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| Mauritius | Plants and Animal | Back to Top |
Mauritius produces enough potatoes and fresh vegetables to meet domestic demand. The government subsidizes the production of some crops. The area under cultivation for food crops was 5,494 hectares in 1991; total production was 64,090 tons. Between 1987 and 1989, food crops suffered from poor weather, including cyclones, disease, and deficiency of land for tenant farmers. Tobacco covered 623 hectares in 1991, and production amounted to 876 tons. British American Tobacco processed the entire crop for domestic consumption. Cut flowers have proved to be a very successful crop, beginning in the late 1980s, and efforts are also being made to produce tropical fruits for export. Declines in local fishing catches in the early 1980s prompted the government to institute programs aimed at ensuring selfsufficiency in fish. The programs included the construction of fishing wharves and the purchase of new vessels. In 1990 the total catch amounted to 13,985 tons, which included fish caught by foreign vessels for the tuna canning industry.
| Mauritius | Communications | Back to Top |
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
| Mauritius | Culture | Back to Top |
The forebears of the various ethnic groups composing Mauritian society arrived as settlers, slaves, indentured laborers, and immigrants. Although the nation's past contains dark chapters of inequality and exploitation, modern Mauritian history has been remarkable for its comparatively smooth and peaceful transition from colonial rule and the rule of large plantation owners to multiparty democracy. Harmonious separatism" is the way in which one writer characterizes communal relations in Mauritius. The term, does not preclude the existence of tensions. Ethnicity, religion, and language have been valuable factors in shaping the way Mauritians relate to each other in the political and social spheres. And contempt the fact that sectarian factors are less of a determining factor in people's social and political behavior, they remain an valuable clue to the people's past and selfidentity .
The government controls the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which regulates television and radio broadcasting. Mauritius has two television and two radio stations, which broadcast in twelve languages. About 50 % of MBC broadcasts are in French, 25 % in Hindi or Bhojpuri, 14 % in English, and 11 % in other languages. Most Mauritians also obtain French television broadcasts from Reunion
| Mauritius | Defence | Back to Top |
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 339,473 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 171,206 (2001 est.)
| Mauritius | International Disputes | Back to Top |
claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory); claims French-administered Tromelin Island
| Mauritius | Economy | Back to Top |
The economy of Mauritius has traditionally been controlled by a single cash crop, sugarcane. More than half the cultivated land is planted with sugarcane; sugar and molasses are major exports. Other crops include tea, peanuts, tobacco, and vegetables. Manufactures include refined sugar and sugar by-products, fertilizers, beverages, electronic components, and leather goods. The clothing and textile industry boomed during the 1980s, and tourism is increasingly valuable. The currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian rupee.
The industrial area accounts for around one-quarter of the GDP but employs two-fifths of the work force. There has been a steady increase in manufacturing. The Mauritius Export Processing Zone, which concentrates on labour-intensive processing of imported raw materials or semifinished goods for the export market, has successfully attracted foreign investment. Economically valuable manufactures include textiles, electronics, plastic and leather goods, and synthetic gemstones. Electricity is largely generated from imported petroleum.Services account for more than half of the GDP and employ two-fifths of the population. remarkable growth in the tourism industry during the 1970s has made tourism a major earner of foreign exchange. An offshore banking facility began operations in 1989.
Since freedom 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 time, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in 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 area alone has reached over $1 billion. Economic performance since 1991 has continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.
| Mauritius | Education | Back to Top |
The education system in Mauritius, patterned after the British model, has improved greatly since freedom. It has been free through the secondary level since 1976 and through the postsecondary level since 1988. The government has made an effort to offer sufficient funding for education, occasionally straining tight budgets. In 1991-92, reflecting the trend of earlier budgets, the government allocated 13 % for education, culture and art. Nonetheless, facilities in rural areas tend to be less sufficient than those in Port Louis and other cities. Literacy in 1990 for the population over fifteen years of age on the island of Mauritius was 80 % overall, 85 % for males, and 75 % for females.
The government of Mauritius regards education as a sphere of utmost importance in its move toward the "second stage" of economic development, namely becoming a newly industrialized nation. Therefore, at a donors' meeting in Paris in November 1991, the minister of education presented an ambitious Education Master Plan for the years 1991-2000. The plan calls for expanding education at all levels, from preprimary through university, through the establishment of new schools and the improvement of existing facilities, particularly technical and vocational education; the latter is an area that to date had not provided the technical skills required by island industries. contempt the population's 95 % literacy rate for those under thirty years of age, government officials have been concerned at the high dropout rate, particularly at the secondary level. University places are also being increased to 5,000, and new courses of study are being introduced. The donor response to the plan was very favorable. The World Bank pledged US$20 million, the African Development Bank US$15 million, and other donors an additional US$14 million.
More than 90 % of all children of primary-school age obtain primary education. The standard of secondary education is very high, and the University of Mauritius (founded in 1965) has faculties of agriculture, technology, education, and administration.
| Mauritius | Government | Back to Top |
Government: Patterned on British system; political party with majority support in National Assembly chooses prime minister, who selects cabinet. National Assembly has elected representatives from twenty three-member constituencies and one two-member district on Rodrigues. Also eight seats for "best losers": two each for Hindus, Muslims, Chinese, and general population. Mauritius became republic in 1992; president appointed by prime minister and approved by assembly has titular function. Supreme Court heads judicial system, based on Napoleonic Code and English common law. Local government not specified in 1968 constitution, but all councils elected.
Politics: Numerous political parties of which government consists of coalition of Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), and several others; opposition led by Mauritian Labor Party (MLP) and Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD).
Foreign Relations: Member of Commonwealth of Nations; has particularly strong relations with Britain, France, India, and, since 1990, South Africa. Mauritius supports Indian Ocean Zone of Peace; has tension with France over claim to Tromelin Island, 550 kilometers northwest. Some strain in relations with United States because of United States base on Diego Garcia Island. Growing trade relations with Hong Kong, Japan, and China. Member of Organization of African Unity.
| Mauritius | History | Back to Top |
The Republic of Mauritius is a democratic and prosperous nation whose entire population has ancestral origins elsewhere: Europe, Africa, India, and China. Until newly, the nation's economy was controlled by the production and export of sugar, a legacy of its French and British colonial past. After freedom in 1968, government-directed diversification efforts resulted in the rapid growth of tourism and a manufacturing area producing mainly textiles for export.
contempt many differences, the major political parties have worked successfully toward the nation's economic welfare. For this reason, Mauritius has evolved from a primarily agricultural monocrop economy marked by high unemployment, low salaries, and boom-or-bust cycles to one controlled by manufacturing, tourism, and expanding financial services. As Mauritius faces the future, it can look back on its dazzling economic performance in the 1980s and attempt to build on that success by continuing its tradition of political stability, foresight, and prudent development planning.
| Mauritius | Introduction | Back to Top |
Mauritius, independent island republic in the western Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. Mauritius is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The nation includes the island of Mauritius, with an area of 1,865 sq km (720 sq mi); the island of Rodrigues (109 sq km/42 sq mi) to the east; the Agalega islands to the north; and the St Brandon Group (also known as the Cargados Carajos Shoals) to the north-east, which have a combined area of 71 sq km (27 sq mi). The nation has a total area of 2,045 sq km (790 sq mi). The capital of Mauritius is Port Louis.
Official Name- Mauritius| Mauritius | Land | Back to Top |
N/A
| Mauritius | Languages | Back to Top |
People of mixed African and European descent, known as Creoles, constitute about a quarter of the total. Chinese and European minorities also exist. The majority of the Indo-Mauritians are Hindus; the rest are Muslims. Most Creoles are Roman Catholics. English is the official language, but Creole, a French patois, is commonly spoken. Other common languages are French, Hindi, and Bhojpuri.
| Mauritius | Life | Back to Top |
As in other industrializing countries, the role of women is changing rapidly. A major force for change has been the rapid influx of women into the many jobs created in the 1980s in the export processing zones. Although low-paying for the most part, the jobs allow women formerly confined to the roles of mother and wife to gain a certain degree of personal and social freedom. One woman, in a 1993 National Geographic article, said:
For a Mauritian woman, to work is to be free. Before, a girl could not leave home until her parents found a husband for her, and then she moved into her husband's family's home and spent the rest of her life having babies. I met my husband at work, and it was my decision to marry him. Now we live in our own house.
The government has taken measures to promote equality of the sexes by repealing discriminatory laws dealing with inheritance and emigration. In 1989 the government appointed equal opportunity officers in the principal ministries to deal with women's issues. Reports by the Ministry of Women's Rights and Family Welfare and others suggest, that violence against women is prevalent. The increased employment of women has created the need for more child-care services and for more laborsaving devices in the home.
| Mauritius | organization | Back to Top |
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.
| Mauritius | People | Back to Top |
The around population of Mauritius in July 1993 was 1,106,516 with a population growth rate of 0.95 % for 1993. According to the 1990 census the population was 1,065,988, of whom 34,292 lived on Rodrigues and 170 on outer islands. The nation's population density, more than 537 inhabitants per square kilometer, is one of the highest in the world. The majority of the island's inhabitants are young; some 58.6 % were under the age of twenty-nine in 1990. The capital, Port Louis, is the largest city, with a population of 142,645. Other large metropolitan areas, in descending order, are Beau BassinRose Hill, Vacoas-Phoenix, Curepipe, and Quatre Bornes. In 1991 the population was comparatively evenly separated between those residing in rural and urban areas.
Three-fifths of the population are either Creole or of French descent, and two-fifths are Indian. Europeans and Chinese form smaller communities. Half of the population is Hindu, about one-third Christian, and the rest are Muslims. The number of languages in use among the various ethnic groups is large, but English is the official language, and Creole has become the lingua franca of the nation.
The population density is one of the highest in the world. Overpopulation became a serious problem after eradication of malaria in the 1960s. The rate of natural increase has remained comparatively high even though emigration reduced the annual rate of population growth in the 1980s. Almost one-third of the population is under 15 years old.
| Mauritius | Politics | Back to Top |
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]
| Mauritius | Provinces | Back to Top |
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
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| Mauritius | Time | Back to Top |
| Mauritius | Currency and General Information | Back to Top |
| Mauritius Rupees | United States Dollars |
| 1.00 MUR | 0.0329489 USD |
| 30.3500 MUR | 1 USD |
| Countries Currency Unit | USD/Unit | Units/USD | |
| DZD | Algeria Dinars | 0.0129554 | 77.1877 |
| USD | United States Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| ARS | Argentina Pesos | 0.341293 | 2.93004 |
| AUD | Australia Dollars | 0.533413 | 1.87472 |
| ATS | Austria Schillings ** | 0.0632609 | 15.8076 |
| BSD | Bahamas Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| BBD | Barbados Dollars | 0.502513 | 1.99000 |
| BEF | Belgium Francs ** | 0.0215788 | 46.3417 |
| BMD | Bermuda Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| BRL | Brazil Reals | 0.430318 | 2.32386 |
| GBP | United Kingdom Pounds | 1.42399 | 0.702251 |
| BGL | Bulgaria Leva | 0.447293 | 2.23567 |
| CAD | Canada Dollars | 0.627606 | 1.59336 |
| CLP | Chile Pesos | 0.00152392 | 656.202 |
| CNY | China Yuan Renminbi | 0.120813 | 8.27726 |
| CYP | Cyprus Pounds | 1.49883 | 0.667186 |
| CZK | Czech Republic Koruny | 0.0281883 | 35.4758 |
| DKK | Denmark Kroner | 0.117155 | 8.53568 |
| XCD | East Caribbean Dollars | 0.370370 | 2.70000 |
| EGP | Egypt Pounds | 0.217271 | 4.60255 |
| EUR | Euro | 0.870489 | 1.14878 |
| FJD | Fiji Dollars | 0.447227 | 2.23600 |
| FIM | Finland Markkaa ** | 0.146406 | 6.83034 |
| FRF | France Francs ** | 0.132705 | 7.53550 |
| DEM | Germany Deutsche Marks ** | 0.445074 | 2.24682 |
| XAU | Gold Ounces | 301.977 | 0.00331151 |
| GRD | Greece Drachmae ** | 0.00255463 | 391.447 |
| HKD | Hong Kong Dollars | 0.128215 | 7.79939 |
| HUF | Hungary Forint | 0.00358416 | 279.006 |
| ISK | Iceland Kronur | 0.00999868 | 100.013 |
| INR | India Rupees | 0.0205205 | 48.7319 |
| IDR | Indonesia Rupiahs | 0.000102055 | 9,798.61 |
| IEP | Ireland Pounds ** | 1.10529 | 0.904738 |
| ILS | Israel New Shekels | 0.212386 | 4.70841 |
| ITL | Italy Lire ** | 0.000449570 | 2,224.35 |
| JMD | Jamaica Dollars | 0.0210041 | 47.6099 |
| JPY | Japan Yen | 0.00754183 | 132.594 |
| JOD | Jordan Dinars | 1.41057 | 0.708931 |
| LBP | Lebanon Pounds | 0.000660937 | 1,513.00 |
| LUF | Luxembourg Francs ** | 0.0215788 | 46.3417 |
| MYR | Malaysia Ringgits | 0.263330 | 3.79751 |
| MXN | Mexico Pesos | 0.111007 | 9.00848 |
| NZD | New Zealand Dollars | 0.440474 | 2.27028 |
| NOK | Norway Kroner | 0.113022 | 8.84780 |
| NLG | Netherlands Guilders ** | 0.395011 | 2.53158 |
| PKR | Pakistan Rupees | 0.0166945 | 59.9000 |
| PHP | Philippines Pesos | 0.0196386 | 50.9202 |
| XPT | Platinum Ounces | 510.962 | 0.00195709 |
| PLN | Poland Zlotych | 0.243488 | 4.10699 |
| PTE | Portugal Escudos ** | 0.00434198 | 230.310 |
| ROL | Romania Lei | 0.0000303433 | 32,956.21 |
| RUR | Russia Rubles | 0.0321342 | 31.1195 |
| SAR | Saudi Arabia Riyals | 0.266668 | 3.74998 |
| XAG | Silver Ounces | 4.65692 | 0.214734 |
| SGD | Singapore Dollars | 0.542540 | 1.84318 |
| SKK | Slovakia Koruny | 0.0208441 | 47.9751 |
| ZAR | South Africa Rand | 0.0883340 | 11.3207 |
| KRW | South Korea Won | 0.000759354 | 1,316.91 |
| ESP | Spain Pesetas ** | 0.00523174 | 191.141 |
| XDR | IMF Special Drawing Rights | 1.24862 | 0.800882 |
| SDD | Sudan Dinars | 0.00384615 | 260.000 |
| SEK | Sweden Kronor | 0.0964189 | 10.3714 |
| CHF | Switzerland Francs | 0.593789 | 1.68410 |
| TWD | Taiwan New Dollars | 0.0286531 | 34.9002 |
| THB | Thailand Baht | 0.0230087 | 43.4619 |
| TTD | Trinidad and Tobago Dollars | 0.163399 | 6.12000 |
| TRL | Turkey Liras | 0.000000763622 | 1,309,549.07 |
| VEB | Venezuela Bolivares | 0.00108696 | 920.000 |
| ZMK | Zambia Kwacha | 0.000239866 | 4,169.00 |
| Mauritius : Geographic coordinates | 20 17 S, 57 33 E |
| Mauritius : Population growth rate | 0.88% |
| Mauritius : Birth rate | 16.5 births/1,000 population |
| Mauritius : Death rate | 6.82 deaths/1,000 population |
| Mauritius : People living with HIV/AIDS | N/A |
| Mauritius : Independence | 12 March 1968 |
| Mauritius : National holiday | Independence Day, 12 March |
| Mauritius : Constitution | 12 March 1968 |
| Mauritius : GDP | purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion |
| Mauritius : GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $10,400 |
| Mauritius : Electricity - consumption | 1.172 billion kWh |
| Mauritius : Exports | $1.6 billion clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses |
| Mauritius : Imports | $2.3 billion manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals |
| Mauritius : Telephones | 223,000 |
| Mauritius : Mobile cellular | 37,000 |
| Mauritius : Radio broadcast stations | AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 |
| Mauritius : Radios | 420,000 |
| Mauritius : Television broadcast stations | 2 |
| Mauritius : Televisions | 258,000 |
| Mauritius : Internet country code | .mu |
| Mauritius : Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 2 |
| Mauritius : Internet users | 55,000 |
| Mauritius : Railways | N/A |
| Mauritius : Highways | 1,910 km |
| Mauritius : Waterways | N/A |
| Mauritius : Pipelines | N/A |
| Mauritius : Ports and harbors | Port Louis |
| Mauritius : Merchant marine | 9 ships |
| Mauritius : Airports | 5 |
| Mauritius : Heliports | N/A |
| Mauritius : Military branches | National Police Force |
| Mauritius : Military expenditures | $11 million |