Mauritius - Public finance



From the mid-1970s to 1981, the ratio of fiscal deficit to GDP increased from under 10% to 14%, due to deficit public spending. During the 1980s, an export-oriented economy caused the fiscal deficit to decline to 3% of GDP by 1989, and to 2% by 1991. In 1997, the deficit reached 4.6%, but the government announced measures that aimed at reducing the figure to 3.6% of GDP. The government's plan did not work; by fiscal year 2001/2002, the deficit had climbed to 6.3%. The new goal is to bring the deficit down to 3% of GDP by fiscal year 2005/2006.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates that in 1999 Mauritius's central government took in revenues of approximately $1.1 billion and had expenditures of $1.2 billion. Overall, the government registered a deficit of approximately $100 million. External debt totaled $2.3 billion.

The following table shows an itemized breakdown of government revenues and expenditures. The percentages were calculated from data reported by the International Monetary Fund. The dollar amounts (millions) are based on the CIA estimates provided above.

Mauritius

REVENUE AND GRANTS 99.9% 1,099
Tax revenue 84.6% 931
Non-tax revenue 14.5% 159
Grants 0.8% 9
EXPENDITURES 100.0% 1,200
General public services 9.8% 118
Defense 0.8% 10
Public order and safety 7.1% 86
Education 14.8% 177
Health 8.4% 100
Social security 21.4% 257
Housing and community amenities 6.6% 79
Recreation, cultural, and religious affairs 1.3% 16
Economic affairs and services 15.7% 188
Other expenditures 2.8% 34
Interest payments 11.3% 135
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