Capital

Mauritius

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 and a major reprovisioning stop for French ships traveling between Europe and Asia

Lettland

name: Riga

geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: of the several theories explaining the name's origin, the one relating to the city's role in Baltic and North Sea commerce is the most probable; the name is likely related to the Latvian word "rija," meaning "warehouse," where the 'j' became a 'g' under the heavy German influence in the city from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century

Citizenship

Mauritius

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

Lettland

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Mauritius

civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law

Lettland

civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

Suffrage

Mauritius

18 years of age; universal

Lettland

18 years of age; universal

Area

Mauritius

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

Lettland

total: 64,589 sq km

land: 62,249 sq km

water: 2,340 sq km

Land use

Mauritius

agricultural land: 43.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 38.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.)

forest: 17.3% (2018 est.)

other: 38.9% (2018 est.)

Lettland

agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 54.1% (2018 est.)

other: 16.7% (2018 est.)

Location

Mauritius

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar

Lettland

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Age structure

Mauritius

0-14 years: 15.3% (male 102,335/female 97,955)

15-64 years: 71.35% (male 464,380/female 469,877)

65 years and over: 13.36% (2023 est.) (male 72,026/female 102,875)

Lettland

0-14 years: 14.92% (male 139,877/female 131,839)

15-64 years: 63.37% (male 570,902/female 583,578)

65 years and over: 21.71% (2023 est.) (male 134,809/female 260,745)

Birth rate

Mauritius

9.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Lettland

8.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Mauritius

9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Lettland

14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Mauritius

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.)

Lettland

Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%; note - data represent language usually spoken at home (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s):
World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

Mauritius

total population: 75.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 72.3 years

female: 78.1 years

Lettland

total population: 76.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 71.8 years

female: 80.8 years

Major urban areas - population

Mauritius

149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018)

Lettland

621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)

Median age

Mauritius

total: 39.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 37.8 years

female: 40.6 years

Lettland

total: 45.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 41.3 years

female: 48.9 years

Lettland

27.3 years (2020 est.)

Net migration rate

Mauritius

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Lettland

-5.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Mauritius

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; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast as shown in this population distribution map

Lettland

largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

Population growth rate

Mauritius

0.09% (2023 est.)

Lettland

-1.13% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Mauritius

1.35 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Lettland

1.55 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Mauritius

urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Lettland

urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Mauritius

4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Lettland

6% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Mauritius

total: 15 years

male: 14 years

female: 16 years (2017)

Lettland

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2020)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Mauritius

-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Lettland

-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Mauritius

20.88% (2021 est.)

Lettland

1.93% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Mauritius

597,900 (2021 est.)

Lettland

955,000 (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Mauritius

10.3% (2017 est.)

Lettland

22.9% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate

Mauritius

7.41% (2021 est.)

7.41% (2020 est.)

6.33% (2019 est.)

Lettland

7.6% (2021 est.)

8.1% (2020 est.)

6.31% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Mauritius

57.96% of GDP (2019 est.)

55.38% of GDP (2018 est.)

56.16% of GDP (2017 est.)

Lettland

36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Mauritius

4.03% (2021 est.)

2.58% (2020 est.)

0.41% (2019 est.)

Lettland

3.28% (2021 est.)

0.22% (2020 est.)

2.81% (2019 est.)

Exports

Mauritius

$3.198 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$3.088 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.258 billion (2019 est.)

Lettland

$25.248 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.768 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.539 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - partners

Mauritius

France 10%, South Africa 10%, United States 10%, United Kingdom 8%, Zambia 7%, Madagascar 6% (2019)

Lettland

Lithuania 17%, Estonia 9%, United Kingdom 8%, Germany 7%, Russia 7% (2021)

Imports

Mauritius

$6.082 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.222 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.365 billion (2019 est.)

Lettland

$26.622 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.427 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.765 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Mauritius

China 15%, India 13%, France 10%, South Africa 8%, United Arab Emirates 7% (2019)

Lettland

Lithuania 15%, Russia 14%, Germany 9%, Poland 8%, Estonia 8% (2021)

Airports

Mauritius

5 (2021)

Lettland

42 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Mauritius

total: 323,200 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.)

Lettland

total: 490,569 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Mauritius

total: 884,000 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 68% (2021 est.)

Lettland

total: 1.729 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 91% (2021 est.)

Lettland

total: 2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified

Roadways

Mauritius

total: 2,428 km (2015)

paved: 2,379 km (2015) (includes 99 km of expressways)

unpaved: 49 km (2015)

Lettland

total: 70,244 km (2018)

paved: 15,158 km (2018)

unpaved: 55,086 km (2018)

Telephones - fixed lines

Mauritius

total subscriptions: 469,100 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2021 est.)

Lettland

total subscriptions: 191,798 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Mauritius

total subscriptions: 1,971,300 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2021 est.)

Lettland

total subscriptions: 2,161,725 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2021 est.)

Lettland

300 km (2010) (navigable year-round)

Disputes - international

Mauritius

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory); claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Mauritius-France: Mauritius has claimed French-administered Tromelin Island (part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands) since 1976

Mauritius-UK: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

Lettland

Latvia-Belarus: Belarus and Latvia signed joint demarcation map in September 2008

Latvia-Estonia: demarcation reportedly completed in 1998

Latvia-Lithuania: boundary demarcation was completed by the end of 1998; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights

Latvia-Russia: Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; in March 2007, Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty, which includes Latvia withdrawing claims to a district now in Russia that was part of Latvia before WWII; the permanent demarcation of the boundary between Latvia and Russia was completed and came into force in April 2018; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia