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Population
On the 31st December
1996, the population of the island of
Mauritius was estimated at 1,107,324
comprising Indo-Mauritians, Creoles, i.e.
people of mixed European and African origin
and Sino-Mauritians.
Mauritius is one of the most densely
populated countries in the world with a
population of around 1.2 million. 68 % of
the total population is of Indian origin,
27.5 % Creole, 1 % Franco-Mauritian and 3.2
% Chinese. Of the whole population 51 % are
Hindus 17 % are Muslims and 27 % are
Christians.
Language
English is the official language
and is widely understood. French and Creole
predominate in everyday life. A number of
oriental languages are also spoken.
Area
The island covers an area of 2040 sq.
kilometers. The main island is of 1865 sq.
kilometers and the seashore of the whole
island stretches to about 330 kilometers.
The seaport and the capital city is the main
commercial center of the country.
Rodrigues, a smaller island situated 560
kilometers east of Mauritius also comes
under the administration of Mauritius.
Fishing and cattle rearing is the major
occupation here. Agalega and St. Brandon are
the two other islands that come under the
administration of Mauritius.
The country follows a parliamentary
democracy and the president is the head
of the state and commander of the defense
forces.
Getting Married
The Civil Status Act provides
that the marriage of non-citizens and
non-residents may be celebrated on the day
immediately following the day of
publication. The intending spouses should
however produce to the Civil Status Officer
at the time of publication a certificate
issued under the Authority of the Prime
Minister to the effect they are not citizens
or residents of Mauritius. Such a
certificate is obtainable on application to
the Registrar of civil Status 7th
level, Emmanuel Anquetil Building, Port
Louis. The documents to be forward on
application are 2 photocopies of each birth
certificate and 2 photocopies of each
passport (the first 3 pages only) and any
other document in case of divorce or
widow/widower. The application for a
certificate on non-citizen/non-resident
should reach the Civil Status Office not
less than 10 days before the date of the
proposed wedding.
The wedding may be celebrated at the Civil
Status Office or in any hotel by the Civil
Status Officer of the locality where the
parties are holidaying.
When two Catholics wish to celebrate their
religious wedding in a catholic church in
Mauritius, their Tour Operator or the
episcopate in Port Louis can provide them
with information on the procedure to follow.
They will have in any case to contact the
responsible person of the diocese where they
reside.
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