Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
27 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
343,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is the national public TV and radio broadcaster, with programming in French, English, Hindi, Creole, and Chinese; MBC provides 17 television channels in Mauritius; 9 FM radio stations and 2 AM radio stations (2022)
Communications: Internet country code
.mu
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
73.31% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
36 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
464,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
173 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
2.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, chicken, pumpkins/squash, tomatoes, eggs, potatoes, cabbages, bananas, onions, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$5.042 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$3.801 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$750.3 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$690.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$417.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$491.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$612.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$555.4 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$718.5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$1.003 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.497 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.437 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$647.743 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.050 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$17.653 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$3.632 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
46.4147 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
30.7014 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
30.6216 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
35.0567 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
35.5419 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
34.4814 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
33.9344 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
35.4735 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
39.3469 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
41.6921 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
44.1828 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
45.2672 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
46.4147 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
fish, garments, raw sugar, fertilizers, diamonds (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$6.011 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$8.576 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$7.853 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$7.788 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$8.386 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$8.760 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$8.838 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$6.403 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$4.213 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$6.138 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$6.381 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$10.025 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
46.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
14.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
68.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-57.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
21% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
4.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
17.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
64.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$31,840 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$14.953 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$39.665 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
36.8 (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
29.9% (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.9% (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, fish, coal, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$6.211 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$8.340 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$8.326 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$9.258 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$9.718 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$9.899 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$7.606 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$6.057 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$8.052 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$8.027 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$11.698 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.29% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.98% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
3.67% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.22% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.41% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.58% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.03% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
10.77% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
7.05% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.60% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
594,900 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
8.40% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
55.42% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
54.56% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
57.13% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$24.334 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$25.598 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$27.742 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$28.963 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$30.858 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$27.373 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$29.139 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$31.296 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$32.864 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$34.406 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.69% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.86% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.94% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.01% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
2.89% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-14.55% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
3.40% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
8.69% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.01% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.93% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$19,294 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$20,270 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$21,952 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$22,898 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$24,375 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$21,622 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$23,010 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$26,874 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$29,561 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$552,880 (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$327.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$223.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$284.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$286.9 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$4.260 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$4.962 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$5.984 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$6.353 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$7.362 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$7.291 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$8.563 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$7.793 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$7.248 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$8.506 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
6.33% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
8.63% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
7.72% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
6.32% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.57% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.55% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
18.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
15.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
16.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
651,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
610,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
100%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
99%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
82.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
3.084 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
955,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
179.996 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
60.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
1.495 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
4.056 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
5.551 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Environment: Environmental issues
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid-waste disposal
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
43% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
19.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
37.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
2.751 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
303 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
10 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
320 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
39.02% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
438,000 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost 11 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
2,030 sq km
Geography: Area: water
10 sq km
Geography: Coastline
177 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mont Piton 828 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Geography: Geography - note
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; former home of the extinct dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons
Geography: Irrigated land
143 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
43% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
19.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
37.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Geography: Population distribution
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Government: Administrative divisions
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Government: Capital: etymology
named after LOUIS XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
20 09 S, 57 29 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, citizenship, or the branches of government, requires approval in a referendum by at least three-fourths majority of voters followed by a unanimous vote by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Mauritius
Government: Country name: etymology
named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder (governor) of the Dutch Republic, in 1598
Government: Country name: local long form
Republic of Mauritius
Government: Country name: local short form
Mauritius
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); note - also accredited to Seychelles
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
PTLConsular@state.gov https://mu.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, Port Louis
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[230] 208-9534
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2450 Port Louis Place, Washington, DC 20521-2450
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[230] 202-4400
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Gajjaluxmi MOOTOOSAMY (since 5 June 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
mauritius.embassy@verizon.net https://mauritius-washington.govmu.org/Pages/index.aspx
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 966-0983
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 244-1491
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Dharam GOKHOOL (since 7 December 2024)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2019 : Prithvirajsing ROOPUN (MSM) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister who have the majority support in the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 13 November 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
6 December 2024
Government: Flag
description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green meaning: red stands for self-determination and independence; blue for the Indian Ocean; yellow for the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future; and green for agriculture or the island's lush vegetation
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 24 puisne judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister; senior puisne judge appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; other puisne judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Commission, a 4-member body of judicial officials including the chief justice; all judges serve until retirement at age 67
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
lower regional courts known as District Courts, Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal
Government: Legal system
civil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
Government: Legislative branch: chamber name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly - Assemblée nationale
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
11/10/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
67 (62 directly elected; 4 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Alliance Du Changement (Alliance for Change, AdC) (60); Other (2)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
17.9%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1968
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
Government: National color(s)
red, blue, yellow, green
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Aapravasi Ghat; Le Morne Cultural Landscape
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968, 1992)
Government: National symbol(s)
dodo bird, earring tree flower ( Trochetia boutoniana )
Government: Political parties
Alliance Morisien (Mauritian Alliance) Jean-Claude Barbier Movement (Mouvement Jean-Claude Barbier) or MJCB Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD Mauritius Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP Militant Platform (Plateforme Militante) or PM Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM Muvman Liberater or ML National Alliance Patriotic Movement (Mouvement Patriotique) or MAG Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Although known to Arab and European sailors since at least the early 1500s, the island of Mauritius was uninhabited until 1638 when the Dutch established a settlement named in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU. Their presence led to the rapid disappearance of the flightless dodo bird that has since become one of the most well-known examples of extinction in modern times. The Dutch abandoned their financially distressed settlement in 1710, although a number of formerly enslaved people remained. In 1722, the French established what would become a highly profitable settlement focused on sugar cane plantations that were reliant on the labor of enslaved people brought to Mauritius from other parts of Africa. In the 1790s, the island had a brief period of autonomous rule when plantation owners rejected French control because of laws ending slavery that were temporarily in effect during the French Revolution. Britain captured the island in 1810 as part of the Napoleonic Wars but kept most of the French administrative structure, which remains to this day in the form of the country’s legal codes and widespread use of the French Creole language. The abolition of slavery in 1835 -- later than most other British colonies -- led to increased reliance on contracted laborers from the Indian subcontinent to work on plantations. Today their descendants form the majority of the population. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base and later an air station, and it played a role during World War II in anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as in the collection of signals intelligence. Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record. The country also attracted considerable foreign investment and now has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Mauritius’ often-fractious coalition politics has been dominated by two prominent families, each of which has had father-son pairs who have been prime minister over multiple, often nonconsecutive, terms. Seewoosagur RAMGOOLAM (1968-76) was Mauritius’ first prime minister, and he was succeeded by Anerood JUGNAUTH (1982-95, 2000-03, 2014-17); his son Navin RAMGOOLAM (1995-2000, 2005-14); and Paul Raymond BERENGER (2003-05), the only non-Hindu prime minister of post-independence Mauritius. In 2017, Pravind JUGNAUTH became prime minister after his father stepped down short of completing his term, and he was elected in his own right in 2019. Mauritius claims the French island of Tromelin and the British Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory). Since 2017, Mauritius has secured favorable UN General Assembly resolutions and an International Court of Justice advisory opinion relating to its sovereignty dispute with the UK.
Military and Security: Military - note
key security priorities for the Maritius Police Force (MPF) include combating narcotics trafficking, ensuring public order, fighting cybercrime, improving maritime security, and responding to natural disasters; the MPF's primary security partner is India, which provides training and other support to the National Coast Guard, while Indian naval vessels often patrol the country's waters; the MPF has also received assistance and training from France, the UK, and the US the Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrison (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
no regular military forces; the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) under the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the country's security; it includes a paramilitary unit known as the Special Mobile Force, which includes some motorized infantry and light armored units; the MPF also has a Police Helicopter Squadron, a Special Support Unit (riot police), and the National Coast Guard (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.14% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.17% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.17% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.16% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.15% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.16% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.17% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.14% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.14% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.15% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
15.1% (male 100,973/female 96,711)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
71% (male 462,833/female 467,509)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
13.9% (2024 est.) (male 75,464/female 107,014)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
9.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.57% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.6% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
20.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
4.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
41.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
21.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.25% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.66 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
9.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
3.8 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
10 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
77.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
70.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
92.8% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
96.3% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
94.29% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
66 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
41 years
People and Society: Median age: male
38.1 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Mauritian
People and Society: Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
10.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
1,245,779 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.06% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
671,668
People and Society: Population: male
639,707
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
14 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
14 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.71 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
37.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
19.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.44 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
39.02% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
39 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
82 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
5 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
3B
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 27
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
32 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Port Louis, Port Mathurin
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.