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Communications

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.) note: two new subscription channels began operation in 1995

Televisions [time series]

151,096 (1991 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $732 million expenditures: $550 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (FY94/95 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$996.8 million (1993 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a middle income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial services, 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 25% 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 1991-96 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

235,000 kW (1991)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

393 kWh (1991 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

425 million kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 18.528 (January 1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $1.57 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: clothing and textiles 67%, sugar 25% partners: UK 34%, France 21%, US 15%, Germany 6%, Italy 4%

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)

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

agriculture: 9.3% industry : 31.6% services: 59.1% (1995 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $10,300 (1996 est.)

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

5% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1.98 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities : manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% partners: France 20%, India 8%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 6%, Germany 5%

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) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

6% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

total : 479,500 (1993 est.) by occupation: construction and industry 37%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 15%, trade, restaurants, hotels 14%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3%

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.4% (1991 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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 [time series]

almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point : Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire 828 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

water pollution

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Irrigated land [time series]

170 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

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 hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

arable land, fish

Terrain [time series]

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

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

Constitution [time series]

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission : Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL (8 July 1996) embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: International Mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING 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 GHURBURRUN (since 1 July 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 27 December 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 27 December 1995) 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 NA June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly election results : Cassam UTEEM elected president and Rabindranath GHURBURRUN elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA

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

[1] (202) 966-0983

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

[230] 208-9534

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

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, 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 [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (66 seats - 62 popularly elected, 4 appointed; members serve five-year terms); note - the election commission appoints four members from the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/RMM 20%, other 15%; seats by party - MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1, Hizbullah 1

Mail [time series]

American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone : [230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Port Louis

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

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

government coalition : MLP/MMM alliance, consisting of Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navin RAMGOOLAM] and Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] opposition: MSM/MSR alliance consisting of the Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] and the Mauritian Militant Renaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING]; Organization of the People of Rodrigues or OPR [Louis Serge CLAIR]; Mauritius Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Hizbullah [Imam Mustapha BEEHARRY]

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

various labor unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military 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 - dollar figure [time series]

$11.2 million (FY92/93)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.4% (FY92/93)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 333,029 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 169,129 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 155,779; female 151,964) 15-64 years : 67% (male 387,406; female 391,167) 65 years and over: 6% (male 27,719; female 40,237) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.81 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.68 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.71 years male: 66.88 years female : 74.53 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun : Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

1,154,272 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.21% (1997 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 : 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.23 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems MAYOTTE (territorial collectivity of France)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

4 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 1 under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,877 km paved: 1,746 km (including 29 km of expressways) unpaved : 131 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 221,147 GRT/309,513 DWT ships by type : bulk 1, cargo 9, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Port Louis

Railways [time series]

0 km