Although known to Arab and European sailors since at least the early 1500s, the island of Mauritius was uninhabited until 1638 when the Dutch established a settlement named in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU. Their presence led to the rapid disappearance of the flightless dodo bird that has since become one of the most well-known examples of extinction in modern times. The Dutch abandoned their financially distressed settlement in 1710, although a number of formerly enslaved people remained. In 1722, the French established what would become a highly profitable settlement focused on sugar cane plantations that were reliant on the labor of enslaved people brought to Mauritius from other parts of Africa. In the 1790s, the island had a brief period of autonomous rule when plantation owners rejected French control because of laws ending slavery that were temporarily in effect during the French Revolution. Britain captured the island in 1810 as part of the Napoleonic Wars but kept most of the French administrative structure, which remains to this day in the form of the country’s legal codes and widespread use of the French Creole language. The abolition of slavery in 1835 — later than most other British colonies — led to increased reliance on contracted laborers from the Indian subcontinent to work on plantations. Today their descendants form the majority of the population. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base and later an air station, and it played a role during World War II in anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as in the collection of signals intelligence.
Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record. The country also attracted considerable foreign investment and now has one of Africa’s highest per capita incomes. Mauritius’ often-fractious coalition politics has been dominated by two prominent families, each of which has had father-son pairs who have been prime minister over multiple, often nonconsecutive, terms. Seewoosagur RAMGOOLAM (1968-76) was Mauritius’ first prime minister, and he was succeeded by Anerood JUGNAUTH (1982-95, 2000-03, 2014-17); his son Navin RAMGOOLAM (1995-2000, 2005-14); and Paul Raymond BERENGER (2003-05), the only non-Hindu prime minister of post-independence Mauritius. In 2017, Pravind JUGNAUTH became prime minister after his father stepped down short of completing his term, and he was elected in his own right in 2019.
Mauritius claims the French island of Tromelin and the British Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory). Since 2017, Mauritius has secured favorable UN General Assembly resolutions and an International Court of Justice advisory opinion relating to its sovereignty dispute with the UK.
Geography
Location
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
comparison ranking: total 180
Area – comparative
almost 11 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
177 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Climate
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Elevation
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Land use
agricultural land: 43.1% (2022 est.)
arable land: 37.6% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 19.5% (2022 est.)
other: 37.5% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
143 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Geography – note
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; former home of the extinct dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons
People and Society
Population
total: 1,310,504 (2024 est.)
male: 639,270
female: 671,234
comparison rankings: total 159; female 156; male 159
Nationality
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups
Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian
note: Mauritius has not had a question on ethnicity on its national census since 1972
Languages
Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, one of the two official languages of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Religions
Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 100,973/female 96,711)
15-64 years: 71% (male 462,833/female 467,509)
65 years and over: 13.9% (2024 est.) (male 75,464/female 107,014)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 40.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 19.6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.1 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 39.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 38.1 years
female: 41 years
comparison ranking: total 66
Population growth rate
0.07% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 189
Birth rate
9.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 191
Death rate
9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 59
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 78
Population distribution
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
84 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 73
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 116
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.6 years
female: 78.4 years
comparison ranking: total population 127
Total fertility rate
1.36 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 215
Gross reproduction rate
0.66 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
63.8% (2014)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99.9% of population
rural: 99.8% of population
total: 99.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0.2% of population
total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
6.4% of GDP (2021)
9.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
3.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 99.9% of population
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved:
urban: 0.1% of population
rural: NA
total: (2020 est.) NA
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
10.8% (2016)
comparison ranking: 137
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 3.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 106
Tobacco use
total: 19.6% (2025 est.)
male: 37.4% (2025 est.)
female: 2.6% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 73
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
3.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
12.8% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 136
Literacy
total population: 93% (2016 est.)
male: 95% (2016 est.)
female: 91% (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2017)
Environment
Environment – current issues
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid-waste disposal
Environment – international agreements
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Land use
agricultural land: 43.1% (2022 est.)
arable land: 37.6% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 19.5% (2022 est.)
other: 37.5% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 10.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 4.35 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 2.06 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 438,000 tons (2016 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 290 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 310 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
2.75 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
etymology: named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder (governor) of the Dutch Republic, in 1598
note: pronounced mahr-ish-us
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after LOUIS XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius
Administrative divisions
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Legal system
civil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, citizenship, or the branches of government, requires approval in a referendum by at least three-fourths majority of voters followed by a unanimous vote by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Dharam GOKHOOL (since 7 December 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 13 November 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; election last held on 7 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister who have the majority support in the National Assembly
election results:
2019: Prithvirajsing ROOPUN (MSM) elected president by the National Assembly – unanimous vote
2015: Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (independent) elected president by the National Assembly – unanimous vote
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly РAssembl̩e nationale
legislative structure: unicameral
chamber name: National Assembly
number of seats: 67 (62 directly elected; 4 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/10/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Alliance Du Changement (Alliance for Change, AdC) (60); Other (2)
percentage of women in chamber: 17.9%
expected date of next election: October 2029
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 24 puisne judges)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister; senior puisne judge appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; other puisne judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Commission, a 4-member body of judicial officials including the chief justice; all judges serve until retirement at age 67
subordinate courts: lower regional courts known as District Courts, Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal
note: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal
Political parties
Alliance Morisien (Mauritian Alliance)
Jean-Claude Barbier Movement (Mouvement Jean-Claude Barbier) or MJCB
Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM
Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD
Mauritius Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP
Militant Platform (Plateforme Militante) or PM
Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM
Muvman Liberater or ML
National Alliance
Patriotic Movement (Mouvement Patriotique) or MAG
Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Dhanandjay GOBOODUN (since 9 January 2025)
chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://mauritius-washington.govmu.org/Pages/index.aspx
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); note – also accredited to Seychelles
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, Port Louis
mailing address: 2450 Port Louis Place, Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://mu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
12 March 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968 & 1992); note – became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992 respectively
Flag description
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green; red stands for self-determination and independence, blue for the Indian Ocean, yellow for the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and green for agriculture or the island’s lush vegetation
note: the flag of Mauritius is the only national flag with four horizontal color bands
National symbol(s)
dodo bird, earring tree flower (Trochetia boutoniana)
National colors
red, blue, yellow, green
National anthem
name: “Motherland”
lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
note: adopted 1968
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Aapravasi Ghat; Le Morne Cultural Landscape
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; diversified portfolio; investing in maritime security; strong tourism sector decimated by COVID-19; expanding in information and financial services; environmentally fragile
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$33.532 billion (2023 est.)
$31.35 billion (2022 est.)
$28.793 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 145
Real GDP growth rate
6.96% (2023 est.)
8.88% (2022 est.)
3.4% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 19
Real GDP per capita
$26,600 (2023 est.)
$24,800 (2022 est.)
$22,700 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 86
GDP (official exchange rate)
$14.645 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.1% (2024 est.)
7.1% (2023 est.)
10.8% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 128
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 3.9% (2023 est.)
industry: 18.6% (2023 est.)
services: 64.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 59; industry 151; agriculture 124
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 66.5% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 13.8% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 52.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -55.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, chicken, pumpkins/squash, tomatoes, eggs, potatoes, cabbages, bananas, onions, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Industrial production growth rate
10.47% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 15
Labor force
594,700 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 159
Unemployment rate
5.5% (2024 est.)
5.6% (2023 est.)
6.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 110
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 16.6% (2024 est.)
male: 15.3% (2024 est.)
female: 18.4% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 78
Population below poverty line
10.3% (2017 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
36.8 (2017 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 62
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.9% (2017 est.)
highest 10%: 29.9% (2017 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
2.15% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.12% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.37% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $3.134 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $3.647 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
58% of GDP (2019 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 84
Taxes and other revenues
19.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 86
Current account balance
-$647.743 million (2023 est.)
-$1.437 billion (2022 est.)
-$1.497 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 127
Exports
$6.381 billion (2023 est.)
$6.138 billion (2022 est.)
$4.213 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 130
Exports – partners
USA 11%, France 11%, Zimbabwe 10%, South Africa 7%, Zambia 7% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
fish, garments, raw sugar, fertilizers, diamonds (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$8.027 billion (2023 est.)
$8.052 billion (2022 est.)
$6.057 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 133
Imports – partners
China 15%, UAE 11%, India 10%, South Africa 9%, France 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, cars, fish, coal, packaged medicine (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$7.465 billion (2024 est.)
$7.248 billion (2023 est.)
$7.793 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 87
Debt – external
$3.632 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 80
Exchange rates
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
46.415 (2024 est.)
45.267 (2023 est.)
44.183 (2022 est.)
41.692 (2021 est.)
39.347 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 99%
electrification – rural areas: 100%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 955,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.084 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 179.996 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 63; consumption 142; installed generating capacity 135
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 82.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 651,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 610,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
5.551 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.495 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 4.056 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 134
Energy consumption per capita
60.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 83
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 464,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 94
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 2.1 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 161 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 149
Broadcast media
the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is the national public TV and radio broadcaster, with programming in French, English, Hindi, Creole, and Chinese; MBC provides 17 television channels in Mauritius; 9 FM radio stations and 2 AM radio stations (2022)
Internet country code
.mu
Internet users
percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 343,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 113
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
3B
Airports
5 (2025)
comparison ranking: 177
Heliports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 163
Merchant marine
total: 32 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 27
comparison ranking: total 132
Ports
total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Port Louis, Port Mathurin
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) under the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the country’s security; it includes a paramilitary unit known as the Special Mobile Force, which includes some motorized infantry and light armored units; the MPF also has a Police Helicopter Squadron, a Special Support Unit (riot police), and the National Coast Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the MPF’s inventory is comprised of mostly secondhand equipment from Western European countries and India (2024)
Military – note
the MPF’s primary security partner is India, which provides training and other support to the National Coast Guard; Indian naval vessels often patrol the country’s waters; the MPF has also received assistance and training from France, the UK, and the US; the MPF’s chief security concerns are piracy and narcotics trafficking
the Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrison (2024)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering
