FACTS

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Area (only Total) total: 2,040 sq km

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

Population: 1,274,189

Main Language (only first): Creole

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Port Louis

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+4

Independence: Independence

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)