Current environmental issues: Water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Population: 1,189,825 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: Under 14 years: 25.53% (male 153,691; female 150,094); 15-64 years: 68.24% (male 404,940; female 407,056); 65 years and over: 6.23% (male 29,588; female 44,456) (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate (IMR): 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy from birth: total population: 71.25 years; male: 67.26 years; female: 75.31 years (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDSadult prevelancy rate: 0.08% (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%,other 3.1%

Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori

Literacy: Total population: 82.9%; male: 87.1%; female: 78.8% (1995 est.)

Government: Parliamentary democracy

Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)

GDP (composed by sector): Agriculture: 10%; industry: 29%; services: 61% (1996) Population below the poverty line: 10.6% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 514,000 (1995)

Labor force by occupation: Construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)

Export partners: UK 32%, France 19%, US 15%, Germany 6%, Italy 4% (1999 est.)

External debt: $1.9 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid received: $42 million (1997)