$NA
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Communications ::Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
76,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 152
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.092 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 120
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line services; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of 60 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet hosts:
15 (2009) country comparison to the world: 217
Internet users:
45,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 173
Transportation ::Mauritania
Airports:
27 (2009) country comparison to the world: 125
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Railways:
728 km
standard gauge: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,066 km country comparison to the world: 135 paved: 2,966 km
unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)
Waterways:
some navigation possible on Senegal River
Ports and terminals:
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military ::Mauritania
Military branches:
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine
Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of
Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 740,675
females age 16-49: 744,709 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 450,289
females age 16-49: 544,598 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 34,546
female: 35,272 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 14
Transnational Issues ::Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Mauritius (Africa)
Introduction ::Mauritius
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 earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather, declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel production, 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:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km country comparison to the world: 180 land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative:
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
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
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: 49.02%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 48.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)
per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)
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 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
Geography - note:
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; 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
People ::Mauritius
Population:
1,284,264 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.5% (male 147,136/female 142,121)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 449,176/female 455,057)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 36,309/female 54,465) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.9 years
male: 31 years
female: 32.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.776% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Birth rate:
14.41 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Death rate:
6.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Net migration rate:
-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 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: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 145 male: 14.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74 years country comparison to the world: 93 male: 70.53 years
female: 77.65 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.81 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions:
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 110
Government ::Mauritius
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
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)
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 the 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)
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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS 38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance Sociale or AS [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing coalition
- includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor Party or MLP
[Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul
BERENGER]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or MMSM [Madan
DULLOO]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH];
Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti Mauricien
Xavier Duval or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues Movement or MR
[Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR
[Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Keerteecoomar RUHEE
chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cesar CABRERA
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
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. 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, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.43 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $14.65 billion (2007 est.)
$13.89 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.738 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 5.5% (2007 est.)
5.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $11,600 (2007 est.)
$11,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 24.9%
services: 70.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
584,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
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)
Unemployment rate:
7.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 8.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
8% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 37 (1987 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Budget:
revenues: $1.871 billion
expenditures: $2.163 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2008 est.)
Public debt:
56.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 29.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 8.8% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.54% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 14 21.87% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.68 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 74 $1.673 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$6.914 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 58 $6.759 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.323 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 72 $8.582 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.443 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $5.666 billion (31 December 2007)
$3.598 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - production:
2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - consumption:
2.158 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - imports:
22,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Current account balance:
-$972.8 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 -$408.3 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $2.231 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish
Exports - partners:
UK 30.8%, France 15.1%, US 8.6%, Italy 6.5%, Belgium 5.3%, UAE 5.1%,
Madagascar 4.1% (2008)
Imports:
$4.399 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $3.656 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
India 21.1%, France 11.8%, South Africa 9.9%, China 8.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.785 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $1.822 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.077 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $2.149 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: