2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

2,030 sq km

total

2,040 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

Climate

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

Coastline

177 km

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

488 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)

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; 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

Irrigated land

220 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

49.02%

other

48.04% (2005)

permanent crops

2.94%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

arable land, fish

Terrain

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Total renewable water resources

2.2 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.5% (male 147,136/female 142,121) 15-64 years: 70.4% (male 449,176/female 455,057) 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 36,309/female 54,465) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

14.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

9.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

14.09 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.85 deaths/1,000 live births

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.89 years (2010 est.)

male

70.77 years

total population

74.25 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

80.5% (2000 census)

male

88.4%

total population

84.4%

Median age

female

33.2 years (2010 est.)

male

31.4 years

total

32.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Mauritian

noun

Mauritian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

1,294,104 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.751% (2010 est.)

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

14 years

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

42% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

20 09 S, 57 29 E

name

Port Louis

time difference

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mary Jo WILLS

embassy

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

FAX

[230] 208-9534

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

1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joyker NAYECK

FAX

[1] (202) 966-0983

telephone

[1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 13 November 2010)

election results

Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

12 March 1968 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members to serve five-year terms)

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

elections

last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL note: adopted 1968

name

"Motherland"

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

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 [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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

19.25% (31 December 2009 est.) 21.54% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$949 million (2010 est.) -$674.6 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$5.043 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2006 est.) 37 (1987 est.)

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.

Electricity - consumption

2.158 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 30.991 (2010), 31.96 (2009), 27.973 (2008), 31.798 (2007), 31.656 (2006)

Exports

$2.041 billion (2010 est.) $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)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4.8%

industry

24.6%

services

70.5% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,500 (2010 est.) $13,100 (2009 est.) $12,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (2010 est.) 3.1% (2009 est.) 5.1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.427 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.49 billion (2010 est.) $16.88 billion (2009 est.) $16.37 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$3.935 billion (2010 est.) $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)

Industrial production growth rate

3.3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2010 est.) 2.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

597,000 (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and fishing

9%

construction and industry

30%

finance

6%

other services

25% (2007)

transportation and communication

7% trade, restaurants, hotels: 22%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.74 billion (31 December 2009) $3.443 billion (31 December 2008) $5.666 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

22,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

8% (2006 est.)

Public debt

60.5% of GDP (2010 est.) 62.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.304 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$9.605 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $9.277 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$10.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $9.423 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est) $1.906 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2010 est.) 7.3% (2009 est.)

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)

Internet users

290,000 (2009)

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 teledensity in 2009 reaching 85 per 100 persons

general assessment

small system with good service

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

379,100 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.087 million (2009)

Airports

5 (2010)

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)

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)

total

3

Ports and terminals

Port Louis

Roadways

paved

2,066 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2009)

total

2,066 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 343,279 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 279,405 females age 16-49: 283,023 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

10,447 (2010 est.)

male

10,565

Military branches

no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2009)

Military expenditures

0.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

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

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 January 12, 2011 ======================================================================