+230 is the dialing code for Mauritius.
Mauritius is a small island republic off the east coast of Africa. The island was first populated by French colonists who built sugar plantations but later became a British colony. Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed into one of Africa’s most successful economies. Politics is dominated by a few parties that have often switched to power at the forefront of fragile coalition governments. The largest group of people is the Indomaurites, who are descendants of Indian contract workers, but there is also a large group of Creole people of mixed origin.
Geography and climate
The island of Mauritius is on the surface slightly larger than Öland and is located in the Indian Ocean about 80 km east of Madagascar. The state of Mauritius also includes the smaller island of Rodrigues, which is located approximately 60 miles east of the main island, as well as a number of small coral islands, most of which are uninhabited.
Mauritius together with the French island of Réunion form the archipelago of the Mascarenes.
Mauritius claims the Chagos Islands, which were managed under Mauritius until 1965, when the population moved to build an American military base there. Mauritius also claims the French island of Tromelin, which since 2010 is jointly administered by France and Mauritius.
The island of Mauritius is of volcanic origin but is surrounded by coral reefs. It consists of fertile plains with steep cliffs that surround a central high plateau with several smaller rivers.
The climate is subtropical with heat and high humidity all year round. It rains more and is cooler on the high plateau than on the coast. Most precipitation falls in November – April. Heavy cyclones (tropical storms) can sweep across the island from September to May.
Country Facts
Geography
| Cultivated land | 43.8 % |
| Land area | 2040 km 2 |
Population and health
| Population development | 0.64 ‰ |
| Urban population (Urbanization) | 39.7 % |
| Death rate | 6.91 per 1000 residents |
| Life expectancy: Women | 79.03 years |
| Life expectancy: Men | 71.94 years |
| Birth rate | 13.29 births per 1000 residents |
| HDI index | 0.777 |
| Population | 1339827 |
| Infant mortality | 10.3 deaths / 1000 births |
Energy
| Electricity, production | 2885 million kWh |
| Energy consumption per resident | 1067.8 kg. oil per resident |
| Natural gas, production | million cubic meters |
| Crude oil, production | million tons |
Infrastructure
| Internet users | 6.1 per 100 residents |
| Mobile subscriptions | 124 per 100 residents |
| Passenger cars | 175 per 1000 residents |
Business and economics
| Unemployment | 7.1% of the workforce |
| GDP | 19500 per resident |
| Primary occupations | 9 % |
| Secondary profession | 30 % |
| Tertiary professions | 61 % |
FACTS – GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Surface
2,040 km2 (2018)
Time
Swedish +3 hours
Capital with number of residents
Port Louis 147 500
Other major cities
Vacoas-Phoenix, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill
Highest mountain
Piton de la Petite Rivière Noir (826 m asl)
Average Precipitation / month
36 mm (sept), 221 mm (mars)
Average / day
28 °C (Jan), 21 °C (July)
2013
November
Boycott the Summit of the Commonwealth
Mauritius does not attend the Commonwealth (gathering Britain and former British colonies) summit in Sri Lanka in protest of unresolved allegations of human rights violations directed at the host country’s government.
June
Decisions about the Chagos Islands remain
The High Court in the United Kingdom states that the British government’s decision to convert the Chagos Islands into a marine nature reserve is not contrary to EU law.
April
Corruption Minister accused of corruption
The corruption-accused, former Health Minister Hanoomanjee is released from all suspicions for lack of evidence. The suspicions against Pravind Jugnauth remain (see July 2011 and August 2011).