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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National Coast Guard)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $11.2 million, 0.4% of GDP (FY92/93)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 327,403 males fit for military service: 166,466 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

395,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

65,000 (1985 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

151,096 (1991 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $653 million expenditures: $567 million, including capital expenditures of $143 million (FY92/93 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to middle income diversified economy with growing industrial and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been of 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 40% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1991-93 continued strong with solid real growth and low unemployment.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 340,000 kW production: 920 million kWh consumption per capita: 777 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 17.842 (January 1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563 (1992), 15.652 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10% partners: EU and US have preferential treatment, EU 77%, US 15%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$996.8 million (1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $10.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$9,600 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

2.7% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems

Imports [time series]

$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% partners: EU, US, South Africa, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.8% (1992)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.4% (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

335,000 by occupation: government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%, manufacturing 22%, other 22%

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.4% (1991 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 1,860 sq km land area: 1,850 sq km comparative area: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

177 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

claims the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Irrigated land [time series]

170 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 54% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

arable land, fish

Terrain [time series]

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire 828 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne

Capital [time series]

Port Louis

Constitution [time series]

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice President Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992) were elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 27 December 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 27 December 1995) were appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[230] 208-9534

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

12 March 1968 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch (Legislative Assembly) [time series]

elections last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000); results - MMM/MLP 65%, MSM/RMM 20%, other 15%; seats - (66 total; 62 elected, 4 appointed) MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, Gaetan Duval Party 1, Hizballah 1

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

various labor unions

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

government coalition: MLP/MMM alliance - Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLAM; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul BERENGER opposition: Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR; Rodrigues Movement, Nicolas VONMALLY; Gaetan Duval Party, Gaetan DUVAL; Hizbullah, Imam Mustapha BEEHARRY; Militant Socialist Movement (MSM); Mauritian Militant Resurgence (MMR)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 157,174; female 152,980) 15-64 years: 67% (male 379,840; female 383,295) 65 years and over: 6% (male 27,429; female 39,538) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.67 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.53 years male: 66.72 years female: 74.33 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

1,140,256 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.23% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 4 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,831 km paved: 1,703 km (including 29 km of expressways) unpaved: 128 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 221,446 GRT/308,478 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Port Louis

Railways [time series]

0 km