Introduction
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.
Geography
Location
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Area (sq km)
total: 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative (sq km)
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
177 km
Maritime claims
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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 (m)
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Land use (%)
arable land: 38.24%
permanent crops: 1.96%
other: 59.8% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
212.2 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources (cu km)
2.75 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()
total: 0.73 cu km/yr (30%/3%/68%)
per capita: 568.2 cu m/yr (2003)
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; 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
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups (%)
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
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.)
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.)
Population
1,331,155 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 21% (male 143,064/female 137,021)
15-24 years: 15.5% (male 104,257/female 102,233)
25-54 years: 44.1% (male 293,607/female 294,029)
55-64 years: 10.9% (male 68,749/female 76,407)
65 years and over: 8% (male 45,145/female 66,643) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 33.9 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 34.8 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
0.66% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
13.46 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 41.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
PORT LOUIS (capital) 151,000 (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
60 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 10.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 75.17 years
male: 71.71 years
female: 78.81 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
1.77 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
5.9% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
1.06 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
3.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 99.9% of population
rural: 99.7% of population
total: 99.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0.3% of population
total: 0.2% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 91.7% of population
rural: 90.1% of population
total: 90.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 8.3% of population
rural: 9.9% of population
total: 9.2% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
1.2% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
10,500 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
700 (2012 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
18.5% (2008)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
3.5% of GDP (2012)
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.8%
male: 91.1%
female: 86.7% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2012)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 (%)
total: 23.7%
male: 20.4%
female: 28.4% (2012)
Government
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 the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution
several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)
Legal system
civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Rajkeswur Kailash PURRYAG (since 21 July 2012); note - former President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH resigned on 31 March 2012
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); elections last held on 21 July 2012 (next to be held in 2017); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly; note - former President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH resigned on 31 March 2012
election results: Rajkeswur Kailash PURRYAG elected president by unanimous vote
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)
elections: last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AF 41, MMM 18, MR 2, FSM 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8; note - as of 4 March 2014 seats by party were AF 38, MMM 19, MSM 9, FSM 1, MMSD 1, OPR 1, other 1
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 17 puisne judges)
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)
Political parties and leaders
Alliance of the Future (l'Alliance de l'Avenir) or AF [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing coalition - includes PTR-PMSD-MSM)
Alliance of the Heart (l'Alliance du Coeur) or AC [Paul BERENGER] (coalition includes - MMM, UN, MMSD)
Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]
Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM [Paul BERENGER]
Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]
Maurition Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]
Mauritian Solidarity Front (Front Solidarite Mauricienne) or FSM [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH]
Mauritian Social Democratic Movement (Mouvement Mauricien Social Democrate) or MMSD [Eric GUIMBEAU]
Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Militant Socialiste Mauricienne) or MMSM [Madan DULLOO]
National Union (Union Nationale) or UN [Ashok JUGNAUTH]
Rodrigues Movement (Mouvement Rodriguais) or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]
Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders
LALIT Political Party
Blok 104. Rezistans ek Alternativ (Resistence and Alternative), Say No to Coal!
other: various labor unions
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Somduth SOBORUN (since 28 January 2011)
chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; administrative offices - 3201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon VILLAROSA (since 10 September 2012; note - also accredited to Seychelles
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; 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
National anthem
name: "Motherland"
lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
note: adopted 1968
Economy
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. Mauritius has achieved steady and strong 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, 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 of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-13, and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$20.95 billion (2013 est.)
$20.26 billion (2012 est.)
$19.61 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$11.9 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
3.4% (2013 est.)
3.3% (2012 est.)
3.8% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$16,100 (2013 est.)
$15,600 (2012 est.)
$15,200 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 22%
services: 73.4% (2013 est.)
Labor force
637,600 (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture and fishing: 9%
construction and industry: 30%
transportation and communication: 7%
trade, restaurants, hotels: 22%
finance: 6%
other services: 25% (2007)
Unemployment rate (%)
8.3% (2013 est.)
8.1% (2012 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
8% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index
39 (2006 est.)
37 (1987 est.)
Budget
revenues: $2.507 billion
expenditures: $2.736 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
21.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-1.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt (% of GDP)
58% of GDP (2013 est.)
57.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
3.5% (2013 est.)
3.9% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate (%)
9% (31 December 2010 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
NA% (31 December 2013 est.)
8.67% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$2.475 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$2.378 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$11.73 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$11.38 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$13.03 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$12.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA (31 December 2012 est.)
$7.667 billion (31 December 2011)
$7.442 billion (31 December 2010 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
Industrial production growth rate (%)
0.2% (2013 est.)
Current account balance
-$1.099 billion (2013 est.)
-$1.175 billion (2012 est.)
Exports
$2.788 billion (2013 est.)
$2.673 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish, primates (for research)
Exports - partners (%)
UK 19.3%, France 16.4%, US 9.9%, South Africa 9.8%, Spain 7.5%, Italy 6.9%, Madagascar 6.8% (2012)
Imports
$4.953 billion (2013 est.)
$5.104 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners (%)
India 23.1%, China 16%, France 8.5%, South Africa 6.5% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.286 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$3.046 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
External debt ($)
$2.894 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$2.606 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
NA
Exchange rates
Currency converter
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -
30.89 (2013 est.)
30.051 (2012 est.)
30.784 (2010 est.)
31.96 (2009)
27.973 (2008)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
2.628 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
2.358 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
900,200 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
75.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
6.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
17.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
24,710 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
20,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
5.06 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
349,100 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1.485 million (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: small system with good service
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
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)
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
51,139 (2012)
Internet users
290,000 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
5 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways (km)
total: 2,149 km
paved: 2,149 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2012)
Merchant marine
total: 4
by type: passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Port Louis
Military
Military branches
no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2011)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 343,628 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 280,596
females age 16-49: 283,317 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 10,193
female: 10,104 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures (% of GDP)
0.19% of GDP (2012)
0.16% of GDP (2011)
0.19% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
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
Largest cities of Mauritius
These are the 50 largest cities of Mauritius ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Louis | 155,226 |
| 2 | Curepipe | 84,200 |
| 3 | Quatre Bornes | 80,961 |
| 4 | Triolet | 23,270 |
| 5 | Goodlands | 20,910 |
| 6 | Bel Air | 17,671 |
| 7 | Mahébourg | 17,042 |
| 8 | Saint Pierre | 16,414 |
| 9 | Le Hochet | 15,197 |
| 10 | Baie du Tombeau | 13,153 |
| 11 | Bambous | 13,047 |
| 12 | Rose Belle | 12,619 |
| 13 | Chemin Grenier | 12,457 |
| 14 | Rivière du Rempart | 11,675 |
| 15 | Grand Baie | 11,512 |
| 16 | Plaine Magnien | 10,778 |
| 17 | Pailles | 10,622 |
| 18 | Surinam | 10,621 |
| 19 | Lalmatie | 10,404 |
| 20 | New Grove | 9,935 |
| 21 | Rivière des Anguilles | 9,927 |
| 22 | Terre Rouge | 9,566 |
| 23 | Petit Raffray | 9,117 |
| 24 | Moka | 8,842 |
| 25 | Montagne Blanche | 8,661 |
| 26 | Grand Bois | 7,804 |
| 27 | Long Mountain | 7,775 |
| 28 | Plaines des Papayes | 7,617 |
| 29 | Brisée Verdière | 7,374 |
| 30 | Nouvelle France | 7,238 |
| 31 | Grand Gaube | 7,156 |
| 32 | Poste de Flacq | 7,133 |
| 33 | Beau Vallon | 7,016 |
| 34 | Dagotière | 6,915 |
| 35 | Bon Accueil | 6,553 |
| 36 | Quartier Militaire | 6,424 |
| 37 | Laventure | 6,171 |
| 38 | Ecroignard | 5,952 |
| 39 | Piton | 5,909 |
| 40 | Fond du Sac | 5,796 |
| 41 | Sebastopol | 5,745 |
| 42 | Roches Noires | 5,733 |
| 43 | Quatre Cocos | 5,724 |
| 44 | Petite Rivière | 5,331 |
| 45 | Belle Vue Maurel | 5,088 |
| 46 | Camp Diable | 5,082 |