THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Elevation: highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 19.2% (2023 est.)
other: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 143 sq km (2022)
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
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
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

Population: total: 1,311,375 (2025 est.)
male: 639,707
female: 671,668
Nationality: noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian
Languages: 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.)
Religions: Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 100,973/female 96,711)
15-64 years: 71% (male 462,833/female 467,509)
65 years and over: 13.9% (2024 est.) (male 75,464/female 107,014)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 41.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 20.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.9 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 40 years (2025 est.)
male: 38.1 years
female: 41 years
Population growth rate: 0.06% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
Urbanization: urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 66 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.6 years
female: 78.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.66 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 3.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 19.6% (2025 est.)
male: 37.4% (2025 est.)
female: 2.6% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.6% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy: total population: 94.3% (2023 est.)
male: 96.3% (2023 est.)
female: 92.8% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years (2020 est.)
male: 14 years (2020 est.)
female: 15 years (2020 est.)

Environmental issues: water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid-waste disposal
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Land use: agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 19.2% (2023 est.)
other: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 5.551 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.495 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 4.056 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 438,000 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 303 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 2.751 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
etymology: named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder (governor) of the Dutch Republic, in 1598
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: 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
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
Legal system: civil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968
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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Dharam GOKHOOL (since 7 December 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 13 November 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
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
most recent election date: 6 December 2024
election results: 2019: Prithvirajsing ROOPUN (MSM) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote
expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch: legislature name: National Assembly - Assemblée nationale
legislative structure: unicameral
chamber name: National Assembly
number of seats: 67 (62 directly elected; 4 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/10/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Alliance Du Changement (Alliance for Change, AdC) (60); Other (2)
percentage of women in chamber: 17.9%
expected date of next election: October 2029
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 24 puisne judges)
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
subordinate courts: lower regional courts known as District Courts, Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal
Political parties: Alliance Morisien (Mauritian Alliance)Jean-Claude Barbier Movement (Mouvement Jean-Claude Barbier) or MJCBMauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMMMauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSDMauritius Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLPMilitant Platform (Plateforme Militante) or PMMilitant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSMMuvman Liberater or MLNational AlliancePatriotic Movement (Mouvement Patriotique) or MAGRodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Gajjaluxmi MOOTOOSAMY (since 5 June 2025)
chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
email address and website: mauritius.embassy@verizon.nethttps://mauritius-washington.govmu.org/Pages/index.aspx
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); note - also accredited to Seychelles
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, Port Louis
mailing address: 2450 Port Louis Place, Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534
email address and website: PTLConsular@state.govhttps://mu.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968, 1992)
Flag: description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and greenmeaning: 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
National symbol(s): dodo bird, earring tree flower (Trochetia boutoniana)
National color(s): red, blue, yellow, green
National anthem(s): title: "Motherland"
lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
history: adopted 1968
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Aapravasi Ghat; Le Morne Cultural Landscape

Economic overview: upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; diversified portfolio; investing in maritime security; strong tourism sector decimated by COVID-19; expanding in information and financial services; environmentally fragile
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $34.406 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $32.864 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $31.296 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $27,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $26,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $24,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $14.953 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.3% (2024 est.)
industry: 17.8% (2024 est.)
services: 64.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 46.2% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -57.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, chicken, pumpkins/squash, tomatoes, eggs, potatoes, cabbages, bananas, onions, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 594,900 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 16.6% (2024 est.)
male: 15.3% (2024 est.)
female: 18.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10.3% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 36.8 (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% (2017 est.)
highest 10%: 29.9% (2017 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3.801 billion (2024 est.)
expenditures: $5.042 billion (2024 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2019: 58% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: -$647.743 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$1.437 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$1.497 billion (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $6.381 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $6.138 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $4.213 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 11%, France 11%, Zimbabwe 10%, South Africa 7%, Zambia 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, garments, raw sugar, fertilizers, diamonds (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $8.027 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $8.052 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $6.057 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 15%, UAE 11%, India 10%, South Africa 9%, France 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, fish, coal, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $8.506 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $7.248 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $7.793 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $3.632 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 46.415 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 45.267 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 44.183 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 41.692 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 39.347 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 99%
electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 955,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.084 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 179.996 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 82.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 651,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 610,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 60.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 464,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 173 (2024 est.)
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)
Internet country code: .mu
Internet users: percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 343,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3B
Airports: 5 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 32 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 27
Ports: total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Port Louis, Port Mathurin

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 - 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 USthe Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrison (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 82 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 39 (2024 est.)

Mauritius