Mauritius

Fact Sheet :

- Area : 2,040 sq km

- Population : 1,250,882 (July 2007 est.)

- Capital : Port Louis

- Languages : English (official), Creole, French (official)

- Currency : Mauritian rupee (MUR)

- Government type : parliamentary democracy

- Elements of History :

Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius 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.

- Climate :

tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)