2018 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

0 m lowest point: Indian Ocean

note

828 highest point: Mont Piton

Environment Current Issues

water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid waste disposal

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

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

190 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 38.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 2% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 3.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

43.8% (2011 est.)

forest

17.3% (2011 est.)

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

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

note

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

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

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

Terrain

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Age Structure

0-14 years

19.9% (male 138,707 /female 132,774)

15-24 years

14.52% (male 100,281 /female 97,836)

25-54 years

43.6% (male 297,558 /female 297,243)

55-64 years

11.81% (male 76,620 /female 84,554)

65 years and over

10.17% (male 57,094 /female 81,616) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

12.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

63.8% (2014)

Death Rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 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.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

14.1 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

7.1 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

41.6 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

27.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.9% of population

rural: 99.8% of population

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population

rural: 0.2% of population

total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2017)

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

Health Expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

3.59 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

9.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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.)

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

79.7 years (2018 est.)

male

72.6 years (2018 est.)

total population

76 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

90.7% (2015 est.)

male

94.9% (2015 est.)

total population

92.7% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

53 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

36.7 years (2018 est.)

male

34.5 years

total

35.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Mauritian

noun

Mauritian(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

10.8% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.19 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

1,364,283 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.57% (2018 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

improved: urban: 93.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 92.6% of population (2015 est.)

total: 93.1% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 6.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 7.4% of population (2015 est.)

total: 6.9% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

15 years (2015)

male

14 years (2015)

total

15 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.9 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.68 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.74 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

31.2% (2016 est.)

male

18.3% (2016 est.)

total

23.9% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.11% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

40.8% of total population (2018)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months

Constitution

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 (2017)

history

several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968 (2017)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Mauritius

conventional short form

Mauritius

etymology

island named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, in 1598

local long form

Republic of Mauritius

local short form

Mauritius

note

pronounced mar-i-shus

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador David D. REIMER (since 6 February 2018); note - also accredited to Seychelles

embassy

4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, 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

Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

Acting President Paramaslyum (aka Barlen) Pillay VYAPOORY (since 23 March 2018); Vice President (vacant); note - President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (since 5 June 2015) resigned on 23 March 2018 amid a credit card scandal

election results

Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (independent) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote; note - GURIB-FAKIM was Mauritius' first female president

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; 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 Pravind JUGNAUTH (since 23 January 2017); 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; Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH now holds the position of Mentor Minister, a position created when he stepped down

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

note

while many national flags consist of three - and in some cases five - horizontal bands of color, the flag of Mauritius is the world's only national flag to consist of four horizontal color bands

Government Type

parliamentary republic

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 courts

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 67

subordinate courts

lower regional courts known as District Courts, Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal

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 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 8 seats allocated to non-elected party candidates by the Office of Electoral Commissioner; members serve a 5-year term)

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

elections

last held on 10 December 2014 following dissolution of the Assembly on 6 October 2014 (next to be held by 2019)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL

name

Motherland

note

adopted 1968

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

National Symbol S

dodo bird, Trochetia Boutoniana flower; national colors: red, blue, yellow, green

Political Parties And Leaders

Alliance Lepep (Alliance of the People) [Pravind JUGNAUTH] (coalition includes 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, aka 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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

3.038 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

2.994 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

9% (31 December 2010)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

8.5% (31 December 2017 est.)

8.5% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$875 million (2017 est.)

-$531 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$19.99 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$14.34 billion (31 December 2016 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 currently depends on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, but is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, education, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area but sugar makes up only around 3-4% of national GDP. Authorities plan to emphasize services and innovation in the coming years. After several years of slow growth, government policies now seek to stimulate economic growth in five areas: serving as a gateway for international investment into Africa; increasing the use of renewable energy; developing smart cities; growing the ocean economy; and upgrading and modernizing infrastructure, including public transportation, the port, and the airport.Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. The Mauritius International Financial Center is under scrutiny by international bodies promoting fair tax competition and Mauritius has been cooperating with the European Union and the United states in the automatic exchange of account information. Mauritius is also a member of the OECD/G20’s Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is under pressure to review its Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements. The offshore sector is vulnerable to changes in the tax framework and authorities have been working on a Financial Services Sector Blueprint to enable Mauritius to transition to a jurisdiction of higher value added. 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 35.6 % from 2000 to 2014. However, lack of local labor as well as rising labor costs eroding the competitiveness of textile firms in Mauritius.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 2010-17, 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. Mauritius continues to rank as one of the most business-friendly environments on the continent and passed a Business Facilitation Act to improve competitiveness and long-term growth prospects. A new National Economic Development Board was set up in 2017-2018 to spearhead efforts to promote exports and attract inward investment.

Exchange Rates

Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -

35.17 (2017 est.)

35.542 (2016 est.)

35.542 (2015 est.)

35.057 (2014 est.)

30.622 (2013 est.)

Exports

$2.36 billion (2017 est.)

$2.359 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

France 16.7%, US 12.5%, UK 12%, South Africa 9%, Madagascar 6.7%, Italy 6.6%, Spain 5.2% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

42.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption

15.1% (2017 est.)

household consumption

81% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-55.1% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.4% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

4% (2017 est.)

industry

21.8% (2017 est.)

services

74.1% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$13.33 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$22,300 (2017 est.)

$21,500 (2016 est.)

$20,800 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$28.27 billion (2017 est.)

$27.23 billion (2016 est.)

$26.23 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

3.8% (2017 est.)

3.8% (2016 est.)

3.6% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

16.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

15.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

15.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$4.986 billion (2017 est.)

$4.406 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

India 17.9%, China 15.7%, France 11.1%, South Africa 9.7% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

3.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

3.7% (2017 est.)

1% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

633,900 (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

8%

industry

29.8%

services

62.2% (2014 est.)

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.)

Population Below Poverty Line

8% (2006 est.)

Public Debt

64% of GDP (2017 est.)

66.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$5.984 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.967 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$3.335 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.833 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

note

NA

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

note

NA

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$17.16 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$13.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$3.335 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.833 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

22.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

7.1% (2017 est.)

7.3% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

6.429 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

2.726 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

894,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

2.898 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

27,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

26,960 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2017 est.)

total

246,000 (2017 est.)

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

Internet Users

percent of population

53.2% (July 2016 est.)

total

717,618 (July 2016 est.)

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 approaching 135 per 100 persons in 2016 (2016)

general assessment

small system with good service (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 (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

30 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

413,100 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

136 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

1,839,500 (2017 est.)

Airports

5 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1 (2017)

total

2 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

total

3 (2013)

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

3B (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

general cargo 2, oil tanker 3, other 23 (2017)

total

28 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

168.773 million mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,466,527 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

13 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Port Louis

Roadways

paved

2,379 km (includes 99 km of expressways) (2015)

total

2,428 km (2015)

unpaved

49 km (2015)

Military Branches

no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2014)

Military 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)

Disputes International

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islandsclaims 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

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

Mauritius is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Mauritian girls are induced or sold into prostitution, often by peers, family members, or businessmen offering other forms of employment; Mauritian adults have been identified as labor trafficking victims in the UK, Belgium, and Canada, while Mauritian women from Rodrigues Island are also subject to domestic servitude in Mauritius; Malagasy women transit Mauritius en route to the Middle East for jobs as domestic servants and subsequently are subjected to forced labor; Cambodian men are victims of forced labor on foreign fishing vessels in Mauritius’ territorial waters; other migrant workers from East and South Asia and Madagascar are also subject to forced labor in Mauritius’ manufacturing and construction sectors

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Mauritius does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made modest efforts to address child sex trafficking but none related to adult forced labor; law enforcement lacks an understanding of trafficking crimes outside of child sex trafficking, despite increasing evidence of other forms of human trafficking; authorities made no trafficking prosecutions or convictions and made modest efforts to assist a couple of child sex trafficking victims; officials sustained an extensive public awareness campaign to prevent child sex trafficking, but no efforts were made to raise awareness or reduce demand for forced adult or child labor (2015)