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: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Population distribution: Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 2,040 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 2,030 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
country comparison to the world:
181
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
177 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200
nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
More Climate Details
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
0 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean
828 highest point: Mont Piton
arable land, fish
agricultural land: 43.8%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 38.4%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 3.4%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 17.3%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 38.9%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
190 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban cluster are found throught 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
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid waste disposal
party to:
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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 dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species