Mauritius is an Indian Ocean island nation known for its beaches, lagoons, reefs and mountainous interior which includes Black River Gorges National Park, with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and wildlife like the flying fox. Mauritius also controls Rodrigues Island and the remote, sparsely populated Agalega and Cargados Garayos (Saint Brandon). According to 2016 world bank statistics, Mauritius is currently home to 1.263 million people (2016).

Mauritius Ocean Economy (2015) based on ocean ecosystem is estimated at 2.4 Billion US$ equivalent to 18% of national GDP valued at 13.5 Billion US$. Download resource

Regionally, Mauritius’ ocean economy is ranked fourth when compared to other WIO countries.

The contribution of the ocean to national income is significant and equivalent to exports

With a stable population and high levels of income and social welfare, benefits derived from ocean wealth can be secured into the future

As a small island state, Mauritius EEZ is vastly larger than its land area, emphasizing the unrealized potential of its ocean economy beyond the coastal zone and coastal waters, currently contributing <2% of income from the ocean

Mauritius’ ocean economy is very strongly based on marine and coastal tourism in its coastal zone, at 98% of total income from ocean assets

 

 

Data sources: WIO Ocean Economy report (Obura et al. 2017), WWF/BCG/CORDIO; UNDP Development statistics, 2015; UNESA Population statistics 2015