mauritius has approximately 308 trade unions. The rate of unionisation in the public and private sector are 54% and 11% respectively.

(Source: National Statistics)

The main trade unions in Mauritius are:

• Federation of Progressive Unions
• Federation of Civil Service Unions
• Mauritius Labour Congress
• Mauritius Labour Federation
• National Trade Union Confederation
• Congress of Independent Trade Unions
• Free Democratic Unions Federation
• State Employees Federation
• Mauritius Employers’ Federation

 (Source:  National Statistics) 

Government stability

The Republic of Mauritius has had a parliamentary democracy since 1992. Mauritius became independent in 1968 and became a republic in 1992. The powers are shared by the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

(Source: BBC)

The president serves as the head of state and is elected by the national assembly. The prime minister is appointed by the president and is the head of government. The prime minister has control over the cabinet of ministers.

(Source: National Statistics)

The parliament, known as the national assembly, is unicameral. The parliament consists of 70 members. Among the 70 members, 62 are elected from the 21 constituencies and serve a term of five years. The responsibilities of the assembly include forming laws, monitoring government actions and supervising state finances.

(Source: National Statistics)

In 2010, 65 political parties were registered for national assembly elections. The main political parties are:

• Mauritius Labour Party
• Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM)
• Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM)
• Mouvement Rodriguais
• Organisation du Peuple de Rodrigues
  

(Source: National Statistics)

Sir Anerood Jugnauth currently serves as the President and Navinchandra Ramgoolam is the current Prime Minister of the nation.

Regulatory environment

Mauritius is ranked 12^th on the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom with a score of 76.2 (out of 100). The nation’s overall score is above the regional and world average. In the Sub-Saharan African region, it ranks 1^st out of 46 countries.

(Source: heritage.org)

Corruption perception index

Mauritius is ranked 39^th in the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index with a score of 5.4. This indicates moderate levels of corruption in Mauritius.

(Source: transparency.org)

Freedom of information

Mauritius was ranked 65^th in the World Press Freedom Index 2010 with a score of 18. Mauritius slipped from its 2009 position, when it was ranked 51^st. (Source: rsf.org, BBC)

The constitution assures freedom of expression of the press. L'Express, Le Mauricien and Le Matinal are a few of the key newspapers in Mauritius.

(Source: rsf.org, BBC)

Judicial system

Mauritius has a two-tier judicial system consisting of the Supreme Court and the subordinate courts. The subordinate courts include:

• District court
• Intermediate court
• Court of Rodrigues
• Industrial court
• Bail court

The Chief Justice presides over the Supreme Court accompanied by 15 judges. Supreme Court consists of:

• Court of Civil Appeal
• Court of Criminal Appeal
• Bankruptcy division

(Source: scourt)

Total population

The total population in 2010 was 1.28 million, an increase of 0.4% compared to the previous year. The population density was 629 people per square kilometre.

In the same year, 71.1% of total population were in the 15-64 year age-group , followed by 0-14 year age group with a percentage share of 21.6% of the population. People above the age of 65 made up 7.3% of the total population.

(Source: National Statistics)

Gender balance

The total male population in Mauritius was 0.63 million and the female population was 0.65 million in 2010. The dependency ratio was 406 in the same year.

(Source: National Statistics)

Infant mortality rate

The infant mortality rate was 12.5 per 1000 live births in 2010 compared to 13.4 in 2009. The total infant deaths in 2010 was 187 compared to 205 in 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

Birth rate and death rate

The total number of live births was 15,005, a decrease of 2.2% compared to 2009. The death rate and birth rate were recorded at 7.1 deaths per 1000 people and 11.7 per 1000 people respectively in mid 2010.

(Source: National Statistics)

Average life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth was 72.1 years in 2010. The average life expectancy for men and women was 69.5 years and 76.7 years respectively in 2009.

(Source: UNDP, National Statistics)

Racial/ethnic environment

68% of the population belong to Indo-Mauritian ethnic group followed by 27% of the population belonging to the Creole ethnic group. Sino-Mauritians and Franco-Mauritians contributed to 3% and 2% of the population respectively.

(Source: National Statistics pg 22)

Poverty and inequality

The income gap ratio and poverty gap ratio was  21.9% and 1.9% in 2006-07. The total number of households was 335,000, of which 7.9% households were poor. 

(Source: National Statistics)

Migration and urbanisation

The total number of international migrants was 42,917 people in mid 2010. The total number of male and female migrants were estimated to be 15,755 and 27,162 respectively.

The total urban and rural population in 2009 was 0.53 million and 0.74 million. The total male and female population in the urban areas was 0.26 and 0.27 million.

(Source: National Statistics, UN)

Human development index

Mauritius is ranked 72^nd on the Human Development Index, 2010 with a score of 0.70. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

(Source: UNDP)

Literacy rate

The adult literacy rate was estimated to be 88.2% and 88.6% in 2009 and 2010. The adult literacy rate was 87.5% between 2005-08.

(Source: UNDP, UNDP1 pg 189)

Education Resources

(Source: National Statistics pg 9, tec.intnet)

The total expenditure on education in 2010 amounted to MUR 11,571.2 million accounting for 13.6% of total government expenditure.

(Source: National Statistics)

Healthcare resources

The total number of hospital beds in government hospitals and private clinics was 3,650 and 807 respectively in 2009. The total number of doctors in 2009 was 1,500. (Source: Ministry of Health)

In Mauritius, non-communicable diseases account for 80% of the diseases. The mortality rate in 2009 for children under the age of 5 years was recorded at 16.1 per 1000 live births. The major causes of infant deaths were congenital anomalies, respiratory distress, pneumonia and other diseases.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Health1)

In 2010, the total number of deaths was 9,131 compared to 9,224 deaths in the previous year. The main causes of death were neoplasm, circulatory diseases, diseases of the endocrine, nutritional & metabolic diseases, cancer, hypertension and respiratory diseases.

(Source: National Statistics, Ministry of Health)

The total government health expenditure was estimated to be MUR 4,740.5 million in 2009-10, an increase of 2.7% over the previous year.

(Source: Ministry of Health)

Mass Public Transit

The various means of transport in Mauritius include cars, motorised two-wheelers and dual purpose vehicles.

(Source: National Statistics)

Roadways

The total road network in Mauritius was 2,066 km in 2009.  The length of main roads was 1000 km followed by 593 km of secondary roads, 75 km of motorways and 398 km of other roads.

(Source: National Statistics)

Ports

Mauritius has only one major port, Port Louis.

(Source: worldportsource)

Airports

There are only two airports in Mauritius, Mauritius International Airport situated in Mauritius with a runway length of 9900 ft and Plaine Corail situated in Rodrigues having a runway length of 3300 ft.

(Source: aircraft charter)

Telecommunication Network

The total number of internet subscribers in 2009 was 286,000 people, an increase of 43.4% compared to the previous year. Fixed and mobile internet subscribers were used by 107,000 and 179,000 people respectively.

The mobile phone subscribers increased by 5.2% and had 1,086,700 users in 2009. The total number of fixed telephone line subscribers was 381,700.

(Source: National Statistics, National Statistics1)