Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
the government maintains control over TV broadcasting through the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which only operates digital TV stations since June 2015; MBC is a shareholder in a local company that operates 2 pay-TV stations; the state retains the largest radio broadcast network with multiple stations; several private radio broadcasters have entered the market since 2001; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2017)
Internet country code [time series]
.mu
Internet users [time series]
total: 717,618 | percent of population: 53.2% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: small system with good service | domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005; fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services launched in 1989 with teledensity approaching 135 per 100 persons in 2016 | international: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa where it connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides further links to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries (2016)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 385,500 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 1.814 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $2.539 billion | expenditures: $2.854 billion (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-2.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108
Central bank discount rate [time series]
9% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 33
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
8.5% (31 December 2016 est.) | 8.5% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Current account balance [time series]
$-531 million (2016 est.) | $-586 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Debt - external [time series]
$14.34 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $14.64 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
35.9 (2012 est.) | 39 (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a diversified, upper middle-income economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. Mauritius has achieved steady growth over the last several decades, resulting in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. | The economy currently depends on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, but is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius’ textile sector has taken advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, a preferential trade program that allows duty free access to the US market, with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 40% from 2000 to 2014. | Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped mitigate negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-16, and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe. Growth in the US and Europe fostered goods and services exports, including tourism, while lower oil prices kept inflation low in 2016. Mauritius continues to rank first in sub-Saharan Africa on the World Bank’s Doing Business Report.
Exchange rates [time series]
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - | 35.542 (2016 est.) | 35.542 (2015 est.) | 35.057 (2014 est.) | 30.622 (2013 est.) | 30.05 (2012 est.)
Exports [time series]
$2.359 billion (2016 est.) | $2.662 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134
Exports - commodities [time series]
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish, primates (for research)
Exports - partners [time series]
France 14.8%, UK 12%, US 11.4%, South Africa 8.2%, Madagascar 7.3%, Italy 6.8%, Spain 4.5% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$12.15 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$25.96 billion (2016 est.) | $24.67 billion (2015 est.) | $23.58 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 137
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 73.6% | government consumption: 15.4% | investment in fixed capital: 17.3% | investment in inventories: 3.1% | exports of goods and services: 44.5% | imports of goods and services: -53.9% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 4.1% | industry: 21.9% | services: 74% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$20,500 (2016 est.) | $19,800 (2015 est.) | $19,100 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 85
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3.9% (2016 est.) | 3.5% (2015 est.) | 3.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Gross national saving [time series]
16.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 16.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 17% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$4.408 billion (2016 est.) | $4.524 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Imports - commodities [time series]
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners [time series]
China 17.7%, India 16.5%, France 7.8%, South Africa 7.5% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
3.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Industries [time series]
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1% (2016 est.) | 1.3% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Labor force [time series]
623,300 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture and fishing: 8% | construction and industry: 29.8% | transportation and communication: 63.5% | trade, restaurants, hotels: 22% | finance: 6% | other services: 25% (2014 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$7.239 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $8.751 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $8.942 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Population below poverty line [time series]
8% (2006 est.)
Public debt [time series]
65% of GDP (2016 est.) | 62.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$4.967 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.26 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92
Stock of broad money [time series]
$13.27 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $12.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
NA
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$13.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $13.28 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$2.833 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $2.547 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
21.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Unemployment rate [time series]
7.2% (2016 est.) | 7.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
5.4 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - consumption [time series]
2.68 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
66.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
5.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
29.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
1.056 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - production [time series]
2.857 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 173
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
26,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
24,790 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Geography
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 | country comparison to the world: 181
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 [time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: 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: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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; former home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
Irrigated land [time series]
190 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 43.8% | arable land 38.4%; permanent crops 2%; permanent pasture 3.4% | forest: 17.3% | other: 38.9% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines | 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
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban cluster are found throught the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast
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]
name: Port Louis | geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E | time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months
Constitution [time series]
history: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968 | amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles including the sovereignty of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, citizenship, or the branches of government requires approval in a referendum by at least three-fourths majority of voters followed by a unanimous vote by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended many times, last in 2016 (2017)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius | conventional short form: Mauritius | local long form: Republic of Mauritius | local short form: Mauritius | etymology: island named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, in 1598
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Melanie ZIMMERMAN (since 2016); note - also accredited to Seychelles | embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, Port Louis | mailing address: international mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US 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 Sooroojdev PHOKEER (since 3 August 2015) | chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; administrative offices at 3201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20036 | telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492 | FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (since 5 June 2015); Vice President Paramaslyum (aka Barlen) Pillay VYAPOORY (since 4 April 2016) | head of government: Prime Minister Pravind JUGNAUTH (since 23 January 2017); note - Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 December 2014) stepped down on 23 January 2017 in favor of his son, Pravind Kumar JUGNAUTH who was then appointed prime minister | cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister | elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; election last held on 4 June 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly | election results: Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (independent) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green; red represents self-determination and independence, blue the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the island
Government type [time series]
parliamentary republic
Independence [time series]
12 March 1968 (from the UK)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 17 puisne judges); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal | judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister; senior puisne judge appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; other puisne judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Commission, a 4-member body of judicial officials including the chief justice; all judges serve until retirement at age 67 | subordinate courts: lower regional courts known as District Courts, Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal
Legal system [time series]
civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (70 seats maximum; 62 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 8 seats allocated to non-elected party candidates by the Electoral Commissioner's Office; members serve a 5-year term) | elections: last held on 10 December 2014 following dissolution of the Assembly on 6 October 2014 (next to be held by 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - Alliance Lepep 49.8%, PTR-MMM 38.5%, FSM 2.1%, OPR 1.1%, other 8.5%; elected seats by party - Alliance Lepep 47, PTR-MMM 13, OPR 2; appointed seats Alliance Lepep 4, PTR-MMM 3
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Motherland" | lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL | note: adopted 1968
National holiday [time series]
Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968 & 1992); note - became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992 respectively
National symbol(s) [time series]
dodo bird, Trochetia Boutoniana flower; national colors: red, blue, yellow, green
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Alliance Lepep (Alliance of the People) [Pravind JUGNAUTH] (coalition including MSM, PMSD, and ML) | Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] | Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM [Paul BERENGER] | Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD [Xavier Luc DUVAL] | Mauritian Solidarity Front (Front Solidarite Mauricienne) or FSM [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH, known as Cehl MEEAH] | Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] | Muvman Liberater or ML [Ivan COLLENDAVELLOO] | Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Lalit Political Party | Resistance and Alternative (Rezistans ek Alternativ) | Say No to Coal! | other: various labor unions
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK 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 one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.
Military and Security
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2014)
Military expenditures [time series]
0.19% of GDP (2016) | 0.18% of GDP (2015) | 0.15% of GDP (2014) | 0.19% of GDP (2013) | 0.14% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 130
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 20.16% (male 139,721/female 133,765) | 15-24 years: 14.8% (male 101,453/female 99,288) | 25-54 years: 43.74% (male 296,795/female 296,485) | 55-64 years: 11.59% (male 74,650/female 82,585) | 65 years and over: 9.71% (male 53,985/female 77,661) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
13 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
63.8% (2014)
Death rate [time series]
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Demographic profile [time series]
Mauritius has transitioned from a country of high fertility and high mortality rates in the 1950s and mid-1960s to one with among the lowest population growth rates in the developing world today. After World War II, Mauritius’ population began to expand quickly due to increased fertility and a dramatic drop in mortality rates as a result of improved health care and the eradication of malaria. This period of heightened population growth – reaching about 3% a year – was followed by one of the world’s most rapid birth rate declines. | The total fertility rate fell from 6.2 children per women in 1963 to 3.2 in 1972 – largely the result of improved educational attainment, especially among young women, accompanied by later marriage and the adoption of family planning methods. The family planning programs’ success was due to support from the government and eventually the traditionally pronatalist religious communities, which both recognized that controlling population growth was necessary because of Mauritius’ small size and limited resources. Mauritius’ fertility rate has consistently been below replacement level since the late 1990s, a rate that is substantially lower than nearby countries in southern Africa. | With no indigenous population, Mauritius’ ethnic mix is a product of more than two centuries of European colonialism and continued international labor migration. Sugar production relied on slave labor mainly from Madagascar, Mozambique, and East Africa from the early 18th century until its abolition in 1835, when slaves were replaced with indentured Indians. Most of the influx of indentured labor – peaking between the late 1830s and early 1860 – settled permanently creating massive population growth of more than 7% a year and reshaping the island’s social and cultural composition. While Indians represented about 12% of Mauritius’ population in 1837, they and their descendants accounted for roughly two-thirds by the end of the 19th century. Most were Hindus, but the majority of the free Indian traders were Muslims. | Mauritius again turned to overseas labor when its success in clothing and textile exports led to a labor shortage in the mid-1980s. Clothing manufacturers brought in contract workers (increasingly women) from China, India, and, to a lesser extent Bangladesh and Madagascar, who worked longer hours for lower wages under poor conditions and were viewed as more productive than locals. Downturns in the sugar and textile industries in the mid-2000s and a lack of highly qualified domestic workers for Mauritius’ growing services sector led to the emigration of low-skilled workers and a reliance on skilled foreign labor. Since 2007, Mauritius has pursued a circular migration program to enable citizens to acquire new skills and savings abroad and then return home to start businesses and to invest in the country’s development.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 41.6 | youth dependency ratio: 27.5 | elderly dependency ratio: 14.1 | potential support ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 99.9% of population | rural: 99.8% of population | total: 99.9% of population | urban: 0.1% of population | rural: 0.2% of population | total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
5% of GDP (2015) | country comparison to the world: 123
Ethnic groups [time series]
Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian | note: Mauritius has not had a question on ethnicity on its national census since 1972
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
4.8% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 148
Hospital bed density [time series]
3.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Languages [time series]
Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, the official language of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 75.8 years | male: 72.4 years | female: 79.5 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 92.7% | male: 94.9% | female: 90.7% (2015 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
PORT LOUIS (capital) 135,000 (2014)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
53 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93
Median age [time series]
total: 35.3 years | male: 34.2 years | female: 36.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Nationality [time series]
noun: Mauritian(s) | adjective: Mauritian
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
10.8% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 137
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Population [time series]
1,356,388 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Population distribution [time series]
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban cluster are found throught the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast
Population growth rate [time series]
0.59% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148
Religions [time series]
Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 93.9% of population | rural: 92.6% of population | total: 93.1% of population | urban: 6.1% of population | rural: 7.4% of population | total: 6.9% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 15 years | male: 14 years | female: 15 years (2015)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.75 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 26.3% | male: 21.6% | female: 32.7% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 39.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.07% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs [time series]
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
Trafficking in persons [time series]
current situation: Mauritius is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Mauritian girls are induced or sold into prostitution, often by peers, family members, or businessmen offering other forms of employment; Mauritian adults have been identified as labor trafficking victims in the UK, Belgium, and Canada, while Mauritian women from Rodrigues Island are also subject to domestic servitude in Mauritius; Malagasy women transit Mauritius en route to the Middle East for jobs as domestic servants and subsequently are subjected to forced labor; Cambodian men are victims of forced labor on foreign fishing vessels in Mauritius’ territorial waters; other migrant workers from East and South Asia and Madagascar are also subject to forced labor in Mauritius’ manufacturing and construction sectors | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Mauritius does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made modest efforts to address child sex trafficking but none related to adult forced labor; law enforcement lacks an understanding of trafficking crimes outside of child sex trafficking, despite increasing evidence of other forms of human trafficking; authorities made no trafficking prosecutions or convictions and made modest efforts to assist a couple of child sex trafficking victims; officials sustained an extensive public awareness campaign to prevent child sex trafficking, but no efforts were made to raise awareness or reduce demand for forced adult or child labor (2015)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
5 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 182
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
3B (2016)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 4 | by type: passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 133
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,466,527 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 168.773 million mt-km (2015)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Port Louis
Roadways [time series]
total: 2,428 km | paved: 2,379 km (includes 99 km of expressways) | unpaved: 49 km (2015) | country comparison to the world: 173