<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Mauritius<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly textiles), and tourism. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1992 was impressive, with 6% real growth and low unemployment.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—purchasing power equivalent—$8.6 billion (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> 6.3% (1992 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $7,800 (1993 est.)
<item>• <hi format=ital>partners:</hi> EC, US, South Africa, Japan
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>External debt:</hi> $991 million (1992 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Industrial production:</hi> growth rate 7% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
<item><hi format=bold>Electricity:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>capacity:</hi> 235,000 kW
<item>• <hi format=ital>production:</hi> 630 million kWh
<item>• <hi format=ital>consumption per capita:</hi> 570 kWh (1992)
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Industries:</hi> food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> accounts for 10% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated land in sugarcane; other products—tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses, cattle, goats, fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76 million; Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $709 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $54 million