Mauritius, officially known as the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation off the coast of the African continent. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic of Mauritius also includes the following islands: St Brandon, Rodrigues, and Agalega Islands. In 1968, the islands gained independence from British rule. The island is home to an estimated 1.2 Million people (2007 Census).

After gaining independence from British rule, Mauritius, developed an agriculture industry - mostly sugarcane. The bulk of the economy, however, depends on the service, financial, and tourist industry. The production of rum is also widespread throughout the island. Growing steadily, in 2005 Mauritius was ranked as having the 7th highest GDP per capita in Africa. A plan by the ADB in Mauritius calls for the island nation to be the first one in the world to have coast-to-coast wireless internet access. At present, 60% of the nation is covered by a wireless hotspot and over 70% of population has access to it. In an attempt to increase tourist traffic from tourists and provide locals with access to imported goods at lower prices, Mauritius aims to become a duty-free island within the next 4 years.

The island of Mauritius is also notable for being the only known home of the Dodo bird. The species was sighted in an island on the Indian Ocean in the 1600s and 80 years after its sighting, it was extinct. Mauritius is also known for its cuisine which is a blend of Indian, Creole, Chinese, and European.