Statistical information Mauritius 2017
Mauritius in the World
Mauritius - Introduction 2017
top of pageBackground: 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.
Mauritius - Geography 2017
top of pageLocation: 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
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m: highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources: arable land: fish
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 43.8%
arable land: 38.4%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pasture: 3.4%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pasture: 3.4%
Forest: 17.3%
Other: 38.9%
Irrigated land: 190 km² (2012)
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
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
Mauritius - People 2017
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: population density is one of the highest in the world; urban cluster are found throught the main island with a greater density in and around Port Luis; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast: 1,356,388 (July 2017 est.)
Rank: 156
Growth rate: 0.59% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 148
Below poverty line: 8% (2006 est.)
Nationality
Noun: Mauritian
Adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population) Creole Sino-Mauritian Franco-Mauritian
Note: Mauritius has not had a question on ethnicity on its national census since 1972
Languages: Creole 86.5% Bhojpuri 5.3% French 4.1% two languages 1.4% other 2.6% (includes English the official language of the National Assembly 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:
Mauritius has transitioned from a country of high fertility and high mortality rates in the 1950s and mid-1960s to one with among the lowest population growth rates in the developing world today. After World War II Mauritius’ population began to expand quickly due to increased fertility and a dramatic drop in mortality rates as a result of improved health care and the eradication of malaria. This period of heightened population growth – reaching about 3% a year – was followed by one of the world’s most rapid birth rate declines.
The total fertility rate fell from 6.2 children per women in 1963 to 3.2 in 1972 – largely the result of improved educational attainment especially among young women accompanied by later marriage and the adoption of family planning methods. The family planning programs’ success was due to support from the government and eventually the traditionally pronatalist religious communities which both recognized that controlling population growth was necessary because of Mauritius’ small size and limited resources. Mauritius’ fertility rate has consistently been below replacement level since the late 1990s a rate that is substantially lower than nearby countries in southern Africa.
With no indigenous population Mauritius’ ethnic mix is a product of more than two centuries of European colonialism and continued international labor migration. Sugar production relied on slave labor mainly from Madagascar Mozambique and East Africa from the early 18th century until its abolition in 1835 when slaves were replaced with indentured Indians. Most of the influx of indentured labor – peaking between the late 1830s and early 1860 – settled permanently creating massive population growth of more than 7% a year and reshaping the island’s social and cultural composition. While Indians represented about 12% of Mauritius’ population in 1837 they and their descendants accounted for roughly two-thirds by the end of the 19th century. Most were Hindus but the majority of the free Indian traders were Muslims.
Mauritius again turned to overseas labor when its success in clothing and textile exports led to a labor shortage in the mid-1980s. Clothing manufacturers brought in contract workers (increasingly women) from China India and to a lesser extent Bangladesh and Madagascar who worked longer hours for lower wages under poor conditions and were viewed as more productive than locals. Downturns in the sugar and textile industries in the mid-2000s and a lack of highly qualified domestic workers for Mauritius’ growing services sector led to the emigration of low-skilled workers and a reliance on skilled foreign labor. Since 2007 Mauritius has pursued a circular migration program to enable citizens to acquire new skills and savings abroad and then return home to start businesses and to invest in the country’s development.
The total fertility rate fell from 6.2 children per women in 1963 to 3.2 in 1972 – largely the result of improved educational attainment especially among young women accompanied by later marriage and the adoption of family planning methods. The family planning programs’ success was due to support from the government and eventually the traditionally pronatalist religious communities which both recognized that controlling population growth was necessary because of Mauritius’ small size and limited resources. Mauritius’ fertility rate has consistently been below replacement level since the late 1990s a rate that is substantially lower than nearby countries in southern Africa.
With no indigenous population Mauritius’ ethnic mix is a product of more than two centuries of European colonialism and continued international labor migration. Sugar production relied on slave labor mainly from Madagascar Mozambique and East Africa from the early 18th century until its abolition in 1835 when slaves were replaced with indentured Indians. Most of the influx of indentured labor – peaking between the late 1830s and early 1860 – settled permanently creating massive population growth of more than 7% a year and reshaping the island’s social and cultural composition. While Indians represented about 12% of Mauritius’ population in 1837 they and their descendants accounted for roughly two-thirds by the end of the 19th century. Most were Hindus but the majority of the free Indian traders were Muslims.
Mauritius again turned to overseas labor when its success in clothing and textile exports led to a labor shortage in the mid-1980s. Clothing manufacturers brought in contract workers (increasingly women) from China India and to a lesser extent Bangladesh and Madagascar who worked longer hours for lower wages under poor conditions and were viewed as more productive than locals. Downturns in the sugar and textile industries in the mid-2000s and a lack of highly qualified domestic workers for Mauritius’ growing services sector led to the emigration of low-skilled workers and a reliance on skilled foreign labor. Since 2007 Mauritius has pursued a circular migration program to enable citizens to acquire new skills and savings abroad and then return home to start businesses and to invest in the country’s development.
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 20.16%
15-24 years: 14.8%
25-54 years: 43.74%
55-64 years: 11.59%
65 years and over: 9.71% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 41.6
Youth dependency ratio: 27.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 14.1
Potential support ratio: 7.1
Median age
Total: 35.3 years
Male: 34.2 years
Female: 36.3 years
Rank: 77
Population growth rate: 0.59% (2017 est.)
Rank: 148
Birth rate: 13 births/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 153
Death rate: 7.1 deaths/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 127
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 91
Population distribution: population density is one of the highest in the world; urban cluster are found throught the main island with a greater density in and around Port Luis; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast
Urbanization
Urban population: 39.4% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.07% 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: 9.8 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 11.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 140
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.8 years
Male: 72.4 years
Female: 79.5 years
Rank: 98
Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Rank: 160
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 63.8% (2014)
Drinking water source:
urban: 99.9% of population
rural: 99.8% of population
total: 99.9% of population
urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0.2% of population
total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 99.8% of population
total: 99.9% of population
urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0.2% of population
total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
Current health expenditure
Physicians density: 1.93 physicians/1000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density: 3.4 beds/1000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 93.9% of population
rural: 92.6% of population
total: 93.1% of population
urban: 6.1% of population
rural: 7.4% of population
total: 6.9% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 92.6% of population
total: 93.1% of population
urban: 6.1% of population
rural: 7.4% of population
total: 6.9% of population (2015 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 10.8% (2016)
Rank: 137
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2015)
Rank: 123
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 92.7%
Male: 94.9%
Female: 90.7%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 15 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 15 years
Youth unemployment
Mauritius - Government 2017
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
Conventional short form: Mauritius
Local long form: Republic of Mauritius
Local short form: Mauritius
Etymology: island named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU stadtholder of the Dutch Republic in 1598
Government type: parliamentary republic
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 and Republic Day 12 March (1968 & 1992); note - became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992 respectively
Constitution
History: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968
Amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles including the sovereignty of the state fundamental rights and freedoms citizenship or the branches of government requires approval in a referendum by at least three-fourths majority of voters followed by a unanimous vote by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended many times last in 2016
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
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM ; Vice President Paramaslyum (aka Barlen) Pillay VYAPOORY (since 4 April 2016)
Head of government: Prime Minister Pravind JUGNAUTH ; note - Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 December 2014) stepped down on 23 January 2017 in favor of his son Pravind Kumar JUGNAUTH who was then appointed prime minister
Cabinet: Cabinet 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 5-year renewable terms; election last held on 4 June 2015 ; 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 following dissolution of the Assembly on 6 October 2014
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
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 67
Subordinate courts: lower regional courts known as District Courts Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance Lepep (Alliance of the People) [Pravind JUGNAUTH] (coalition including MSM PMSD and ML)
Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]
Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM [Paul BERENGER]
Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]
Mauritian Solidarity Front (Front Solidarite Mauricienne) or FSM [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH known as Cehl MEEAH]
Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]
Muvman Liberater or ML [Ivan COLLENDAVELLOO]
Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]
Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM [Paul BERENGER]
Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]
Mauritian Solidarity Front (Front Solidarite Mauricienne) or FSM [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH known as Cehl MEEAH]
Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]
Muvman Liberater or ML [Ivan COLLENDAVELLOO]
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 ; Charge d'Affaires Melanie ZIMMERMAN (since 2016); note - also accredited to Seychelles
From the us embassy: 4th Floor Rogers House John Kennedy Avenue 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 Trochetia Boutoniana flower; national colors: red blue yellow green
National anthem
Name: 'Motherland'
Lyrics and music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
Note: adopted 1968
National heritage
Mauritius - Economy 2017
top of pageEconomy 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 currently depends on sugar tourism textiles and apparel and financial services but 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 a preferential trade program that allows duty free access to the US market with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 40% from 2000 to 2014.
Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped mitigate negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-16 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe. Growth in the US and Europe fostered goods and services exports including tourism while lower oil prices kept inflation low in 2016. Mauritius continues to rank first in sub-Saharan Africa on the World Bank’s Doing Business Report.
The economy currently depends on sugar tourism textiles and apparel and financial services but 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 a preferential trade program that allows duty free access to the US market with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 40% from 2000 to 2014.
Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped mitigate negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-16 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe. Growth in the US and Europe fostered goods and services exports including tourism while lower oil prices kept inflation low in 2016. Mauritius continues to rank first in sub-Saharan Africa on the World Bank’s Doing Business Report.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$25.96 billion (2016 est.)
$24.67 billion (2015 est.)
$23.58 billion (2014 est.)
$24.67 billion (2015 est.)
$23.58 billion (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 137
Real gdp growth rate:
3.9% (2016 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
3.6% (2014 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
3.6% (2014 est.)
Rank: 78
Real gdp per capita:
$20,500 (2016 est.)
$19,800 (2015 est.)
$19,100 (2014 est.)
$19,800 (2015 est.)
$19,100 (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 85
Gross national saving:
16.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
16.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
17% of GDP (2014 est.)
16.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
17% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 128
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 73.6%
Government consumption: 15.4%
Investment in fixed capital: 17.3%
Investment in inventories: 3.1%
Exports of goods and services: 44.5%
Imports of goods and services: -53.9%
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.1%
Industry: 21.9%
Services: 74%
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: 3.2% (2016 est.)
Rank: 78
Labor force: 623,300 (2016 est.)
Rank: 155
By occupation agriculture and fishing: 8%
By occupation construction and industry: 29.8%
By occupation transportation and communication: 63.5%
By occupation trade restaurants hotels: 22%
By occupation finance: 6%
By occupation other services: 25%
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
7.2% (2016 est.)
7.9% (2015 est.)
7.9% (2015 est.)
Rank: 94
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:
35.9 (2012 est.)
39 (2006 est.)
39 (2006 est.)
Rank: 91
Budget
Revenues: $2.539 billion
Expenditures: $2.854 billion
Surplus or deficit: -2.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 108
Taxes and other revenues: 21.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 140
Public debt:
65% of GDP (2016 est.)
62.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
62.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 61
Revenue
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer prices:
1% (2016 est.)
1.3% (2015 est.)
1.3% (2015 est.)
Rank: 90
Central bank discount rate: 9% (31 December 2010)
Rank: 33
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
8.5% (31 December 2015 est.)
8.5% (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 98
Stock of narrow money:
$2.833 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.547 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.547 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 118
Stock of broad money:
$13.27 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$12.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$12.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 99
Stock of domestic credit:
$13.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$13.28 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$13.28 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 98
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$7.239 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$8.751 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$8.942 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$8.751 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$8.942 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 78
Current account balance:
$-531 million (2016 est.)
$-586 million (2015 est.)
$-586 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 101
Exports:
$2.359 billion (2016 est.)
$2.662 billion (2015 est.)
$2.662 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 134
Commodities: clothing and textiles sugar cut flowers molasses fish primates (for research)
Partners: France 14.8% UK 12% US 11.4% South Africa 8.2% Madagascar 7.3% Italy 6.8% Spain 4.5% (2016)
Imports:
$4.408 billion (2016 est.)
$4.524 billion (2015 est.)
$4.524 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 126
Commodities: manufactured goods capital equipment foodstuffs petroleum products chemicals
Partners: China 17.7% India 16.5% France 7.8% South Africa 7.5% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.967 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$4.26 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$4.26 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 92
Debt external:
$14.34 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$14.64 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$14.64 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 102
Stock of direct foreign investment at home: NA
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A
Exchange rates:
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -
35.542 (2016 est.)
35.542 (2015 est.)
35.057 (2014 est.)
30.622 (2013 est.)
30.05 (2012 est.)
35.542 (2016 est.)
35.542 (2015 est.)
35.057 (2014 est.)
30.622 (2013 est.)
30.05 (2012 est.)
Mauritius - Energy 2017
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification total population: 100%
Production: 2.857 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Production rank: 134
Consumption: 2.68 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 139
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 169
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 174
Installed generating capacity: 1.056 million kW (2015 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 127
Generation sources fossil fuels: 66.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 114
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 143
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 5.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 128
Generation sources other renewable sources: 29.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 17
Coal
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 171
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 164
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 162
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 169
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 175
Products consumption: 26,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 128
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 180
Products imports: 24,790 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 107
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 170
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 209
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 151
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 156
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 173
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 5.4 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 124
Energy consumption per capita
Mauritius - Communication 2017
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 385,500
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29
Fixed lines rank: 110
Mobile cellular total: 1.814 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135
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 teledensity approaching 135 per 100 persons in 2016
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 (2016)
Broadcast media: the government maintains control over TV broadcasting through the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) which only operates digital TV stations since June 2015; 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 (2017)
Internet
Country code: .mu
Users total: 717,618
Users percent of population: 53.2%
Users rank: 175
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Mauritius - Military 2017
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
0.19% of GDP (2016)
0.18% of GDP (2015)
0.15% of GDP (2014)
0.19% of GDP (2013)
0.14% of GDP (2012)
0.18% of GDP (2015)
0.15% of GDP (2014)
0.19% of GDP (2013)
0.14% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 130
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Mauritius - Transportation 2017
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,466,527
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 168.773 million mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3B (2016)
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 under 914 m: 1
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Total: 2,428 km
Paved: 2,379 km
Unpaved: 49 km
Rank: 173
Waterways
Merchant marine
Total: 4
By type: passenger/cargo 2 petroleum tanker 1 refrigerated cargo 1
Rank: 133
Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Port Louis
Mauritius - Transnational issues 2017
top of pageDisputes international: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
Rank: li>a href='../rankorder/rankorderguide.html'>Guide to Country Comparisons: 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
