Rodrigues, Outer islands of Mauritius, Mauritius
Rodrigues is an autonomous outlying island of the Republic of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, approximately 560 kilometers east of Mauritius. It is one of the Mascarene Islands, along with Mauritius and Réunion. Rodrigues is a volcanic island surrounded by coral reefs, with a few uninhabited islands off the shore. The island was previously the tenth district of Mauritius; it acquired autonomy on December 10, 2002, and is controlled by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. Port Mathurin serves as the island’s capital. According to Statistics Mauritius, the island’s population was around 41,669 in 2014. The majority of the population is of African heritage. Its economy is mostly centered on fishing, farming, handicrafts, and a growing tourism sector.