MAURITANIA (Continued)
Highways: 7,540 km total; 1,350 km paved; 710 km gravel, crushed stone, or otherwise improved; 5,480 km unimproved
Inland waterways: 800 km
Ports: 2 major (Nouadhibouand and Nouakchott), 2 minor
Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft
Airfields: 31 total, 31 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, a minor radio-relay link, and radiocommunications stations; 3,000 telephones (0.2 per 100 popl.); 2 AM, no FM or TV stations
DEFENSE FORCES
Military manpower: males 15-49, 337,000; 164,000 fit for military service; conscription law not implemented
Supply: primarily dependent on France; has also received material from Algeria, Morocco, UK, Spain, and Romania
Military budget: for fiscal year ending 31 December 1981, $60.0 million; 26.0% of central government budget
MAURITIUS
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| (See reference map VII) |
LAND
1,856 km2 (excluding dependencies); 50% agricultural, intensely cultivated; 39% forests, woodlands, mountains, river, and natural reserves; 3% built-up areas; 5% water bodies, 2% roads and tracks, 1% permanent wastelands
WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm)
Coastline: 177 km
PEOPLE
Population: 990,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.7%
Nationality: noun—Mauritian(s); adjective—Mauritian
Ethnic divisions: 67% Indians, 29% Creoles, 3.5% Chinese, 0.5% English and French
Religion: 51% Hindu, 30% Christian (mostly Catholic with a few Anglican Protestants), 17% Muslim
Language: English official language; Hindi, Chinese, French, Creole
Literacy: estimated 60% for those over 21 and 90% for those of school age
Labor force: 335,000; 30% agriculture, 24% industry; 20% government services; 14% are unemployed, 12% other
Organized labor: about 35% of labor force, forming over 270 unions
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Mauritius
Type: independent state since 1968, recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State
Capital: Port Louis
Political subdivisions: 5 organized municipalities and various island dependencies
Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas; constitution adopted 6 March 1968
