Administrative divisions:
13 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence:
28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:
12 July 1991
Legal system:
a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August 2009); note - AZIZ, who deposed democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and installed himself as President of the High State Council on 6 August 2008, retired from the military and stepped down from the Presidency in April 2009 to run for president; he was elected president in an election held on 18 July 2009
head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF (since 14 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: following the August 2008 coup, the High State Council planned to hold a new presidential election in June 2009; the election was subsequently rescheduled to 18 July 2009 following the Dakar Accords, which brought Mauritania back to constitutional rule; under Mauritania's constitution, the president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 18 July 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ 52.6%, Messaoud Ould BOULKHEIR 16.3%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 13.7%, Other 17.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members elected for Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on November 2009; National Assembly - last held on 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPM (Coalition of Majority Parties) 45, COD (Coordination of Democratic Opposition) 7, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPM 63 (UPR 50, PRDR 7, UDP 3, HATEM-PMUC 2, RD 1), COD 27 (RFD 9, UFP 6, APP 6, PNDD-ADIL 6), RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4, FP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative or El-Badil [Mohamed Yahdhi Ould MOCTAR HACEN];Coalition of Majority Parties or CPM (parties supporting the regimeincluding PRDR, UPR, RD, HATEM-PMUC, UCD); Coordination ofDemocratic Opposition or COD (coalition of opposition politicalparties opposed to the government including APP, RFD, UFP,PNDD-ADIL, Alternative or El-Badil); Democratic Renewal or RD[Moustapha Ould ABDEIDARRAHMANE]; Mauritanian Party for Unity andChange or HATEM-PMUC [Saleh Ould HANENA]; National Pact forDemocracy and Development or PNDD-ADIL [Yahya Ould Ahmed OuldWAGHEF] (independents formerly supporting President Abdellahi);National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE;National Rally for Reform and Development/RNRD-TAWASSOUL [MohamedJamil MANSOUR] (moderate Islamists); Popular Front or FP [Ch'bihOuld CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [MessoudOuld BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed OuldDADDAH]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [MintataMint HDEID]; Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union forDemocracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union for theRepublic or UPR; Union of Democratic Center or UCD [Cheikh Sid'AhmedOuld BABA]; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP [Mohamed OuldMAOULOUD];
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi OuldMOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation ofMauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian WorkersUnion or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM,OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Lemine EL HAYCEN
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660 through 2663
Flag description:
green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the gold color stands for the sands of the Sahara
National anthem:
name: "Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)
lyrics/music: Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia NIKIPROWETZKY
note: adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem makes it particularly challenging to sing
Economy ::Mauritania
Economy - overview:
Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for nearly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. Before 2000, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nearly all of its foreign debt has since been forgiven. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement in 2006. Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but the IMF, World Bank, and other international actors suspended assistance and investment in Mauritania after the August 2008 coup. Since the presidential election in July 2009, donors have resumed assistance. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to materialize, and the government has placed a priority on attracting private investment to spur economic growth. The Government also emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and privatization of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $6.476 billion (2009 est.)
$6.542 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.486 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 -1% (2009 est.)
3.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $2,100 (2009 est.)
$2,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 46.7%
services: 40.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.318 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 135
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2000) country comparison to the world: 71 37.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 33 12% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Stock of domestic credit:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper
note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - production:
415.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - consumption:
386.2 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
16,510 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - exports:
30,620 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - imports:
20,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Current account balance:
-$184 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Exports:
$1.395 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 141
Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
Exports - partners:
China 42.06%, Italy 9.71%, Japan 7.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.16%, Spain 5.63%, Netherlands 4.32% (2009)
Imports:
$1.475 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 163
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 14.3%, Netherlands 10.33%, China 9.94%, Brazil 5.58%, Belgium 4.87%, Germany 4.04%, Spain 4.02% (2009)
Debt - external:
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 261.5 (2010 est.), 262.4 (2009), 238.2 (2008), 258.6 (2007), 271.3 (2006)
Communications ::Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
74,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 151
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.182 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 130
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 70 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); optical-fiber and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) cables for internet access (2008)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media state-owned; 1 state-run TV and 1 state-run radio network; Television de Mauritanie, the state-run TV station, has an additional 6 regional TV stations that provide local programming (2008)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet hosts:
23 (2010) country comparison to the world: 216
Internet users:
75,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 169
Transportation ::Mauritania
Airports:
28 (2010) country comparison to the world: 120
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Railways:
728 km
standard gauge: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,066 km country comparison to the world: 133 paved: 2,966 km
unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)
Waterways:
some navigation possible on Senegal River (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military ::Mauritania
Military branches:
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (MarineMauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force ofMauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2010)
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: 699,028
females age 16-49: 783,108 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 464,959
females age 16-49: 562,765 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 35,322
female: 36,035 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 13
Transnational Issues ::Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; slavery-related practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships, continue to exist in isolated parts of the country; Mauritanian boys called talibe are trafficked within the country by religious teachers for forced begging; children are also trafficked by street gangs within the country that force them to steal, beg, and sell drugs; girls are trafficked internally for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; women and children from neighboring states are trafficked into Mauritania for purposes of forced begging, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - the Government of Mauritania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not show evidence of overall progress in prosecuting and punishing trafficking offenders, protecting trafficking victims, and preventing new incidents of trafficking during the past year; progress that the previous government demonstrated in 2007 through enactment of strengthened anti-slavery legislation and deepened political will to eliminate slavery and trafficking has stalled; law enforcement efforts to address human trafficking including traditional slavery practices decreased (2009)
page last updated on January 26, 2011
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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:
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, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, 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:
1,294,104 (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 33.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.751% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Birth rate:
14.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Death rate:
6.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
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: 1.04 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.85 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 142 male: 14.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.25 years country comparison to the world: 99 male: 70.77 years
female: 77.89 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (2010 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: 93
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
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: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 136
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 Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 13 November 2010)
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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 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; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AF 41, MMM 18, MR 2, MSF 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Future or AF [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governingcoalition - includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian LaborParty or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movementor MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement orMMSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement orMSMM [Madan DULLOO]; Mauritian Solidarity Front [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH];Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti MauricienXavier 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, AOSIS, 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, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joyker NAYECK
chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Jo WILLS
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
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green; red represents the blood shed for 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
National anthem:
name: "Motherland"
lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
note: adopted 1968
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). Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped to mitigate negative effects from the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew 3.6% in 2010 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $16.88 billion (2009 est.)
$16.37 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.427 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 3.1% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $13,100 (2009 est.)
$12,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 24.6%
services: 70.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
597,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
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:
7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 7.3% (2009 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: 70 37 (1987 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Public debt:
60.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 62.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 2.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 21.54% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 120 $1.906 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.605 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $9.277 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $9.423 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.74 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 87 $3.443 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.666 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - production:
2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
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 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - imports:
22,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) 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 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Current account balance:
-$949 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 -$674.6 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.041 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $1.942 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish
Exports - partners:
UK 25.55%, France 16.89%, US 9.51%, Italy 5.68%, UAE 5.47%, Belgium 4.93%, Madagascar 4.11% (2009)
Imports:
$3.935 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $3.499 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
India 24.5%, France 14.02%, South Africa 8.55%, China 8.17% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $2.304 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.043 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $4.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 30.991 (2010), 31.96 (2009), 27.973 (2008), 31.798 (2007), 31.656 (2006)
Communications ::Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use:
379,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 104
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.087 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 145
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 teledensity in 2009 reaching 85 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 (2009)
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 hosts:
36,653 (2010) country comparison to the world: 94
Internet users:
290,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 132
Transportation ::Mauritius
Airports:
5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 179
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,066 km country comparison to the world: 172 paved: 2,066 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 3 country comparison to the world: 136 by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Port Louis
Military ::Mauritius
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 343,279 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 279,405
females age 16-49: 283,023 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 10,565
female: 10,447 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.3% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
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; 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
page last updated on January 12, 2011
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@Mayotte (Africa)
Introduction ::Mayotte
Background:
Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence. In March 2009, Mayotte voted overwhelmingly to become France's 101st department - and fifth overseas department - a change scheduled to become official in 2011.
Geography ::Mayotte
Location:
Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 374 sq km country comparison to the world: 204 land: 374 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
185.2 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain:
generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mlima Benara 660 m
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land: NA%