Map of Mauritius | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


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 one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.


top of page


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: Africa

Area
Total: 2,040 km²
Land: 2,030 km²
Water: 10 km²
Note: includes Agalega Islands Cargados Carajos Shoals and Rodrigues
Rank: 181
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
Extremes highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources: arable land: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 43.8%
Forest: 17.3%
Other: 38.9%

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


top of page


Population: 1,339,827 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 156
Growth rate: 0.64% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 150
Below poverty line: 8% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Mauritian
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
0-14 years: 20.74%
15-24 years: 15.3%
25-54 years: 44%
55-64 years: 11.15%
65 years and over: 8.81% (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 40.6%
Youth dependency ratio: 27.2%
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.4%
Potential support ratio: 7.4%

Median age
Total: 34.4 years
Male: 33.5 years
Female: 35.3 years

Population growth rate: 0.64% (2015 est.)
Rank: 150

Birth rate: 13.29 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 151

Death rate: 6.91 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 135

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 88

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 39.7% of total population
Rate of urbanization: -0.08% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: PORT LOUIS (capital) 135,000 (2014)

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male/female
25-54 years: 1 male/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male/female
Total population: 0.97 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 10.3 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 12.24 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.26 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 135

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.4 years
Male: 71.94 years
Female: 79.03 years
Rank: 100

Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2015 est.)
Rank: 160

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 1.62 physicians/1000 population (2013)

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

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.92% (2014 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 49
People living with hivaids: 8,300 (2014 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 101
Deaths: 500 (2014 est.)
Deaths rank: 88

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 18.8% (2014)
Rank: 105

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2013)
Rank: 123

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 90.6%
Male: 92.9%
Female: 88.5%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 16 years

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
Conventional short form: Mauritius
Local long form: Republic of Mauritius
Local short form: Mauritius
Note: island named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU stadtholder of the Dutch Republic in 1598

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital
Name: Port Louis
Geographic coordinates: 20 09 S 57 29 E
Time difference: UTC+4

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
Chief of state: President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM ; Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 12 November 2010)
Head of government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Electionsappointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term ; election last held on 4 June 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president responsible to the National Assembly
Election results: Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
Elections: last held on 10 December 2014 ; note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 6 October 2014 resulting in early elections
Election results: percent of vote by party - Alliance Lepep 49.8% PTR-MMM 38.5% FSM 2.1% OPR 1.1% other 8.5%; elected seats by party - Alliance Lepep 47 PTR-MMM 13 OPR 2; appointed seats Alliance Lepep 4 PTR-MMM 3 unassigned 1

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court of Mauritius ; note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal
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

Political parties and leaders: Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AOSIS AU C CD COMESA CPLP (associate) FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (NGOs) ICCt 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Sooroojdev PHOKEER
In the us chancery: 1709 N Street NW Washington DC 20,036; administrative offices at 3,201 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 441 Washington DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] 244-1491 through 1492
In the us FAX: [1] 966-0983
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Shari VILLAROSA ; note - also accredited to Seychelles
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: dodo bird; national colors: red blue yellow green

National anthem
Name: 'Motherland'
Lyrics and music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
Note: adopted 1968

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: Since independence in 1968 Mauritius has undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income agriculturally based economy to a diversified upper middle-income economy with growing industrial financial and tourist sectors. Mauritius has achieved steady 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’ textile sector has taken advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 400% from 2001-2012. 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 2010-14 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 138

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 97

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 91

Gross national saving:
Rank: 119

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 73.4%
Government consumption: 14.4%
Investment in fixed capital: 21.2%
Investment in inventories: 2.8%
Exports of goods and services: 55.4%
Imports of goods and services: -67.2%: (2014 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.5%
Industry: 22.4%
Services: 73.2%

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: 0.4% (2014 est.)
Rank: 165

Labor force: 600,200 (2014 est.)
Rank: 157
By occupation agriculture and fishing: 9%
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%

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 91

Youth unemployment

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

Gini index

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

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 69

Budget
Revenues: $2.797 billion
Expenditures: $3.263 billion
Surplus or deficit: -3.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 134

Taxes and other revenues: 22% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 146

Public debt:
Rank: 52

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 133

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 105

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 121

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 99

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 89

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 81

Current account balance:
Rank: 125

Exports:
Rank: 130
Commodities: clothing and textiles sugar cut flowers molasses fish primates (for research)
Partners: France 14.6% UK 13.8% UAE 10.6% US 10.5% South Africa 7.1% Italy 6.6% Madagascar 6.5% Spain 5.2% (2014)

Imports:
Rank: 126
Commodities: manufactured goods capital equipment foodstuffs petroleum products chemicals
Partners: India 21.7% China 16.2% France 7.8% South Africa 6.6% (2014)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 101

Debt external:
Rank: 122

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Production: 2.885 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Production rank: 131
Consumption: 2.658 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 135
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 170
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 173
Installed generating capacity: 778,200 kW (2013 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 129
Generation sources fossil fuels: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 102
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 141
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 123
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 17

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 200
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 156
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 94
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 166

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 174
Products consumption: 25,430 bbl/day (2013 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: 104

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 167
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 172
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 146
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 99
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 171

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 5.317 million Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 127

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 370,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28
Fixed lines rank: 110
Mobile cellular total: 1.7 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124
Mobile cellular rank: 153

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 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 ; 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
Users total: 81,700
Users percent of population: 6.1%
Users rank: 175

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures:
Rank: 130

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 5 (2013)
Rank: 182
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways: 1 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 2,149 km
Paved: 2,149 km (2012)
Rank: 174

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 4
By type: passenger/cargo 2 petroleum tanker 1 refrigerated cargo 1
Rank: 132

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Port Louis


top of page


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 to regulating its banking industry