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Mauritius SOCIETY
Population: In mid-1993 estimated at 1,106,516
with
population growth rate of 0.95 percent. Density more than
537
inhabitants per square kilometer.
Ethnic Groups: Constitution recognizes four
population
categories: Hindus (about 49 percent in 1989), general
population
(about 29 percent in 1989), Muslims (about 16 percent in
1989),
and Sino-Mauritians (about 3 percent in 1989). Ancestors
of
Hindus and Muslims came from Indian subcontinent; most
SinoMauritians from Hunan; general category represents all
others,
including Europeans, Creoles.
Languages: English (official), Creole, French,
Hindi,
Bhojpuri, and Tamil.
Religion: Hindu (49 percent), Christian (27
percent
Roman Catholic, 0.5 percent Protestant), Muslim (16
percent, of
which 95 percent Sunni), and other (7.5 percent).
Education: Follows British system, free through
postsecondary level. University of Mauritius and other
postsecondary institutions exist. Overall literacy in
1990: 80
percent; 85 percent for males and 75 percent for females.
Health: Government health services accessible to
most
of population. In 1994 life expectancy at birth estimated
at:
overall 70.5 years, 74.6 for females, 66.6 years for
males. In
1994 infant mortality 18.4 per 1,000 live births.
Data as of August 1994
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