1 ] [ 2 ] Vernacular Mauritian Creole French English Demonym Mauritian Government Parliamentary republic  -  President Kailash Purryag  -  Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam Legislature National Assembly Independence  -  from the United Kingdom 12 March 1968   -  Republic 12 March 1992  Area  -  Total 2,040 km 2  ( 179th ) 787 sq mi   -  Water (%)