2007 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.9% (male 149,486/female 147,621) 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 430,288/female 431,753) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 31,939/female 49,740) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Airports

6 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

4 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Area

land

2,030 sq km

note

includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

total

2,040 sq km

water

10 sq km

Area - comparative

almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Background

Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in 1505; it was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence 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 and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community. Geography Mauritius

Birth rate

15.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.854 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$1.475 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

20 10 S, 57 30 E

name

Port Louis

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Coastline

177 km

Constitution

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Mauritius

conventional short form

Mauritius

local long form

Republic of Mauritius

local short form

Mauritius

Currency (code)

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Currency code

MUR

Current account balance

$-651 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$2.834 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John PRICE

embassy

4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis

mail

American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450

mailing address

international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US

telephone

[230] 202-4400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Usha JEETAH

telephone

[1] (202) 244-1491, 1492

Disputes - international

Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (1987 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$42 million (1997)

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. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on expanding local financial institutions and building a domestic information telecommunications industry. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and 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).

Electricity - consumption

1.96 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

2.107 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

90.8%

hydro

9.2%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Piton 828 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

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

Ethnic groups

Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Exchange rates

Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 31.4607 (2006), 29.496 (2005), 27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003), 29.962 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003) and Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002)

election results

Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUN elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%; note - Karl OFFMANN stepped down on 30 September 2003

elections

president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 25 February 2002 (next to be held in February 2007); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)

Exports

$2.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Exports - partners

UK 32%, France 17%, US 9.7%, UAE 8.6%, Madagascar 5.7%, Italy 5.7% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 966-0983

[230] 208-9534

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Mauritius

Flag description

four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green Economy Mauritius

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5.1%

industry

25.2%

services

69.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.135 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$16.72 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Geography - note

the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs People Mauritius

Government type

parliamentary democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

700 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

minor 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 This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$3.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners

China 9.8%, South Africa 8.6%, France 7.6%, India 6.9%, Bahrain 5.2%, Finland 4.8%, Germany 4.1% (2005)

Independence

12 March 1968 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2000 est.)

Industries

food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

17.23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.9% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.mu

Internet hosts

4,997 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

180,000 (2005) Transportation Mauritius

Investment (gross fixed)

23.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

220 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

555,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and fishing 14%, construction and industry 14%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 36%, finance 3%, other services 7% (1995)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

49.02%

other

48.04% (2005)

permanent crops

2.94%

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)

Legal system

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS 38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2

elections

last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.66 years (2006 est.)

male

68.66 years

total population

72.63 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

82.7% (2003 est.) Government Mauritius

male

88.6%

total population

85.6%

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

313,271 (2005 est.)

Map references

Political Map of the World

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

31.8 years (2006 est.)

male

30 years

total

30.8 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 2

foreign-owned

4 (India 2, Switzerland 2) (2006)

total

6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 22,386 GRT/23,214 DWT

Military branches

no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$12.04 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.2% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Mauritius

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Nationality

adjective

Mauritian

noun

Mauritian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

arable land, fish

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

21,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance Sociale or AS; Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH]; Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] (in coalition with MSM); Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] (the governing party); Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

various labor unions

Population

1,240,827 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

10% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

0.82% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Port Louis Military Mauritius

Public debt

57.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios

420,000 (1997)

Religions

Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, other Christian 8.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.358 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

2,020 km (including 75 km of expressways) (2005)

total

2,020 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

primarily microwave radio relay trunk system

general assessment

small system with good service

international

country code - 230; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Telephones - main lines in use

359,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

713,300 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

258,000 (1997)

Terrain

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Total fertility rate

1.95 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2006 est.)