2015 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 one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.

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

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

568.2 cu m/yr (2003)

total

0.73 cu km/yr (30%/3%/68%)

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; 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

Irrigated land

212.2 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 38.4%; permanent crops 2%; permanent pasture 3.4%

agricultural land

43.8%

forest

17.3%

other

38.9% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) 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

2.75 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

20.74% (male 141,928/female 135,918)

15-24 years

15.3% (male 103,549/female 101,469)

25-54 years

44% (male 294,700/female 294,863)

55-64 years

11.15% (male 70,810/female 78,599)

65 years and over

8.81% (male 47,900/female 70,091) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

13.29 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

6.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.4%

potential support ratio

7.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

40.6%

youth dependency ratio

27.2%

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.)

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.92% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

500 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,300 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

12.24 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.3 deaths/1,000 live births

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.03 years (2015 est.)

male

71.94 years

total population

75.4 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

88.5% (2015 est.)

male

92.9%

total population

90.6%

Major urban areas - population

PORT LOUIS (capital) 135,000 (2014)

Median age

female

35.3 years (2015 est.)

male

33.5 years

total

34.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Mauritian

noun

Mauritian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.8% (2014)

Physicians density

1.62 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

1,339,827 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.64% (2015 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.)

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2012)

male

15 years

total

16 years

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

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.68 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

28.4% (2012 est.)

male

20.4%

total

23.7%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.08% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

39.7% of total population (2015)

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Shari VILLAROSA (since 5 November 2012); note - also accredited to Seychelles

embassy

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

FAX

[230] 208-9534

mailing address

international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450

telephone

[230] 202-4400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; administrative offices at 3201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Sooroojdev PHOKEER (since 3 August 2015)

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

chief of state

President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (since 5 June 2015); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 12 November 2010)

election results

Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (independent) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second 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

head of government

Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 December 2014)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

12 March 1968 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 17 puisne judges); 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 (formed by a 2008 constitutional amendment)

Legal system

civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (70 seats maximum; 62 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 8 seats allocated to non-elected party candidates by the Electoral Commissioner's Office to ensure fair and adequate representation of each community and party in the Assembly; members serve 5-year terms)

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

elections

last held on 10 December 2014 (next to be held by 2019); note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 6 October 2014, resulting in early elections

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL

name

"Motherland"

note

adopted 1968

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

National symbol(s)

dodo bird; national colors: red, blue, yellow, green

Political parties and leaders

Alliance Lepep (Alliance of the People) [Sir Anerood 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 [Cehi FAKEERMEEAH]

Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]

Muvman Liberator or ML [Ivan COLLENDAVELLOO]

PTR-MMM Coalition [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (coalition including PTR and MMM)

Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Lalit Political Party

Say No to Coal!

other

various labor unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$3.263 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$2.797 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.7% (31 December 2014 est.)

8.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$956 million (2014 est.)

-$1.179 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$5.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.229 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.9 (2012 est.)

39 (2006 est.)

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.

Exchange rates

Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -

30.43 (2014 est.)

30.703 (2013 est.)

30.05 (2012 est.)

28.706 (2011 est.)

30.784 (2010 est.)

Exports

$3.135 billion (2014 est.)

$2.872 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish, primates (for research)

Exports - 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)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

55.4%

government consumption

14.4%

household consumption

73.4%

imports of goods and services

-67.2%

investment in fixed capital

21.2%

investment in inventories

2.8%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.5%

industry

22.4%

services

73.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,600 (2014 est.)

$18,000 (2013 est.)

$17,400 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2014 est.)

3.2% (2013 est.)

3.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.24 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.36 billion (2014 est.)

$22.62 billion (2013 est.)

$21.92 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

14.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

15.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

18.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$5.441 billion (2014 est.)

$5.141 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

India 21.7%, China 16.2%, France 7.8%, South Africa 6.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.4% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2014 est.)

3.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

600,200 (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and fishing

9%

construction and industry

30%

finance

6%

other services

25% (2007)

trade, restaurants, hotels

22%

transportation and communication

7%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$7.093 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$7.667 billion (31 December 2011)

$7.442 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

8% (2006 est.)

Public debt

61.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

60% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.018 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.491 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$12.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.15 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

NA

Stock of domestic credit

$16.27 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$14.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.666 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.562 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.8% (2014 est.)

8% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.317 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

2.658 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

3.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

778,200 kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

2.885 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

25,430 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

20,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 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 users

percent of population

6.1% (2014 est.)

total

81,700

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)

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

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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

370,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

124 (2014 est.)

total

1.7 million

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Airports

5 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

3

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)

total

4

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Port Louis

Roadways

paved

2,149 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2012)

total

2,149 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

343,628 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

283,317 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

280,596

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

10,104 (2010 est.)

male

10,193

Military branches

no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2011)

Military expenditures

0.19% of GDP (2012)

0.16% of GDP (2011)

0.19% of GDP (2010)

Disputes - international

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; 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