Mauritius Budget 2025/26: Rs 305 Billion Focuses on Social and Debt

The government’s budget estimates for the 2025/26 financial year amount to Rs 305.4 billion. The largest expenses are social security and pensions, totaling Rs 69.9 billion, followed closely by public debt servicing at Rs 63.7 billion. Education costs are significantly lower at Rs 20.3 billion.

A brief review of the 595-page budget document highlighting the most budget-intensive services and ministries.

Social security, mainly for pension payments, tops the list, with debt servicing expenses second.

These two items account for Rs 133.6 billion out of the total Rs 305.4 billion in planned public spending.

Here are the main public expenses:

• Social Security: Rs 71.6 billion (+ Rs 3.3 billion), including Rs 69.9 billion for social benefits.
• Public Debt Servicing: Rs 63.7 billion (+ Rs 3.7 billion), with Rs 37.3 billion for debt principal repayment and Rs 26.1 billion for interest.
• Education: Rs 20.5 billion (+ Rs 0.9 billion).
• Health: Rs 18.5 billion, with upcoming policies such as the Family Doctor Scheme in March, a new Public Health Bill in May 2026, and digitalization of 20% of hospital services.
• Public Service Pensions: Rs 13.4 billion, slightly higher than 2024/25.
• Police: Rs 13.2 billion (+ Rs 0.6 billion).
• Regional Administrations: Rs 7.3 billion (+ Rs 0.4 billion), including plans for a Local Government Bill in February and maintenance of 850 km of drains and 75 km of roads.
• Rodrigues and Outer Islands: Rs 6.5 billion, including a Rs 5 billion grant to Rodrigues Regional Assembly.
• Finance: Rs 5.9 billion, with a Finance Bill expected in August and a Fiscal Responsibility Act planned for April 2027.
• Energy and Utilities: Rs 4.7 billion (+ Rs 115 million), aiming for 980 MW of energy capacity in 2025/26 (up from 815 MW) and 426 MW from renewable sources (up from 351 MW).
• Water: 820 million cubic meters of water planned for 2025/26, 10 million more than this year.
• Agro-industry: Rs 4.5 billion, with new initiatives including a Food Security Programme in December, a Blue Economy Bill by December 2026, and rehabilitation of 600 hectares of abandoned sugarcane land.
• Transport: Rs 4.2 billion, similar to 2024/25, with new legislation for bus services expected in June 2026, and a target of 43,000 daily Light Rail passengers (up from 42,300), though projections suggest 50,000 passengers may not be reached before 2027/28.
• Fleet Management System: To be implemented for buses by March 2026, with 25% of National Land Transport Authority services digitalized.
• Environment: Rs 2.7 billion (+ Rs 0.5 billion), focusing on updating climate commitments, creating a plastic-free roadmap by December, and rehabilitating at least three beaches affected by erosion.
• Housing and Lands: Rs 2.5 billion (+ Rs 0.3 billion), with new hydrographic legislation in March and the delivery of 5,500 social housing units in 2025/26 (compared to 58 units in 2024/25).
• National Infrastructure: Rs 2.5 billion (down by Rs 0.3 billion).
• Higher Education, Science, and Research: Rs 2.3 billion (+ Rs 0.3 billion), including a new Higher Education Strategy by May and aiming for a 10% increase in international students on Mauritian campuses.
• Foreign Affairs: Rs 1.9 billion, with a Foreign Service Bill planned for June and support for 90 start-ups (up from 37 last year).
• Prime Minister’s Office: Rs 1.5 billion.
• Youth and Sports: Rs 1.1 billion (+ Rs 0.188 billion), including a new Sports Bill in May, support for 320 high-level athletes (up from 194), and increased access to sports facilities for 50,000 participants (up from 43,300).
• Youth Development: Rs 90,000 for 8,000 more young beneficiaries.
• Mauritius Recreation Council: Rs 40,000 more participants, reaching 50,000.
• Gender Equality and Family Well-being: Rs 1.2 billion (+ Rs 0.13 billion), with bills on adoption and domestic abuse planned by November and June 2026. Implementation of 60% of recommendations from the 2022/30 National Gender Policy is targeted.
• Outreach Services: Rs 730,000, supporting 30,000 more beneficiaries.
• Tourism: Rs 901 million, aiming to host about 1.39 million tourists, similar to last year.
• Arts and Culture: Rs 837 million (up from Rs 680 million), with major projects including a Cultural Desk (by September), a National Arts Open Commission (December), a Strategic Action Plan (February), and restructuring of MASA (April).
• Information and Communication Technology: Rs 1.2 billion (+ Rs 0.4 billion), planning to issue 28,000 digital certificates for MNIC 3.0 ID cards.
• Industry, SMEs, and Cooperatives: Rs 815.5 million (+ Rs 0.3 billion), with plans for an industrial strategy in March, aiming for Rs 124 billion in revenue from non-export enterprises and Rs 50 billion from domestic sales, plus new bills and support schemes.
• Labor Ministry: Rs 664 million, up from Rs 595.3 million.
• Financial Crimes Commission: Rs 415 million (+ Rs 0.115 billion), with Rs 339 million allocated for salaries.
• Financial Services and Planning: Rs 367 million (+ Rs 0.038 billion).
• Attorney General’s Office: Rs 350 million (+ Rs 0.006 million).
• Commerce and Consumer Protection: Rs 252 million (+ Rs 0.025 billion), with an e-Commerce Bill expected soon.
• Public Service and Administrative Reform: Rs 345 million (+ Rs 0.142 billion), with plans to introduce new reform legislation by December and a bill establishing the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute.
• Deputy Prime Minister’s Office: Rs 22.6 million.

This budget reflects the government’s priorities, including social security, debt management, infrastructure, health, education, environment, and economic development.

Source: Le Mauricien