‪Mauritius‬
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 

Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius (French: République de Maurice), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) off the southeast coast of the African continent.

The country includes the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues (560 kilometres (350 mi) east of the principal island), the islands of Agalega and the archipelago Saint Brandon.

Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago situated 1,287 kilometres (800 mi) to the north east; the United Kingdom excised the archipelago from Mauritian territory prior to Mauritius' independence and gradually depopulated it.

The islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues and Réunion, 170 km (110 mi) south west, form part of the Mascarene Islands.

The area of the country is 2040 km2.

Its capital is Port Louis.

The first Portuguese explorers found no indigenous people living on the island in 1507.

The Dutch settled on the island in 1638 and abandoned it in 1710.

Five years later, the island became a French colony and was renamed Isle de France.

The British took control of Mauritius in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars.

The country remained under British rule until it became an independent Commonwealth realm on 12 March 1968 and a republic within the Commonwealth on 12 March 1992.

The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural; most Mauritians are multilingual, and English, French, Creole and Asian languages are used.

The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system.

Mauritius is highly ranked for democracy and for economic and political freedom.

The island of Mauritius was the only home of the Dodo bird.

The bird became extinct fewer than eighty years after its discovery.

Republic of Mauritius - République de Maurice
(Coordinates: 20.2°S 57.5°E)

Motto: 
"Stella Clavisque Maris Indici" (Latin) - "Star and Key of the Indian Ocean"
Anthem: Motherland

Capital and largest city:
Port Louis (20°10′S 57°31′E)

Official languages: Nonea
Vernacular languages:
• Mauritian Creole
• French
• English

Demonym: Mauritian

Government: Parliamentary republic
• President:
• Prime Minister: 

Legislature: National Assembly

Independence from the United Kingdom 
Constitution of Mauritius: 
12 March 1968 

Republic: 12 March 1992 

Area:
• Total: 2,040 km2 (179th) - 787 sq mi
• Water (%): 0.07

Population:
2013 estimate 1,295,789 (151st) - 2012 census 1,291,456
Density: 630/km2 (19th) - 1,636.5/sq mi

GDP (PPP): 2012 estimate
• Total: $20.200 billion
• Per capita: $15,591 (66th)

Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Time zone:
MUT (UTC+4) - Summer (DST) not observed (UTC)
Date format: dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Drives on the left
Calling code: +230
ISO 3166 code: MU
Internet TLD: .mu

• In parliament English is official and French can be used.