MAURITIUS MAURITIUS REGION AFRICA NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY AGRICULTURE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION GLOBAL RELATIONS DATE OF INDEPENDENCE MARCH 12 1968 DATE OF CURRENT CONSTITUTION MARCH 12 1968 POPULATION 1182212 1999 EST AREA 788 SQ MI CAPITAL PORT LOUIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY NATURAL RESOURCES FERTILE SOILS FISH MAIN INDUSTRIES TOURISM TEXTILES FOOD PROCESSING AGRICULTURE TEA SUGARCANE CURRENCY RUPEE GDP 11.7 BILLION 1998 EST GDP PER CAPITA 10000 1998 EST LANGUAGES ENGLISH OFFICIAL CREOLE FRENCH HINDI URDU HAKKA BOJPOORI RELIGIONS HINDUISM CHRISTIANITY ROMAN CATHOLICISM PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS ISLAM LITERACY RATE 83 LIFE EXPECTANCY 67 YEARS MALE 75 YEARS FEMALE BIRTHRATE 18 BIRTHS PER 1000 POPULATION DEATH RATE 7 DEATHS PER 1000 POPULATION
