Mauritius

Republic of Mauritius

parliamentary democracyIndependence 12 March 1968 (from UK)

Mauritius as the 2007 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 121 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, UTC+4
Position20 17 S, 57 33 E
Area2,040 sq km
LocationSouthern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
2007

Every edition of Mauritius

Populationas each edition published it
1.25 million July 2007 est. · 1.07m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.798% 2007 est. · 0.95% in 1993
Median ageyears
31.2 years 2007 est. · 29.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
72.88 years 2007 est. · 70.24 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.94 children per woman 2007 est. · 2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
14.14 deaths per 1,000 live births 2007 est. · 20 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$13,700 2006 est. · $2,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5% 2006 est. · 6.1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 2,040 sq km

arable land 49.02%permanent crops 2.94%other 48.04% (2005)irrigated 220 sq km (2003)
Area
2,040sq km
land: 2,030 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmnote: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodriguesalmost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
177km
land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Highest point
828m
Mont Pitonlowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references

Political Map of the World

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

Natural resources

arable land, fish

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:
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

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

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2007 est.)

32,475
65 and over6.7%
50,845
436,043
15-6469.8%
437,441
147,808
0-1423.5%
146,270
MaleFemale
Population
1,250,882
(July 2007 est.)growth rate: 0.798% (2007 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2007 est.)

Birth
15.26Death
6.88Net migration
-0.4

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2007 est.)72.88
68.92 · 76.9Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)14.14
16.72 · 11.53
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2000 census)84.4%
88.4% · 80.5%Median age years (2007 est.)31.2
30.3 · 32.1
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Religions(2000 census)

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

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.011 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.997 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.639 male(s)/female
total population:
0.971 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Mauritian(s)
adjective:
Mauritian

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)

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)

18 fields

National Assembly, 70 seats, elected 3 July 2005one dot, one seat

AS 38MSM/MMM 22OPR 2appointed seats - AS 4MSM/MMM 2OPR 2

Country name

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name:
Port Louis
geographic coordinates:
20 09 S, 57 29 E
time difference:
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002)
head of government:
Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)
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 (eligible for a second term);
  • election last held 25 February 2002 (next to be held in 2007);
  • prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
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

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; to serve five-year terms)

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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 (the governing party) [Pravind JUGNAUTH];
  • Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY];
  • Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

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, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Usha JEETAH
chancery:
4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX:
[1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador John PRICE
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, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone:
[230] 202-4400
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.

46 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$17.02billion
(2006 est.)official exchange rate: $7.182 billion (2006 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,700
(2006 est.)
Real growth rate
5%
(2006 est.)industrial production growth: 8% (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2006 est.)

agriculture 5.2%industry 25.2%services 69.6% (2006 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

32.5%
UK
15.1%
France
14.3%
India
13.6%
11.4%
UAE
China
8.6%
8.3%
US
South Africa
7.3%
4.8%
Madagascar
Exports $2.339 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)Imports $3.427 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)(2006)

Budget

Revenues
$1.236 billionExpenditures
$1.562 billion (2006 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

Electricity production
2.122 billion (2005)Electricity consumption
1.973 billion (2005)

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).

Labor force

541,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24% of GDP (2006 est.)

Public debt

66.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

21,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Current account balance

$-618.4 million (2006 est.)

Exports

$2.339 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Imports

$3.427 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Economic aid - recipient

$31.93 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.301 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$2.419 billion (2006 est.)

Currency (code)

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Exchange rates

Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 31.656 (2006), 29.496 (2005), 27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003), 29.962 (2002)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
772,400
(2006)
Internet users
9,792
(2007)
Fixed lines
357,300
(2006) · country code .mu

Telephone system

general assessment:
small system with good service
domestic:
primarily microwave radio relay trunk system
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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Internet users

182,000 (2006)

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
2
under 914 m
1
Paved 2Unpaved 3

Airports

5 (2007)

Roadways

total:
2,020 km
paved:
2,020 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2005)

Merchant marine

total:
5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,417 GRT/19,700 DWT
by type:
bulk carrier 2, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned:
2 (India 2) (2007)

Military

No regular military forces; National Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2007)

3 fields

Military branches

no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 313,271 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Mauritius.” The World Factbook 2007. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mauritius/2007.

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