Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios [time series]

420,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use) [time series]

148,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

11,735 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

258,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$1.9 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$42 million (1997)

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, 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. A record-setting drought severely damaged the sugar crop in 1999, however. 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 in 1991-99 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.139 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.225 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 91.84% hydro: 8.16% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 25.485 (January 2000), 25.186 (1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 32%, France 19%, US 14%, Germany 6%, Italy 4% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1999 est.)

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

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

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

purchasing power parity - $10,400 (1999 est.)

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

4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

France 19%, South Africa 12%, India 9%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.5% (1999 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.8% (1999)

Labor force [time series]

514,000 (1995)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

10.6% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2% (1996 est.)

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: Mont Piton 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

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Port Louis

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]

MP

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 FAX: [230] 208-9534

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 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

Executive branch [time series]

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 Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (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 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

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, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, 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 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 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

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

Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH]; Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] - governing party; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Militant Renaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH]; Organization of the People of Rodrigues or OPR [Louis Serge CLAIR]; Rodrigues Movement [Nicholas Von MALLY]

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

various labor unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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 protests over standards of living in the Creole community have slowed economic growth.

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 million (FY97/98)

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

0.3% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 338,856 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 171,183 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26% (male 153,385; female 149,451) 15-64 years: 68% (male 401,032; female 403,295) 65 years and over: 6% (male 28,981; female 43,224) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.66 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.98 years male: 66.98 years female: 75.04 years (2000 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]

-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

1,179,368 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.89% (2000 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: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.02 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

5 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 126,358 GRT/173,079 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, combination bulk 2, container 4, liquified gas 1, refrigerated cargo 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Port Louis

Railways [time series]

0 km