Mauritius

Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius

parliamentary democracyIndependence 12 March 1968 (from UK)

Mauritius as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPort Louis

Position20 17 S, 57 33 E

Area1,860 sq km land: 1,850 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

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

Populationas each edition published it

1.19 million July 2001 est. · 1.07m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.88% 2001 est. · 0.95% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 29.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.25 years 2001 est. · 70.24 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.01 children per woman 2001 est. · 2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17.19 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 20 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$10,400 2000 est. · $2,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

7.5% 2000 est. · 6.1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius 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

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

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Coastline

177km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Irrigated land

170sq km

(1993 est.)

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references

World

Area

total: 1,860 sq km land: 1,850 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

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 extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources

arable land, fish

Land use

arable land: 49% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 22% other: 23% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

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Population

1,189,825

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 0.88% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

16.5Death

6.82Net migration

-0.92

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Hindu 52%Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%)Muslim 16.6%other 3.1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.08%

(1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.53% (male 153,691; female 150,094) 15-64 years: 68.24% (male 404,940; female 407,056) 65 years and over: 6.23% (male 29,588; female 44,456) (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.25 years male: 67.26 years female: 75.31 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian

Languages

English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male: 87.1% female: 78.8% (1995 est.)

Government

Parliamentary democracy

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

52.3%

MSM/MMM 52.3%MLP/PMSD 36.9%OPR 10.8%

National Assembly, 62 seatsone dot, one seat

MSM/MMM 54MLP/PMSD 6OPR 2

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Port Louis

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

Independence

12 March 1968 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Constitution

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Legal system

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 September 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 17 September 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms;
election last held 28 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice president;
percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (66 seats - 62 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 11 September 2000 (next to be held by September 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - MSM/MMM 52.3%, MLP/PMSD 36.9%, OPR 10.8%;
seats by party - MSM/MMM 54, MLP/PMSD 6, OPR 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH];
Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM];
Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM;
Mauritian Militant Renaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING];
Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL];
Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] - governing party;
Rodrigues Movement or OPR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

various labor unions

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492

FAX

[1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mark W. ERWIN embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis;
US mail:
American Embassy,
Port Louis,
Department of State,
Washington,
DC 20521-2450 telephone: [230] 208-2347,
208-2354,
208-9763 through 9767

FAX

[230] 208-9534

Flag description

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

Economy

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.

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Real growth rate

7.5%

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 8% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

5.3%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.4%

(1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

10.6%

(1992 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

32%

19%

France

14%

15%

South Africa

11%

India

Germany

Italy

Exports $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)Imports $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)(1999 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

1.26 billion (1999)Electricity consumption

1.172 billion (1999)

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 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 foreign investment. 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. Economic performance since 1991 has continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,400 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10% industry: 29% services: 61% (1996)

Labor force

514,000 (1995)

Labor force - by occupation

construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)

Budget

revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 91.27% hydro: 8.73% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Imports

$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1996)

Debt - external

$1.9 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$42 million (1997)

Currency

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Currency code

MUR

Exchange rates

Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 27.900 (January 2001), 26.250 (2000), 25.186 (1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997), 17.948 (1996)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

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Mobile cellular

37,000

(1997)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

223,000

(1997) · country code .mu

Telephone system

general assessment:: small system with good service domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
new microwave link to Reunion;
HF radiotelephone links to several countries

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

420,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

258,000 (1997)

Internet users

55,000 (2000)

Transportation

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Railways

0 km

Highways

total: 1,910 km paved: 1,834 km (including 36 km of expressways) unpaved: 76 km (1998)

Waterways

none

Ports and harbors

Port Louis

Merchant marine

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 61,909 GRT/87,313 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, combination bulk 2, container 2, liquefied gas 1, refrigerated cargo 2 note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: India 1 (2000 est.)