External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Mauritius
Mauritius: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -9.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Mauritius, 1976–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritius is -9.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 11.9% on the previous year and down 146.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritius peaked at 6.6% in 1986 and was at its lowest, -13.7%, in 2021.
Mauritius ranks 129th of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Mauritius, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | -6.8% | — |
| 1977 | -10.5% | +54.5% |
| 1978 | -12.2% | +15.9% |
| 1979 | -11.6% | -4.7% |
| 1980 | -10.1% | -12.7% |
| 1981 | -10.3% | +2.0% |
| 1982 | -2.8% | -73.1% |
| 1983 | -0.4% | -87.2% |
| 1984 | -3.3% | +829.4% |
| 1985 | -1.9% | -43.4% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | -451.3% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | -69.1% |
| 1988 | -4.9% | -341.3% |
| 1989 | -7.2% | +47.7% |
| 1990 | -7.1% | -1.8% |
| 1991 | -3.7% | -48.0% |
| 1992 | -3.2% | -13.4% |
| 1993 | -6.0% | +86.3% |
| 1994 | -8.6% | +44.7% |
| 1995 | -2.4% | -72.3% |
| 1996 | -0.7% | -71.7% |
| 1997 | -4.8% | +610.8% |
| 1998 | -0.8% | -83.0% |
| 1999 | -3.0% | +271.1% |
| 2000 | -0.1% | -96.0% |
| 2001 | 6.1% | -5089.3% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | -45.2% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -44.1% |
| 2004 | -1.8% | -196.1% |
| 2005 | -5.1% | +185.2% |
| 2006 | -10.1% | +96.2% |
| 2007 | -9.1% | -10.1% |
| 2008 | -13.2% | +46.1% |
| 2009 | -9.1% | -31.3% |
| 2010 | -10.9% | +20.5% |
| 2011 | -12.6% | +15.1% |
| 2012 | -11.9% | -5.7% |
| 2013 | -8.1% | -32.0% |
| 2014 | -5.5% | -32.3% |
| 2015 | -4.0% | -26.7% |
| 2016 | -4.2% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | -6.3% | +48.9% |
| 2018 | -6.4% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | -7.2% | +13.2% |
| 2020 | -10.4% | +43.5% |
| 2021 | -13.7% | +31.3% |
| 2022 | -13.6% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | -9.2% | -32.1% |
| 2024 | -11.2% | +21.2% |
| 2025 | -9.9% | -11.9% |
Mauritius compared with similar countries
- Mauritius's -9.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%, 2.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Mauritius's -9.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Mauritius changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +5089.3% | -0.1% | 6.1% |
| 1984 | -829.4% | -0.4% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | -610.8% | -0.7% | -4.8% |
| 1986 | +451.3% | -1.9% | 6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -10.3% | -12.2% | -6.8% | 4 |
| 1980s | -3.2% | -10.3% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | -4.0% | -8.6% | -0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.7% | -13.2% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -7.7% | -12.6% | -4.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -11.3% | -13.7% | -9.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritius
More economy & growth data for Mauritius
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.33 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0185 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 240.79 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -1.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0135 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 175.82 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0089 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritius?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Mauritius was -9.9% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Mauritius?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 1986.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Mauritius?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.7% in 2021.
- How does Mauritius rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Mauritius ranks 129th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Mauritius?
- Over the last ten years it is down 146.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mauritius data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.