Map of Mauritius | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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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.


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Location: Southern Africa island in the Indian Ocean about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S 57 33 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 181
Land: 2,030 km²
Water: 10 km²
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 highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources: arable land: fish

Land use
Permanent crops: 1.96%
Other: 59.8% (2011)

Irrigated land: 212.2 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 2.75 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Geography
Note: the main island from which the country derives its name is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; former 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


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Population: 1,331,155 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 156
Growth rate: 0.66% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 148
Below poverty line: 8% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Adjective: Mauritian

Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68% Creole 27% Sino-Mauritian 3% Franco-Mauritian 2%

Languages: Creole 86.5% Bhojpuri 5.3% French 4.1% two languages 1.4% other 2.6% (includes English the official language which is spoken by less than 1% of the population) unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Religions: Hindu 48.5% Roman Catholic 26.3% Muslim 17.3% other Christian 6.4% other 0.6% none 0.7% unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 15.5% (male 104,257/female 102,233)
25-54 years: 44.1% (male 293,607/female 294,029)
55-64 years: 10.9% (male 68,749/female 76,407)
65 years and over: 8% (male 45,145/female 66,643) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 27.1 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 12.8 %
Potential support ratio: 7.8 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 33.1 years
Female: 34.8 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.66% (2014 est.)
Rank: 148

Birth rate: 13.46 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 149

Death rate: 6.85 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 138

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 88

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: PORT LOUIS (capital) 151,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: water pollution degradation of coral reefs
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 136
Male: 12.59 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.5 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 98
Male: 71.71 years
Female: 78.81 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 160

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 75.8% (2002)

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 1.06 physicians/1000 population (2004)

Hospital bed density: 3.4 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.2% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 40
People living with hivaids: 10,500 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 101
Deaths: 700 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 84

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 18.5% (2008)
Rank: 105

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 123

Literacy
Total population: 88.8%
Male: 91.1%
Female: 86.7% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 15 years
Female: 16 years (2012)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: Mauritius
Local long form: Republic of Mauritius
Local short form: Mauritius

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital
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

Dependent areas

Independence: 12 March 1968 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 12 March (1968)

Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968; amended many times last in 2012 (2012)

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

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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
Elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 21 July 2012 (next to be held in 2017); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president responsible to the National Assembly; note - former President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH resigned on 31 March 2012
Election results: Rajkeswur Kailash PURRYAG elected president by unanimous vote

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 FSM 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8; note - as of 4 March 2014 seats by party were AF 38 MMM 19 MSM 9 FSM 1 MMSD 1 OPR 1 other 1

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister; senior puisne judge appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; other puisne judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Commission a 4-member body of judicial officials including the chief justice; all judges serve until retirement at age 62
Subordinate courts: Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal (formed by a 2008 constitutional amendment)

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AOSIS AU C CD COMESA CPLP (associate) FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (NGOs) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO InOC Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM OIF OPCW PCA SAARC (observer) SADC UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 1709 N Street NW Washington DC 20,036; administrative offices - 3,201 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 441 Washington DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
From the us embassy: 4th Floor Rogers House John Kennedy Street Port Louis
From the us mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544 Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy Port Louis US Department of State Washington DC 20,521-2,450
From the us telephone: [230] 202-4,400
From the us FAX: [230] 208-9,534

Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top) blue yellow and green; red represents self-determination and 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 symbols

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL

National heritage


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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. Mauritius has achieved steady and strong growth over the last several decades resulting 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 of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-13 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 131

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 101

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 86

Gross national saving:
Rank: 21

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 13.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 22%
Investment in inventories: 1.5%
Exports of goods and services: 54.6%
Imports of goods and services: -65.4%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 22%
Services: 73.4% (2013 est.)

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: 0.2% (2013 est.)
Rank: 164

Labor force: 637,600 (2013 est.)
Rank: 153
By occupation construction and industry: 30%
By occupation transportation and communication: 7%
By occupation trade restaurants hotels: 22%
By occupation finance: 6%
By occupation other services: 25% (2007)

Unemployment rate: 8.1% (2012 est.)
Rank: 93

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 8% (2006 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index: 37 (1987 est.)
Rank: 69

Budget
Expenditures: $2.736 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -1.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 85

Taxes and other revenues: 21.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 154

Public debt: 57.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 52

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.9% (2012 est.)
Rank: 125

Central bank discount rate: 9% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 8.67% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 106

Stock of narrow money: $2.378 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 120

Stock of broad money: $11.38 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 100

Stock of domestic credit: $12.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 91

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 72

Current account balance: -$1.175 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 120

Exports: $2.673 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 130
Commodities: clothing and textiles sugar cut flowers molasses fish primates (for research)
Partners: UK 19.3% France 16.4% US 9.9% South Africa 9.8% Spain 7.5% Italy 6.9% Madagascar 6.8% (2012)

Imports: $5.104 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 128
Commodities: manufactured goods capital equipment foodstuffs petroleum products chemicals
Partners: India 23.1% China 16% France 8.5% South Africa 6.5% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.046 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 106

Debt external: $2.606 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 138

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: NA

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 2.628 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 131
Consumption: 2.358 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 137
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 168
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 171
Installed generating capacity: 900,200 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 125
Generation sources fossil fuels: 75.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 100
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 140
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 121
Generation sources other renewable sources: 17.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 8

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 197
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 155
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 93
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 165

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 174
Products consumption: 24,710 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 122
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 199
Products imports: 20,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 105

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 167
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 172
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 149
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 96
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 171

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 5.06 million Mt (2011 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 349,100 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 109
Mobile cellular: 1.485 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 152

Telephone system
Domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005; fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services launched in 1989 with current teledensity roughly 100 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 (2011)

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
Hosts: 51,139 (2012)
Hosts rank: 95
Users: 290,000 (2009)
Users rank: 131

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 130

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 5 (2013)
Rank: 180
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways: 1 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Rank: 173
Paved: 2,149 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2012)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Rank: 129
By type: passenger/cargo 2 petroleum tanker 1 refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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