Mauritius Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Mauritius's unemployment rate was 5.64% in 2025, ranked 104th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1982–2025.
Overview
Mauritius's unemployment rate stood at 5.64% in 2025, a decline of +0.17pp from 2024. The IMF projects 5.89% by 2025. Mauritius ranked 104th globally.
Mauritius’ unemployment rate has fallen dramatically since its 1982 peak of 20.56%, reaching a historic low of 2.82% in 1990 before stabilising at 5.63% in 2025, ranking 104th globally. The sharp decline in the 1980s coincided with structural reforms that diversified the economy away from sugar‑cane dependence toward manufacturing and services, while the modest rise to the current level reflects the recent slowdown in tourism and global supply‑chain disruptions. Compared with peer economies, Mauritius’ rate is slightly above Austria’s 5.58% and Belgium’s 5.91%, indicating a competitive labour market but still room for improvement relative to advanced European benchmarks. The 44‑year series suggests that policy emphasis on skills development and export‑oriented growth can sustain the downward trajectory, although a resurgence of external shocks or domestic fiscal constraints could reverse the modest recent gains. Continued investment in high‑value sectors is likely to keep unemployment pressure modest in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 5.91% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 5.91% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 5.91% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 5.91% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 5.90% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 5.89% | - | - |
| 2025 | 5.64% | −0.17pp | #104 |
| 2024 | 5.55% | −0.56pp | #108 |
| 2023 | 5.57% | −1.23pp | #106 |
| 2022 | 6.32% | −2.78pp | #119 |
| 2021 | 7.72% | −1.48pp | #124 |
| 2020 | 8.63% | +1.93pp | #129 |
| 2019 | 6.33% | −0.57pp | #114 |
| 2018 | 6.43% | −0.67pp | #115 |
| 2017 | 6.75% | −0.55pp | #113 |
| 2016 | 6.81% | −1.09pp | #104 |
| 2015 | 7.41% | −0.39pp | #110 |
| 2014 | 7.47% | −0.53pp | #111 |
| 2013 | 7.32% | −0.78pp | #106 |
| 2012 | 7.47% | −0.43pp | #105 |
| 2011 | 7.45% | −0.35pp | #106 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Mauritius matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Mauritius's unemployment rate was 5.64% in 2025. Ranked 104th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from the previous year.
Mauritius's unemployment rate peaked at 20.56% in 1982.
The lowest unemployment rate in Mauritius was 2.82% in 1990.
Mauritius ranks 104th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Mauritius's unemployment rate is projected to reach 5.89% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Mauritius in 2025 was 5.64%. This ranks 104th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_mauritius_unemployment-rate,
title = {Mauritius Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/mauritius/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}