Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather, declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`20 17 S, 57 33 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 2,040 sq km country comparison to the world: 180 land: 2,030 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues`
Area - comparative: |  |
`almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`177 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin`
Climate: |  |
`tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)`
Terrain: |  |
`small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Piton 828 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`arable land, fish`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 49.02% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 48.04% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`220 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`2.2 cu km (2001)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%) per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`water pollution, degradation of coral reefs`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements`
Geography - note: |  |
`the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species`

People

Population: |  |
`1,303,717 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 21.8% (male 145,185/female 139,579) 15-64 years: 70.7% (male 457,743/female 463,875) 65 years and over: 7.5% (male 38,944/female 58,391) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 32.7 years male: 31.9 years female: 33.6 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.729% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139`
Birth rate: |  |
`13.97 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 147`
Death rate: |  |
`6.68 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 146`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 99`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 42% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`PORT LOUIS (capital) 149,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 11.52 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 139 male: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 74.48 years country comparison to the world: 99 male: 71.01 years female: 78.12 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.79 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 155`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`8,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 1% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 93% of population rural: 90% of population total: 91% of population unimproved: urban: 7% of population rural: 10% of population total: 9% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%`
Religions: |  |
`Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)`
Languages: |  |
`Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.4% male: 88.4% female: 80.5% (2000 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`3.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 128`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius local long form: Republic of Mauritius local short form: Mauritius`
Government type: |  |
`parliamentary democracy`
Capital: |  |
`name: Port Louis geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne`
Independence: |  |
`12 March 1968 (from the UK)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 12 March (1968)`
Constitution: |  |
`12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992`
Legal system: |  |
`civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 13 November 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AF 41, MMM 18, MR 2, MSF 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
Alliance of the Future or AF [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing coalition - includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement or MMSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or MSMM [Madan DULLOO]; Mauritian Solidarity Front of FSM [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH]; Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti Mauricien Xavier Duval or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`other: various labor unions`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Somduth SOBORUN chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Jo WILLS embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone: [230] 202-4400 FAX: [230] 208-9534`
Flag description: |  |
`four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green; red represents the blood shed for independence, blue the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the island`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "Motherland" lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL note: adopted 1968`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. The economy rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, and is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped to mitigate negative effects from the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew 3.6% in 2010 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$18.06 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $17.36 billion (2009 est.) $16.85 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$9.729 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 3% (2009 est.) 5.5% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$14,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $13,500 (2009 est.) $13,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 4.8% industry: 24.6% services: 70.5% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`597,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture and fishing: 9% construction and industry: 30% transportation and communication: 7% trade, restaurants, hotels: 22% finance: 6% other services: 25% (2007)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 7.3% (2009 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`8% (2006 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`39 (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 37 (1987 est.)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`23.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $2.114 billion expenditures: $2.583 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`60.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 62.4% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`2.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 2.5% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`NA%`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`19.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 21.54% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 $1.906 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$9.605 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $9.277 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$10.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $9.423 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$4.74 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 89 $3.443 billion (31 December 2008) $5.666 billion (31 December 2007)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish`
Industries: |  |
`food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99`
Electricity - production: |  |
`2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`2.158 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186`
Oil - imports: |  |
`22,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-949 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $-674.6 million (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$2.041 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $1.942 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish`
Exports - partners: |  |
`UK 25.55%, France 16.89%, US 9.51%, Italy 5.68%, UAE 5.47%, Belgium 4.93%, Madagascar 4.11% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$3.935 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $3.499 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals`
Imports - partners: |  |
`India 24.5%, France 14.02%, South Africa 8.55%, China 8.17% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$2.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $2.304 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$5.043 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $4.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$NA`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 30.991 (2010) 31.96 (2009) 27.973 (2008) 31.798 (2007) 31.656 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`379,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 105`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`1.087 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 145`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: small system with good service
domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005; fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services launched in 1989 with teledensity in 2009 reaching 85 per 100 persons
international: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa where it connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides further links to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries (2009)
`

Broadcast media: |  |

`
the government maintains control over TV broadcasting through the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which operates 3 analog and 10 digital TV stations; MBC is a shareholder in a local company that operates 2 pay TV stations; the state retains the largest radio broadcast network with multiple stations; several private radio broadcasters have entered the market since 2001; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
`

Internet country code: |  |
`.mu`
Internet hosts: |  |
`36,653 (2010) country comparison to the world: 94`
Internet users: |  |
`290,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 132`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 181`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 2,066 km country comparison to the world: 173 paved: 2,066 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2009)`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 3 country comparison to the world: 137 by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Port Louis`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2009)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 343,628 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 280,596 females age 16-49: 283,317 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 10,193 female: 10,104 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`0.3% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 169`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; claims French-administered Tromelin Island`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering, but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011