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Mauritius

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Mauritius

DATE OF FORMATION: 1968

POPULATION: 1.2 million

DENSITY: 1671 people per square mile

LANGUAGES: French Creole, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Chinese, English, French

RELIGIONS: Hindu 52%, Roman Catholic 26%, Muslim 17%, Other 3%, Protestant 2%

ETHNIC MIX: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

GOVERNMENT: Multiparty elections

CURRENCY: Mauritian rupee

 

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The islands that make up Mauritius lie in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. The main island, from which the country takes its name, is of volcanic origin and surrounded by coral reefs. Along with Rodrigues to the east, the country includes the Agalega Islands and the Cargados Carajos Shoals, 500 km (300 miles) to the north. Mauritius has enjoyed considerable economic success following recent industrial diversification and the expansion of tourism.

 

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