Capital

Mauritius

name: Port Louis

geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: named after LOUIS XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius and a major reprovisioning stop for French ships traveling between Europe and Asia

Citizenship

Mauritius

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months

Legal system

Mauritius

civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law

Suffrage

Mauritius

18 years of age; universal

Area

Mauritius

total: 2,040 sq km

land: 2,030 sq km

water: 10 sq km

note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

Land use

Mauritius

agricultural land: 43.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 38.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.)

forest: 17.3% (2018 est.)

other: 38.9% (2018 est.)

Location

Mauritius

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar

Age structure

Mauritius

0-14 years: 15.3% (male 102,335/female 97,955)

15-64 years: 71.35% (male 464,380/female 469,877)

65 years and over: 13.36% (2023 est.) (male 72,026/female 102,875)

Birth rate

Mauritius

9.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Mauritius

9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Mauritius

Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, one of the two official languages of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Mauritius

total population: 75.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 72.3 years

female: 78.1 years

Major urban areas - population

Mauritius

149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018)

Median age

Mauritius

total: 39.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 37.8 years

female: 40.6 years

Net migration rate

Mauritius

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Mauritius

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; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

Mauritius

0.09% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Mauritius

1.35 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Mauritius

urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Mauritius

4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Mauritius

total: 15 years

male: 14 years

female: 16 years (2017)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Mauritius

-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Mauritius

20.88% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Mauritius

597,900 (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Mauritius

10.3% (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Mauritius

7.41% (2021 est.)

7.41% (2020 est.)

6.33% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Mauritius

57.96% of GDP (2019 est.)

55.38% of GDP (2018 est.)

56.16% of GDP (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Mauritius

4.03% (2021 est.)

2.58% (2020 est.)

0.41% (2019 est.)

Exports

Mauritius

$3.198 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$3.088 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.258 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

Mauritius

France 10%, South Africa 10%, United States 10%, United Kingdom 8%, Zambia 7%, Madagascar 6% (2019)

Imports

Mauritius

$6.082 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.222 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.365 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Mauritius

China 15%, India 13%, France 10%, South Africa 8%, United Arab Emirates 7% (2019)

Airports

Mauritius

5 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Mauritius

total: 323,200 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Mauritius

total: 884,000 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 68% (2021 est.)

Roadways

Mauritius

total: 2,428 km (2015)

paved: 2,379 km (2015) (includes 99 km of expressways)

unpaved: 49 km (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

Mauritius

total subscriptions: 469,100 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Mauritius

total subscriptions: 1,971,300 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Mauritius

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory); claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Mauritius-France: Mauritius has claimed French-administered Tromelin Island (part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands) since 1976

Mauritius-UK: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)