2001 Edition

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

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.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

5 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.) Mauritius Military

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

Area - comparative

almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

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. Mauritius Geography

Birth rate

16.5 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

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

Capital

Port Louis

Climate

tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Coastline

177 km

Constitution

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Country name

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

Currency

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Currency code

MUR

Death rate

6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$1.9 billion (1998 est.)

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

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

Disputes - international

claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory); claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Economic aid - recipient

$42 million (1997)

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.

Electricity - consumption

1.172 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

1.26 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

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

Elevation extremes

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

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 Mauritius People

Ethnic groups

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

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)

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%

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Exports - partners

UK 32%, France 19%, US 15%, Germany 6%, Italy 4% (1999 est.)

FAX

[1] (202) 966-0983

[230] 208-9534

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Mauritius Communications

Flag description

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

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

7.5% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Highways

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.08% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Illicit drugs

minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 14%, South Africa 11%, India 8%, UK 5% (1999 est.)

Independence

12 March 1968 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.3% (2000 est.)

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

Internet country code

.mu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

55,000 (2000) Mauritius Transportation

Irrigated land

170 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Languages

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

Legal system

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

Location

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

Map references

World

Maritime claims

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

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.)

Military branches

National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF and National Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$11 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.3% (FY97/98) Mauritius Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 339,473 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 171,206 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Nationality

noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

arable land, fish

Net migration rate

-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

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

Population

1,189,825 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

10.6% (1992 est.)

Population growth rate

0.88% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Port Louis

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

420,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

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

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.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Telephones - main lines in use

223,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

37,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

258,000 (1997)

Terrain

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.4% (1999 est.)

Waterways

none