Mauritius

Broadcast media

the government maintains control over TV broadcasting through the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which operates 3 analog and 10 digital TV stations; 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.mu

Internet users

total: 81,700 | percent of population: 6.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)

Telephone system

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 current teledensity roughly 100 per 100 persons | 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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 370,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 1.7 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.797 billion | expenditures: $3.263 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 31

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.7% (31 December 2014 est.) | 8.5% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Current account balance

-$956 million (2014 est.) | -$1.179 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Debt - external

$5.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $5.229 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.9 (2012 est.) | 39 (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Economy - overview

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 rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, and 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, with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 400% from 2001-2012. Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped to mitigate negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-14, and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.

Exchange rates

Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - | 30.43 (2014 est.) | 30.703 (2013 est.) | 30.05 (2012 est.) | 28.706 (2011 est.) | 30.784 (2010 est.)

Exports

$3.135 billion (2014 est.) | $2.872 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish, primates (for research)

Exports - partners

France 14.6%, UK 13.8%, UAE 10.6%, US 10.5%, South Africa 7.1%, Italy 6.6%, Madagascar 6.5%, Spain 5.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.24 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.36 billion (2014 est.) | $22.62 billion (2013 est.) | $21.92 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 138

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 73.4% | government consumption: 14.4% | investment in fixed capital: 21.2% | investment in inventories: 2.8% | exports of goods and services: 55.4% | imports of goods and services: -67.2% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.5% | industry: 22.4% | services: 73.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,600 (2014 est.) | $18,000 (2013 est.) | $17,400 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 91

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2014 est.) | 3.2% (2013 est.) | 3.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Gross national saving

14.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | 15.1% of GDP (2013 est.) | 18.4% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$5.441 billion (2014 est.) | $5.141 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

India 21.7%, China 16.2%, France 7.8%, South Africa 6.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2014 est.) | 3.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Labor force

600,200 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and fishing: 9% | construction and industry: 30% | transportation and communication: 7% | trade, restaurants, hotels: 22% | finance: 6% | other services: 25% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$7.093 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $7.667 billion (31 December 2011) | $7.442 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Population below poverty line

8% (2006 est.)

Public debt

61.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | 60% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.018 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.491 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Stock of broad money

$12.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $12.15 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

NA

Stock of domestic credit

$16.27 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $14.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Stock of narrow money

$2.666 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.562 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Taxes and other revenues

22% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Unemployment rate

7.8% (2014 est.) | 8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.317 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - consumption

2.658 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

3.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - installed generating capacity

778,200 kW (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - production

2.885 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Refined petroleum products - consumption

25,430 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Refined petroleum products - imports

20,620 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Area

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

almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

177 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.73 cu km/yr (30%/3%/68%) | per capita: 568.2 cu m/yr (2003)

Geographic coordinates

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Geography - note

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

212.2 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 43.8% | arable land 38.4%; permanent crops 2%; permanent pasture 3.4% | forest: 17.3% | other: 38.9% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

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

Natural resources

arable land, fish

Terrain

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Total renewable water resources

2.75 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

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

name: Port Louis | geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E | time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius | conventional short form: Mauritius | local long form: Republic of Mauritius | local short form: Mauritius | note: island named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, in 1598

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Shari VILLAROSA (since 5 November 2012); note - also accredited to Seychelles | 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, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 | telephone: [230] 202-4400 | FAX: [230] 208-9534

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

chief of state: President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (since 5 June 2015); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 12 November 2010) | head of government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 December 2014) | cabinet: 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 a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 description

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

parliamentary democracy

Independence

12 March 1968 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

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 62 | subordinate courts: Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal (formed by a 2008 constitutional amendment)

Legal system

civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law

Legislative branch

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 to ensure fair and adequate representation of each community and party in the Assembly; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 10 December 2014 (next to be held by 2019); note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 6 October 2014, resulting in early elections | 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, unassigned 1

National anthem

name: "Motherland" | lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL | note: adopted 1968

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

National symbol(s)

dodo bird; national colors: red, blue, yellow, green

Political parties and leaders

Alliance Lepep (Alliance of the People) [Sir Anerood 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 [Cehi FAKEERMEEAH] | Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] | Muvman Liberator or ML [Ivan COLLENDAVELLOO] | PTR-MMM Coalition [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (coalition including PTR and MMM) | Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Lalit Political Party | Say No to Coal! | other: various labor unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 343,628 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 280,596 | females age 16-49: 283,317 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 10,193 | female: 10,104 (2010 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2011)

Military expenditures

0.19% of GDP (2012) | 0.16% of GDP (2011) | 0.19% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 130

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.74% (male 141,928/female 135,918) | 15-24 years: 15.3% (male 103,549/female 101,469) | 25-54 years: 44% (male 294,700/female 294,863) | 55-64 years: 11.15% (male 70,810/female 78,599) | 65 years and over: 8.81% (male 47,900/female 70,091) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

13.29 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Death rate

6.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 40.6% | youth dependency ratio: 27.2% | elderly dependency ratio: 13.4% | potential support ratio: 7.4% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

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 expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 123

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.92% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

HIV/AIDS - deaths

500 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,300 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 145

Hospital bed density

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 12.24 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 8.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Languages

Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, the official language, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.4 years | male: 71.94 years | female: 79.03 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 90.6% | male: 92.9% | female: 88.5% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

PORT LOUIS (capital) 135,000 (2014)

Median age

total: 34.4 years | male: 33.5 years | female: 35.3 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mauritian(s) | adjective: Mauritian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.8% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 105

Physicians density

1.62 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

1,339,827 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Population growth rate

0.64% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Religions

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

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)

total: 16 years | male: 15 years | female: 16 years (2012)

Sex ratio

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 (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 23.7% | male: 20.4% | female: 28.4% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Urbanization

urban population: 39.7% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: -0.08% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

5 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 182

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 | 1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 4 | by type: passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 132

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Port Louis

Roadways

total: 2,149 km | paved: 2,149 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 174