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Mauritius Background Information

Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in 1505; it was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence 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 and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.

Mauritius Quickstats

  • Population: 1,250,882 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 2,040 sq km
  • Density: 616 /km² (17th)
  • GDP (total): $16.0 billion (119th)
  • GDP (per capita): $13,703 (51st)
  • Literacy: 84.4%

Languages of Mauritius

Useful to know

  • Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
  • Dial code: +230

International Trade

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