African Travel Articles

Mauritius - briefly explained by RALPH RAMAH

Moreover, around 68 percent of people in Mauritius are Indo-Mauritian, 27 percent are creole, 3 percent are Sino-Mauritian and around 2 percent are Franco-Mauritian. Mauritius is a multiracial island. So, people of different religions exist. Around 48 percent of Mauritians are Hindu followed by nearly 24 percent of Roman Catholic. On the other hand, around 8 percent of people are Catholic while approximately 17 percent are of Islamic origin. Also, as per surveys carried out in the year 2003, the literacy rate in Mauritius sums up to 86 percent.

Furthermore, about half the population of Mauritius, that is around 570,000 people form part of the labour force. A more detailed approach to this figure would resemble as follows: about 36 percent of people in Mauritius are employed in the construction and industry, around 24 percent in services, nearly 14 percent in agricultural and fishing, around 16 percent in trade, restaurants and hotels, 7 percent in communication and 3 percent in finance. Additionally, the industries that operate in Mauritius are the food processing, textile, clothing, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery and tourism.

In addition to, the gross income of exports in Mauritius may have amounted up to $ 1.949 billion f.o.b (free on board). This figure had been revealed from surveys in the year 2005. The major export products in Mauritius are mainly clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers and molasses. While the government of Mauritius gains some revenue in export, various products need also to be imported. Statistics form the year 2005 reveal that imports may have amounted up to $ 2.507 billion f.o.b (free on board). The main imported products are manufactured goods, capital equipments, foodstuffs, petroleum products and chemicals.

The major trading partners of Mauritius are UK, France, U.S., Madagascar, Italy, South Africa, China, India, Bahrain, Japan (2004). Also, there are no transportation railways in Mauritius. But the road and public infrastructure is well developed with 1926 km of highway of which around 1868 km had been paved. These highways are also equipped with around 44 km of expressways to ensure the fluidity of traffic circulation. Only around 58 km of roads in Mauritius had been left unpaved. It is important to remember that Mauritius is a developing country and infrastructures are best in more important areas.

Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation in 2001; claims French-administered Tromelin Island. 

Mauritius welcomes you. The Official Web Site for Mauritius