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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 one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar

Natural Resources

arable land, fish

Population - distribution

population density is one of the highest in the world; urban cluster are found throught the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast

1294104
Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, the official language of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
PORT LOUIS (capital) 135,000 (2014)
Conventional long form
Republic of Mauritius
Conventional short form
Mauritius
Local long form
Republic of Mauritius
Local short form
Mauritius
parliamentary republic
Name
Port Louis
Geographic coordinates
20 09 S, 57 29 E
Time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a diversified, upper middle-income economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. Mauritius has achieved steady growth over the last several decades, resulting in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure.
Inflation
1.024%
External debt stocks
US$ 14,642,543,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
21.8%
Real Interest Rate
6.123%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
13.939%
Current Account Balance
US$ -587,297,608
Labor Force, Total
619,175
Employment in Agriculture
7.54%
Employment in Industry
25.36%
Employment in Services
67.10%
Unemployment Rate
7.78%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 6,881,394,997
Exports of goods and services
US$ 5,728,576,848
Total Merchandise Trade
57.67%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 208,290,139
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 2,802,122,872
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Commodities
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish, primates (for research)
Partners
UK 13.2%, UAE 12.4%, France 11.9%, US 10.7%, South Africa 8.6%, Madagascar 6.5%, Italy 5.4%, Spain 4.4% (2015)
Commodities
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Partners
India 18.7%, China 17.8%, France 7.1%, South Africa 6.5%, Vietnam 4.4% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
A3
Changes in generally good but somewhat volatile political and economic environment can affect corporate payment behavior. A basically secure business environment can nonetheless give rise to occasional difficulties for companies. Corporate default probability is quite acceptable on average.
Business Climate Rating
A3
The business environment is relatively good. Although not always available, corporate financial information is usually reliable. Debt collection and the institutional framework may have some shortcomings. Intercompany transactions may run into occasional difficulties in the otherwise secure environments rated A3.
  • Strong tourism potential
  • English/French bilingualism
  • Strong banking system
  • Effective democratic institutions and governance
  • Trading and economic reliance on Europe (tourism, construction)
  • Infrastructure weaknesses in some regions
  • Lack of skilled workers

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