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:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 27.973 (2008 est.), 31.798
(2007), 31.656 (2006), 29.496 (2005), 27.499 (2004)
Communications ::Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use:
364,500 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.033 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 142
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 2008 reaching 80 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 (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.mu
Internet hosts:
22,813 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
Internet users:
380,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 114
Transportation ::Mauritius
Airports:
5 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,028 km
country comparison to the world: 173
paved: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 141
by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)
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: 341,018 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 277,690
females age 16-49: 282,211 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 10,901
female: 10,796 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
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 November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@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.
Geography ::Mayotte
Location:
Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half
way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
12 50 S, 45 10 E
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: Benara 660 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclones during rainy season
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)
People ::Mayotte
Population:
223,765 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.3% (male 50,985/female 50,413)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 63,395/female 54,882)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 2,085/female 2,005) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.2 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 16.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.317% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Birth rate:
39.26 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Death rate:
7.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Net migration rate:
1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.29 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 41
male: 61.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.91 years
country comparison to the world: 175
male: 60.65 years
female: 65.24 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups:
NA
Religions:
Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%
Languages:
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by
35% of the population
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Mayotte
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte
Dependency status:
departmental collectivity of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates: 12 46 S, 45 13 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Independence:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007);
represented by Prefect Hubert DERACHE (since 22 July 2009)
head of government: President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani
DOUCHINA (since March 2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term;
next election to be held in 2010
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 9 and 16 March 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UMP 8, Diverse Right 4, independents 4, Citizens and Republic
Movement 1, Democratic Movement 1, Diverse Left 1; note - political
parties are the same as parties in France
note: Mayotte elects two members of the French Senate; elections
last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC-UDF 1,
UMP 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in
2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement
or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or UMP-RPR [Mansour
KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or
FRAP; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar
SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA];
Socialist Party or PS [Ibrahim ABUBACAR] (local branch of French
Parti Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri
JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
InOC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description:
unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on
a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red
capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on
either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA
HACHIRI (We are Vigilant)
note: the flag of France used for official occasions
Economy ::Mayotte
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector,
including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not
self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food
requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development
of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance,
an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an
obstacle to the development of tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$953.6 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
44,560 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 184
Unemployment rate:
25.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 173
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $420 million
expenditures: $394 million (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 13
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra, fish,
livestock
Industries:
newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
139.2 million kWh (2005)
country comparison to the world: 184
Exports:
$6.5 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 212
Exports - commodities:
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee,
cinnamon
Imports:
$341 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 190
Imports - commodities:
food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals,
chemicals
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Mayotte
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 205
Telephones - mobile cellular:
48,100 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communications to Comoros
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2001)
Internet country code:
.yt
Internet hosts:
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 229
Transportation ::Mayotte
Airports:
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 220
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Dzaoudzi
Military ::Mayotte
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 35,849
females age 16-49: 34,456 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,517
female: 2,511 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent of
French forces is stationed on the island
Transnational Issues ::Mayotte
Disputes - international:
claimed by Comoros