1.
[syn: Mauritius, Republic of Mauritius]
2. an island in the southwestern Indian Ocean;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Mauritius \Mauritius\ prop. n.
1. A country on the island of Mauritius.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. An island in the Indian Ocean.
Syn: Ile de France.
[WordNet 1.5]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Mauritius
n 1: a parliamentary state on the island of Mauritius [syn:
Mauritius, Republic of Mauritius]
2: an island in the southwestern Indian Ocean
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Mauritius
Introduction Mauritius
----------------------
Background: 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.
Geography Mauritius
-------------------
Location: Southern Africa, island in the
Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area: total: 2,040 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands,
Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
Area - comparative: almost 11 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM or to the
edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast
trade winds; warm, dry winter (May
to November); hot, wet, humid summer
(November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to
discontinuous mountains encircling
central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: arable land: 49.26%
permanent crops: 2.96%
other: 47.78% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost
completely surrounded by reefs that
may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues: water pollution, degradation of
coral reefs
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
Geography - note: the main island, from which the
country derives its name, is of
volcanic origin and is almost
entirely surrounded by coral reefs
People Mauritius
----------------
Population: 1,200,206 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.4% (male 153,810;
female 150,464)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 409,028;
female 411,070)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male
30,170; female 45,664) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.86% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 16.34 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: 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: 0.66 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.53 years
female: 75.58 years (2002 est.)
male: 67.54 years
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.08% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%,
Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian
2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman
Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%),
Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French
(official), Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bhojpuri
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
Government Mauritius
--------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Louis
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
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system
with elements of English common law
in certain areas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Karl
OFFMANN (since 25 February 2002) and
Vice President Raouf BUNDHUN (since
25 February 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister
Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17
September 2000) and Deputy Prime
Minister Paul BERENGER (since 17
September 2000)
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%
Legislative branch: 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 by 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH];
Mauritian Labor Party or MLP
[Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian
Militant Movement or MMM [Paul
BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM;
Mauritian Militant Renaissance or
MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING];
Mauritian Social Democrat Party or
PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL];
Militant Socialist Movement or MSM
[Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] - governing
party; Rodrigues Movement or OPR
[Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]
Political pressure groups and various labor unions
leaders:
International organization ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
participation: G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Usha
JEETAH
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
chancery: Suite 441, 4301
Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador
US: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Bisa
WILLIAMS
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
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red
(top), blue, yellow, and green
Economy Mauritius
-----------------
Economy - overview: 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
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.
Mauritius, with its strong textile
sector and responsible fiscal
management, was well-poised to take
advantage of the Africa Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA).
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.9
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,800
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6%
industry: 33%
services: 61% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini 0.37 (1987 est.)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 514,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: construction and industry 36%,
services 24%, agriculture and
fishing 14%, trade, restaurants,
hotels 16%, transportation and
communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 8.6% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1999 est.)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar
milling), textiles, clothing;
chemicals, metal products, transport
equipment, nonelectrical machinery;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.285 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.05%
hydro: 8.95%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 1.195 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes,
bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: clothing and textiles, sugar, cut
flowers, molasses
Exports - partners: UK 25.8%, France 20.8%, US 16.0%,
South Africa 10.9%, Germany, Italy
(2000 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, capital
equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum
products, chemicals (1996)
Imports - partners: South Africa 20.0%, France 19.0%,
India 9.0%, Hong Kong 5.2%, UK (2000
est.)
Debt - external: $2.3 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $42 million (1997)
Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Currency code: MUR
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees per US dollar -
30.345 (January 2002), 29.129
(2001), 26.250 (2000), 25.186
(1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications Mauritius
------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 245,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 60,482 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: 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
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 258,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 87,000 (2001)
Transportation Mauritius
------------------------
Railways: 0 km (2002)
Highways: total: 1,860 km
paved: 1,786 km (including 36 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 74 km (2001)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 66,004 GRT/90,017 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, combination
bulk 2, container 2, refrigerated
cargo 2
note: includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of
convenience:, Belgium 1, India 3,
Norway 1, Switzerland 2 (2002 est.)
Airports: 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Military Mauritius
------------------
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the
paramilitary Special Mobile Force or
SMF and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 340,050 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 171,239 (2002 est.)
service:
Military expenditures - dollar $9.1 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 0.2% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Mauritius
------------------------------
Disputes - international: Mauritius claims the Chagos
Archipelago (UK-administered British
Indian Ocean Territory), and its
former inhabitants, who reside
chiefly in Mauritius, but were
granted UK citizenship and the right
to repatriation in 2001; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs: minor consumer and transshipment
point for heroin from South Asia;
small amounts of cannabis produced
and consumed locally