ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Mauritius. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Mauritius. Mauritius enjoyed a relatively tranquil year in 2001 in political terms, although several corruption scandals did attract considerable notice. General elections were held in late 2000. Mauritius has achieved a stable democratic and constitutional order, and its focus on political competition rather than violent conflict demonstrates a level of political development enjoyed by other African states. In 2000, Mauritius registered an eight percent economic growth rate, and inflation hovered around five percent. Just 2.5 percent of country's labor force is unemployed. Per capita income in Mauritius is one of the highest in Africa, while adult literacy is 83 percent.
