Mauritius

The main languages spoken in Mauritius are:
Mauritian Creole - the most widely spoken language, at ~86.5% of the population.
Bhojpuri (~5.3%) and French (~4.1%) are also spoken.
English - one of the two official languages of the National Assembly (alongside French), though spoken by less than 1% of the population as a home language; it remains the language of government, education, and business.
English and French are the official languages of Mauritius, while Mauritian Creole is the most widely spoken language.

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, an island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar; part of the Mascarene Islands

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 2,040 sq km

Geography - note: outlying territories include Rodrigues Island, the Cargados Carajos Shoals, and the Agalega Islands; Mauritius claimed sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, with a final agreement to cede sovereignty to Mauritius signed in May 2025

People

Population: 1.2-1.31 million (2025 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.1%
15-64 years: 71%
65 years and over: 13.9% (2024 est.)

Median age: 40 years (2025 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population 73.4 years (World Bank, 2025); about 70 years for men, over 75 for women

Nationality:
noun/adjective: Mauritian(s)

Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian (approximately two-thirds of the population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian; Mauritius has not had a census question on ethnicity since 1972

Religions: Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4% (2011 est.)

Languages: Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, other 2.6% (includes English, official language of the National Assembly, spoken by less than 1%) (2011 est.)

Literacy: total population 94.3% (male 96.3%, female 92.8%) (2023 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional short form: Mauritius; named after Prince Maurice van Nassau, stadtholder (governor) of the Dutch Republic, in 1598

Data code: MP

Government type: parliamentary republic

National capital: Port Louis

Economy

Economy - overview: upper-middle-income, mixed developing economy relying on manufactured exports, agriculture, tourism, and financial services; government diversification efforts since 1980 have reduced dependence on sugar production, though sugar still occupies about four-fifths of arable land; GDP among the highest of African countries

GDP (purchasing power parity): $40.468 billion (2024 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4.9% (2025)

GDP - per capita: $32,094 PPP (2024 est.)

Inflation rate: 4.7% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate: 19.6% (2025 est.)

Population below poverty line: 8% (2006 est.)

Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Military

Military - note: Mauritius Police Force (MPF) key priorities include combating narcotics trafficking, public order, cybercrime, and maritime security; primary security partner is India, which provides training and support to the National Coast Guard; the Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrison (2025)