Economy of Réunion

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Template:Expand French The economy of Réunion has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has beenTemplate:When? pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which amountsTemplate:When? to more than 40% of the labour force.

The gap in Réunion between the well-off and the poor is large and accounts for persistent social tensions.<ref name="BBC News 2011 v867">Template:Cite web</ref> The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrated the seriousness of socio-economic tensions.<ref name="The Observers - France 24 2012 d381">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2007 the GDP per capita of Réunion at nominal exchange rates, not at PPP, was €17,146 (US$23,501).<ref name="GDP">Template:Cite web</ref> However, while this is exceptionally high compared with its neighbours in Madagascar and the African continent, it is only 57% of the 30,140 euros per capita GDP of metropolitan France in 2007.Reunion Island is one of the French departments with the highest poverty rate with 42% of the population living below the poverty line. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The total GDP of the island was US$18.8 billion in 2007.<ref name=GDP />