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Africa :: Mauritius

- ## 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 one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.

- ## Geography :: MAURITIUS

- Location:
  Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar
  Geographic coordinates:
  20 17 S, 57 33 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 2,040 sq km
  land: 2,030 sq km
  water: 10 sq km
  note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
  country comparison to the world: 181
  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:
  agricultural land: 43.8%
  arable land 38.4%; permanent crops 2%; permanent pasture 3.4%
  forest: 17.3%
  other: 38.9% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  212.2 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  2.75 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.73 cu km/yr (30%/3%/68%)
  per capita: 568.2 cu m/yr (2003)
  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; former 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 and Society :: MAURITIUS

- Nationality:
  noun: Mauritian(s)
  adjective: Mauritian
  Ethnic groups:
  Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
  Languages:
  Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, the official language, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
  Religions:
  Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
  Population:
  1,339,827 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20.74% (male 141,928/female 135,918)
  15-24 years: 15.3% (male 103,549/female 101,469)
  25-54 years: 44% (male 294,700/female 294,863)
  55-64 years: 11.15% (male 70,810/female 78,599)
  65 years and over: 8.81% (male 47,900/female 70,091) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 40.6%
  youth dependency ratio: 27.2%
  elderly dependency ratio: 13.4%
  potential support ratio: 7.4% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 34.4 years
  male: 33.5 years
  female: 35.3 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.64% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Birth rate:
  13.29 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Death rate:
  6.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 39.7% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.08% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  PORT LOUIS (capital) 135,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 12.24 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 8.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.4 years
  male: 71.94 years
  female: 79.03 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Total fertility rate:
  1.76 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Health expenditures:
  4.8% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Physicians density:
  1.62 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  3.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99.9% of population
  rural: 99.8% of population
  total: 99.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.1% of population
  rural: 0.2% of population
  total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 93.9% of population
  rural: 92.6% of population
  total: 93.1% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 6.1% of population
  rural: 7.4% of population
  total: 6.9% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.92% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  8,300 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  500 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  18.8% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Education expenditures:
  3.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 90.6%
  male: 92.9%
  female: 88.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 16 years
  male: 15 years
  female: 16 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 23.7%
  male: 20.4%
  female: 28.4% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41

- ## Government :: MAURITIUS

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
  conventional short form: Mauritius
  local long form: Republic of Mauritius
  local short form: Mauritius
  note: island named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, in 1598
  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:
  several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)
  Legal system:
  civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (since 5 June 2015); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 12 November 2010)
  head of government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 December 2014)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
  elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 4 June 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
  election results: Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (independent) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (70 seats maximum; 62 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 8 seats allocated to non-elected party candidates by the Electoral Commissioner's Office to ensure fair and adequate representation of each community and party in the Assembly; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 10 December 2014 (next to be held by 2019); note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 6 October 2014, resulting in early elections
  election results: percent of vote by party - Alliance Lepep 49.8%, PTR-MMM 38.5%, FSM 2.1%, OPR 1.1%, other 8.5%; elected seats by party - Alliance Lepep 47, PTR-MMM 13, OPR 2; appointed seats Alliance Lepep 4, PTR-MMM 3, unassigned 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 17 puisne judges); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal
  judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister; senior puisne judge appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; other puisne judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Commission, a 4-member body of judicial officials including the chief justice; all judges serve until retirement at age 62
  subordinate courts: Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal (formed by a 2008 constitutional amendment)
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alliance Lepep (Alliance of the People) [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] (coalition including MSM, PMSD, and ML)
  Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]
  Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM [Paul BERENGER]
  Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]
  Mauritian Solidarity Front (Front Solidarite Mauricienne) or FSM [Cehi FAKEERMEEAH]
  Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]
  Muvman Liberator or ML [Ivan COLLENDAVELLOO]
  PTR-MMM Coalition [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (coalition including PTR and MMM)
  Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Lalit Political Party
  Say No to Coal!
  other: various labor unions
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Sooroojdev PHOKEER (since 3 August 2015)
  chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; administrative offices at 3201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
  FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Shari VILLAROSA (since 5 November 2012); note - also accredited to Seychelles
  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; red represents self-determination and 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 symbol(s):
  dodo bird; national colors: red, blue, yellow, green
  National anthem:
  name: "Motherland"
  lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
  note: adopted 1968

- ## Economy :: MAURITIUS

- Economy - overview:
  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. 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’ textile sector has taken advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 400% from 2001-2012. Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped to mitigate negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-14, and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $23.36 billion (2014 est.)
  $22.62 billion (2013 est.)
  $21.92 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 138
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $13.24 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.2% (2014 est.)
  3.2% (2013 est.)
  3.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $18,600 (2014 est.)
  $18,000 (2013 est.)
  $17,400 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Gross national saving:
  14.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  15.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  18.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 73.4%
  government consumption: 14.4%
  investment in fixed capital: 21.2%
  investment in inventories: 2.8%
  exports of goods and services: 55.4%
  imports of goods and services: -67.2%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 4.5%
  industry: 22.4%
  services: 73.2% (2014 est.)
  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:
  0.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Labor force:
  600,200 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  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:
  7.8% (2014 est.)
  8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  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:
  35.9 (2012 est.)
  39 (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Budget:
  revenues: $2.797 billion
  expenditures: $3.263 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  22% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -3.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Public debt:
  61.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  60% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3% (2014 est.)
  3.5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Central bank discount rate:
  9% (31 December 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  8.7% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Stock of narrow money:
  $2.666 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.562 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Stock of broad money:
  $12.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $12.15 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $16.27 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $14.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $7.093 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $7.667 billion (31 December 2011)
  $7.442 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Current account balance:
  -$956 million (2014 est.)
  -$1.179 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Exports:
  $3.135 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.872 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Exports - commodities:
  clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish, primates (for research)
  Exports - partners:
  France 14.6%, UK 13.8%, UAE 10.6%, US 10.5%, South Africa 7.1%, Italy 6.6%, Madagascar 6.5%, Spain 5.2% (2014)
  Imports:
  $5.441 billion (2014 est.)
  $5.141 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Imports - commodities:
  manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
  Imports - partners:
  India 21.7%, China 16.2%, France 7.8%, South Africa 6.6% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $4.018 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.491 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Debt - external:
  $5.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.229 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -
  30.43 (2014 est.)
  30.703 (2013 est.)
  30.05 (2012 est.)
  28.706 (2011 est.)
  30.784 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: MAURITIUS

- Electricity - production:
  2.885 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Electricity - consumption:
  2.658 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  778,200 kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  96.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  3.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  25,430 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  20,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  5.317 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127

- ## Communications :: MAURITIUS

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 370,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 1.7 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  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 current teledensity roughly 100 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 (2011)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .mu
  Internet users:
  total: 81,700
  percent of population: 6.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175

- ## Transportation :: MAURITIUS

- Airports:
  5 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  over 3,047 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 2,149 km
  paved: 2,149 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Merchant marine:
  total: 4
  by type: passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Port Louis

- ## Military :: MAURITIUS

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2011)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 343,628 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 280,596
  females age 16-49: 283,317 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 10,193
  female: 10,104 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  0.19% of GDP (2012)
  0.16% of GDP (2011)
  0.19% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 130

- ## Transnational Issues :: MAURITIUS

- Disputes - international:
  Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; 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

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