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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.mu

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

3,985 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

150,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: small system with good service domestic: primarily microwave radio relay trunk system international: country code - 230; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

348,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

462,400 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.231 billion expenditures: $1.582 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Current account balance [time series]

$284.1 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.78 billion (2004 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37 (1987 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 in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, 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 expanding local financial institutions and building a domestic information telecommunications industry. 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. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.707 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.836 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003), 29.962 (2002), 29.129 (2001), 26.25 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$2.012 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 33.1%, France 20.4%, US 14.8%, Madagascar 5.1%, Italy 4.1% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

$15.68 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 7.6% industry: 30% services: 62.4% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $12,800 (2004 est.)

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

4.7% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$2.245 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 11.3%, China 9.4%, India 9.3%, France 9.2%, Bahrain 5.3%, Japan 4.1% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8% (2000 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]

4.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

560,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

21,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

10% (2001 est.)

Public debt [time series]

29.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$1.676 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.8% (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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 [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, degradation of coral reefs

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

party to: 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Geography - note [time series]

the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs

Irrigated land [time series]

200 sq km (2000 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 49.26% permanent crops: 2.96% other: 47.78% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Political Map of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

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 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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE 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] 202-4400 FAX: [230] 208-9534

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003) and Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 30 September 2003) 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 25 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly election results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUN elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%; note - Karl OFFMANN stepped down on 30 September 2003

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, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 11 September 2000 (next to be held 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

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]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] - governing party; Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

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

various labor unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 poor weather and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 313,271 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 248,659 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$12.5 million (2004)

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

0.2% (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.4% (male 151,043/female 148,847) 15-64 years: 69.1% (male 424,472/female 425,974) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 31,506/female 48,760) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

700 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 15.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4% (official), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.38 years male: 68.4 years female: 76.41 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.6% male: 88.6% female: 82.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 30.5 years male: 29.65 years female: 31.46 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

1,230,602 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.84% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, other Christian 8.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship but no right to patriation in the UK; 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; 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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,000 km paved: 1,960 km (including 60 km of expressways) unpaved: 40 km (2002)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,946 GRT/27,102 DWT by type: bulk carrier 4, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 6 (India 4, Switzerland 2) (2005)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Port Louis