Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar. It includes the main island (also called Mauritius), as well as Rodrigues, Agaléga, and St. Brandon (Cargados Carajos shoals). The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, along with nearby Réunion (a French overseas department), are part of the Mascarene Islands. The main island of Mauritius, where most people live, is home to the capital and largest city, Port Louis. The country covers 2,040 square kilometers (790 sq mi) and has an exclusive economic zone covering approximately 580,000 square nautical miles (2,000,000 km; 770,000 sq mi).

The 1502 Portuguese Cantino planisphere has led some historians to suggest that Arab sailors may have discovered the uninhabited island around 975, naming it Dina Arobi. Early Portuguese maps called the island Ilha do Cirne or Ilha do Cerne, and Portuguese sailors visited it in 1507. In 1598, a Dutch fleet led by Admiral Van Warwyck landed at what is now the Grand Port District and claimed the island, renaming it after Maurice, Prince of Orange. Dutch attempts to settle the island were short-lived and failed to establish permanent communities. When French colonization began in 1715, the island was renamed "Isle de France." In 1810, the United Kingdom took control of the island, and under the Treaty of Paris, France gave Mauritius and its dependencies to the United Kingdom. The British colony of Mauritius included Rodrigues, Agaléga, St. Brandon, the Chagos Archipelago, and, until 1906, the Seychelles. Mauritius and France disagree over the island of Tromelin, as the treaty did not mention it. Mauritius became the British Empire’s main sugar-producing colony and remained focused on sugar production until gaining independence in 1968. The country became a republic in 1992 but kept the United Kingdom’s Privy Council as its highest court of appeal.

In 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence, the United Kingdom separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius and removed the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches from the Seychelles to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The local population was forced to leave, and the largest island, Diego Garcia, was leased to the United States, limiting access to the archipelago. The International Court of Justice ruled that the Chagos Islands should be returned to Mauritius, leading to a 2025 agreement recognizing Mauritius’s sovereignty over the islands, signed in May 2025.

Because of its location and colonial history, the people of Mauritius are diverse in ethnicity, culture, language, and religion. It is the only African country where Hinduism is the most widely practiced religion. Indo-Mauritians make up the largest group in the population, with significant Creole, Sino-Mauritian, and Franco-Mauritian minorities. The government is modeled after the Westminster parliamentary system, and Mauritius is highly ranked for economic and political freedom. The Economist Democracy Index lists Mauritius as the only African country with full democracy, while the V-Dem Democracy Indices classify it as an electoral democracy.

Mauritius ranks 73rd (very high) in the Human Development Index and is classified by the World Bank as a high-income economy. It is among the most competitive and developed economies in Africa. The country is a welfare state, providing free universal healthcare, free education up to the tertiary level, and free public transportation for students, senior citizens, and the disabled. Mauritius is consistently ranked as the most peaceful country in Africa.

Along with the other Mascarene Islands, Mauritius is known for its rich biodiversity, with many species found only there. The main island was the only home of the dodo, which, along with several other bird species, became extinct after humans arrived. Other unique animals, such as the echo parakeet, the Mauritius kestrel, and the pink pigeon, survive and are protected through conservation efforts.

Etymology

The first known record of the island now called Mauritius appears on a map from 1502, called the Cantino planisphere. This map was secretly taken from Portugal by Alberto Cantino, an Italian who worked for the Duke of Ferrara. On this stolen map, the island was named Dina Arobi or Dina Arobin, which may be based on Arabic words meaning "Daniyah 'Arūbi" or "Dībah 'Arūbi." In 1507, Portuguese sailors reached the island by accident after being carried off course by strong winds while traveling to India through the Mozambique Channel. Early Portuguese maps labeled the island as Cirne or Do-Cerne, likely because the name came from a ship called Cisne, which was captained by Diogo Fernandes Pereira during the 1507 expedition. This voyage also discovered Rodrigues, which Pereira named ilha de Diogo Fernandes. However, non-Portuguese speakers later wrote the name incorrectly as "Domigo Friz" or "Domingo Frias." Diogo Fernandes Pereira may have been the first European to travel east of Madagascar, taking a route that avoided the Mozambique Channel.

In 1598, a Dutch naval force led by Admiral Wybrand van Warwyck arrived at Grand Port and named the island Mauritius, in honor of Prince Maurice van Nassau, a leader in the Dutch Republic. Later, the island became a French colony and was renamed Isle de France. On December 3, 1810, the French handed over control of the island to the United Kingdom during the Napoleonic Wars. Under British rule, the island’s name was changed back to Mauritius. The island is also known as Maurice in French, Île Maurice, or Moris in Mauritian Creole.

History

The island of Mauritius had no people living there before Arab sailors visited it for the first time at the end of the 10th century. The island’s name, Dina Arobi, is linked to these Arab sailors who discovered it.

The Treaty of Tordesillas was made to stop fighting between Portugal and Spain. This treaty gave Portugal the right to take over this area of the world. In 1507, Portuguese sailors arrived at the uninhabited island and built a temporary base. Diogo Fernandes Pereira, a Portuguese navigator, was the first European known to land on Mauritius. He named the island "Ilha do Cisne," which means "Island of the Swan." The Portuguese did not stay long because they were not interested in the islands. The Mascarene Islands were named after Pedro Mascarenhas, a Portuguese official, after he visited the islands in 1512. Rodrigues Island was named after Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, who first reached the island in 1528.

In 1598, a Dutch group led by Admiral Wybrand Van Warwyck landed at Grand Port and named the island "Mauritius" after Prince Maurice of Nassau of the Dutch Republic. The Dutch settled on the island in 1638 and used the land to grow sugar cane, raise animals, and cut ebony trees. From Mauritius, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman traveled to find the Great Southern Land and mapped parts of Tasmania, New Zealand, and New Guinea. The first Dutch settlement lasted 20 years. In 1639, the Dutch East India Company brought enslaved people from Madagascar to work on farms and cut down ebony trees. Attempts to build permanent settlements failed, and the Dutch left in 1710. An article in the English newspaper Leeds Intelligencer in 1755 said the island was abandoned because of many long-tailed macaque monkeys, which destroyed everything. These monkeys were brought to the island by Portuguese sailors from Southeast Asia before the Dutch arrived.

France, which controlled nearby Île Bourbon (now Réunion), took over Mauritius in 1715 and renamed it Isle de France. In 1723, the Code Noir was created to control slavery. This law treated enslaved people as "goods," allowing their owners to claim insurance or compensation if they were lost. In 1735, French governor Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais helped develop a strong economy based on sugar production. He built Port Louis as a naval base and shipbuilding center. Many buildings from this time, such as part of Government House, the Château de Mon Plaisir, and the Line Barracks, still exist today. The French East India Company ruled the island until 1767. During French rule, enslaved people were brought from Africa, including Mozambique and Zanzibar, increasing the population from 15,000 to 49,000 in 30 years. Slaves were also brought to Mauritius from Madagascar and other regions by traders from Sakalava people, Arabs, and Portuguese Mozambique. By the early 1800s, about 80% of the population were enslaved Africans. In 1729, Indians from Pondicherry, India, arrived in Mauritius on the ship La Sirène. They were given work contracts and later gained freedom.

From 1767 to 1810, except for a short time during the French Revolution, the island was ruled by officials from France. Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre lived on the island from 1768 to 1771 and later wrote Paul et Virginie, a famous story that made Isle de France well-known. In 1796, settlers broke away from French control after the French government tried to end slavery. Two important French governors were the Vicomte de Souillac, who built the Chaussée in Port Louis, and Antoine Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, who made Mauritius the main French base in the Indian Ocean. Charles Mathieu Isidore Decaen, a French general, ruled Isle de France and Réunion from 1803 to 1810. British explorer Matthew Flinders was captured by Decaen and held on the island for seven years. During the Napoleonic Wars, Mauritius was used as a base for French pirates to attack British ships. In 1810, the British captured the island after a battle at Grand Port. The French surrendered on December 3, 1810, allowing settlers to keep their land and use French laws. The island’s name was changed back to Mauritius under British rule.

In the 19th century, Mauritius, like other British colonies, used convict labor. This was because slavery was abolished, and prisons were overcrowded due to unrest in India. In 1811, the East India Company briefly stopped sending convicts to Mauritius because reports said they were treated kindly. Convict transportation was restarted in 1813 because prisons were too full.

The British government, led by Sir Robert Farquhar, brought many changes to Mauritius. However, the Ratsitatane episode caused problems. Ratsitatane, a relative of Madagascar’s king, was brought to Mauritius as a prisoner. He escaped and planned to free enslaved people. He was betrayed and executed by local militiamen.

In 1832, d'Épinay started the first newspaper in Mauritius, Le Cernéen, which was not controlled by the government. That same year, the government tried to end slavery without paying slave owners. This caused anger, and the government ordered people to hand in their weapons. A stone fortress called Fort Adelaide was built on a hill in Port Louis to help control any possible rebellion.

Geography

The total land area of the country is 2,040 km² (790 sq mi). It is the 170th largest nation in the world by size. The Republic of Mauritius includes Mauritius Island and several smaller islands nearby. The nation's exclusive economic zone covers about 2.3 million square kilometers (670,000 sq nmi; 890,000 sq mi) of the Indian Ocean, including approximately 400,000 km² (150,000 sq mi) shared with the Seychelles.

Mauritius is located 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) from the southeast coast of Africa, between latitudes 19°58.8'S and 20°31.7'S and longitudes 57°18.0'E and 57°46.5'E. The island is 65 km (40 mi) long and 45 km (30 mi) wide. Its land area is 1,864.8 km² (720.0 sq mi). The island is surrounded by more than 150 km (100 mi) of white sandy beaches, and the lagoons are protected by the world's third-largest coral reef. Near the coast are 49 uninhabited islands and islets, some of which are natural reserves for endangered species.

Mauritius Island (Mauritian Creole: Lil Moris; French: Île Maurice) was formed by volcanic activity about 8 million years ago. It is part of the Mascarene Islands, which include Saint Brandon, Réunion, and Rodrigues. These islands were created by underwater volcanic eruptions far from Africa and Madagascar. They are no longer active, and the volcanic hotspot now lies under Réunion Island. The island has mountain ranges that rise from coastal plains to a central plateau, reaching 670 m (2,200 ft) in height. The highest peak is Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire in the southwest, at 828 m (2,717 ft). Streams and rivers flow across the island, often forming in cracks from lava flows.

Rodrigues, an autonomous island, is 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi) east of Mauritius, with an area of 108 km² (42 sq mi). It is a volcanic island rising from the edge of the Mascarene Plateau. The island is hilly, with Mont Limon as its highest peak at 398 m (1,306 ft). It has a coral reef and limestone deposits. According to Statistics Mauritius, the population of Rodrigues was estimated at 43,371 as of July 1, 2019.

The Chagos Archipelago consists of atolls and islands, located about 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 km; 1,400 mi) northeast of Mauritius. These islands will be transferred to Mauritius in 2026, having previously been part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, except for Diego Garcia, which remains under British control on a 99-year lease.

Near the Chagos Archipelago are Peros Banhos, the Salomon Islands, and Nelsons Island to the north, and The Three Brothers, Eagle Islands, Egmont Islands, and Danger Island to the southwest. Diego Garcia is in the southeast of the archipelago. In 2016, the Chagossian population was estimated at 8,700 in Mauritius, including 483 natives; 350 Chagossians live in the Seychelles, including 75 natives, and 3,000, including 127 natives, live in the UK.

St. Brandon, also known as the Cargados Carajos shoals, is 217 nautical miles (402 km; 250 mi) northeast of Mauritius. It is an archipelago made up of remnants of the ancient microcontinent of Mauritia, with five island groups and between 28 and 40 islands depending on weather conditions. In 2008, the UK's Privy Council confirmed Raphaël Fishing Company as the owner of 13 islands under specific conditions. In 2002, St. Brandon was ranked 10th globally by UNESCO for potential inclusion as a World Heritage Site.

On May 8, 2024, the Saint Brandon Conservation Trust was launched to protect and preserve the area.

The twin islands of Agaléga are 500 nautical miles (930 km; 580 mi) north of Mauritius. The North Island is 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long and 1.5 km (0.93 mi) wide, while the South Island is 7 km by 4.5 km (4.3 mi by 2.8 mi). The total area of both islands is 26 km² (10 sq mi). According to Statistics Mauritius, the population of Agaléga and St. Brandon was estimated at 274 as of July 1, 2019.

Tromelin Island lies 230 nautical miles (430 km; 260 mi) northwest of Mauritius. Mauritius claims sovereignty over Tromelin, though it is currently registered as part of France.

France controlled Mauritius, then called Isle de France, from 1715 until 1814, when it was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Paris. The treaty returned Réunion to France and made Mauritius, along with its dependencies (Rodrigues, Agaléga, St. Brandon, Tromelin, and the Chagos Archipelago), a British colony. The Seychelles became a separate

Chagos Archipelago territorial dispute

Mauritius has wanted to control the Chagos Archipelago for a long time. The islands are located 695 nautical miles (1,287 km; 800 mi) to the north-east. The Chagos Archipelago was part of Mauritius from the 18th century when the French first settled there. All islands that were part of the French colony called Isle de France (the name for Mauritius at that time) were given to the British in 1810 through an agreement between the two countries.

In 1965, three years before Mauritius became independent, the United Kingdom separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius. At the same time, the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches were taken from the Seychelles to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The BIOT was officially established as a UK overseas territory on 8 November 1965. During UK-US discussions in 1975, the UK said it would return Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches to Seychelles to help the country gain independence by June 1976. Both the UK and the US agreed that these islands could not be used for defense because they were inhabited. Forcing people to leave, as had happened in the Chagos Archipelago, would be politically difficult. On 18 March 1976, the UK and Seychelles signed an agreement to return the islands. The islands officially returned to Seychelles on 29 June 1976. Now, the BIOT includes only the Chagos Archipelago. The UK rented the main island, Diego Garcia, to the US for 50 years to build a military base. In 2016, the UK extended the lease to the US until 2036.

Mauritius has said that separating its territories was against UN rules that stop colonial territories from being divided before independence. Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, is part of its territory under both Mauritian and international law. Between 1968 and 1973, British officials forced more than 1,000 Chagossians to leave the islands and move to Mauritius and the Seychelles. British officials were accused of ordering the island’s 1,000 dogs to be gassed. The UK claimed there was no permanent population in the Chagos Archipelago and called the people there "contract laborers" who were relocated. Since 1971, only Diego Garcia has been inhabited, with about 3,000 UK and US military and civilian workers living there. Chagossians have tried to return to the islands, saying their forced removal was illegal.

Mauritius considers the territorial sea of the Chagos Archipelago and Tromelin Island as part of its exclusive economic zone.

On 20 December 2010, Mauritius started legal action against the UK under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to challenge the legality of the Chagos Marine Protected Area (MPA) the UK created in April 2010. The dispute was reviewed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The court ruled that the UK’s promise to return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius means Mauritius has a right to be involved in decisions about the islands’ future use.

On 25 February 2019, judges from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) voted 13 to 1 that the UK must end its control of the Chagos Archipelago as quickly as possible. Only the US judge, Joan Donoghue, supported the UK. The court’s president, Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, said the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 was not based on the people’s free choice. He stated that the UK’s continued control is a wrongful act and that the UK must end its administration of the islands as soon as possible. All UN member states must help complete Mauritius’s decolonization.

On 22 May 2019, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution stating that the Chagos Archipelago has been occupied by the UK for more than 50 years and is an integral part of Mauritius. The resolution supports the ICJ’s opinion and demands the UK end its control of the islands within six months. 116 countries supported the resolution, 55 abstained, and only Australia, Hungary, Israel, and the Maldives backed the UK and US. The Mauritian Prime Minister called the Chagossians’ forced removal a "crime against humanity." While the resolution is not legally binding, it carries strong political weight because it reflects the UN’s highest court and global opinion. The resolution also requires the UN and its agencies to support Mauritius’s decolonization, even if the UK claims it has no doubt about its sovereignty.

On 3 October 2024, the UK and Mauritius announced a joint agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. Diego Garcia, which has the military base Camp Justice, is the only exception. The UK will lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius for at least 99 years. The agreement was signed on 22 May 2025, with the provision that Diego Garcia will be leased back to the UK for 99 years. The UK government expects the treaty to be approved by the end of 2025.

Environment and climate

Mauritius has a tropical environment along its coasts and forests in the mountains. Seasonal cyclones can harm the island’s plants and animals, but they often recover quickly. In 2011, Mauritius ranked second in the World Health Organization’s air quality index. In 2019, it had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index score of 5.46 out of 10, placing it 100th out of 172 countries globally.

Mauritius lies near the Tropic of Capricorn and has a tropical climate. It has two main seasons: a warm, humid summer from November to April, with an average temperature of 24.7°C (76.5°F), and a cooler, drier winter from June to September, with an average temperature of 20.4°C (68.7°F). The temperature difference between seasons is only 4.3°C (7.7°F). The warmest months are January and February, with average daytime highs of 29.2°C (84.6°F). The coolest months are July and August, with average nighttime lows of 16.4°C (61.5°F). Annual rainfall ranges from 900 mm (35 in) on the coast to 1,500 mm (59 in) on the central plateau. Most rain falls during the summer months, though there is no distinct rainy season. Sea temperatures in the lagoon range from 22–27°C (72–81°F). The central plateau is cooler and receives more rainfall than coastal areas. Trade winds keep the island’s eastern side cooler and bring more rain. Tropical cyclones occasionally occur between January and March, disrupting weather for about three days with heavy rain.

In 2020, the Prime Minister declared an environmental emergency after the MV Wakashio oil spill on July 25. France sent aircraft and specialists from Réunion, and Greenpeace warned that the spill threatened thousands of species, risking their survival in a polluted sea. Mauritius is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, facing rising temperatures, sea levels, and more frequent extreme weather events. Stronger cyclones, prolonged droughts, flash floods, landslides, and marine heatwaves are causing coral bleaching. Rising sea levels lead to coastal erosion, threatening infrastructure and freshwater supplies. Climate change also affects tourism and fisheries, with major economic impacts. To adapt, Mauritius is preparing for disasters, protecting coastal ecosystems like mangroves, and raising public awareness.

Mauritius is home to many rare plants and animals, but human activity and non-native species have harmed native wildlife. Due to its volcanic origin, age, isolation, and unique landscape, the island hosts diverse species not typically found in such a small area. Before humans arrived in 1507, no land mammals lived on the island, allowing flightless birds and large reptiles to evolve. Human arrival introduced invasive species, destroyed habitats, and led to the loss of many native species. The extinction of the dodo, a flightless bird unique to Mauritius, is a well-known example of human-driven extinction. The dodo appears on Mauritius’ national coat of arms.

Less than 2% of native forests remain, mainly in the Black River Gorges National Park, Bambous Mountain Range, and Moka-Port Louis Ranges. Some isolated mountains, like Corps de Garde and Le Morne Brabant, and offshore islands still have remnants of coastal and mainland biodiversity. Over 100 species have gone extinct, and many more are at risk. Conservation efforts began in the 1980s, focusing on breeding threatened species, restoring habitats, and protecting national parks and reserves.

In 2011, the Ministry of Environment & Sustainable Development recommended declaring St. Brandon a Marine protected area. In 2016, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation officially included St. Brandon as a conservation project.

The Mauritian flying fox is the only mammal native to Mauritius. Its population declined after the government approved culling in 2015, believing the bats threatened fruit crops. Before 2015, the lack of severe cyclones allowed the bat population to grow, leading the IUCN to classify the species as Vulnerable in 2014. In 2018, 20% of the bat population—about 13,000 of an estimated 65,000—was culled. By then, the species had already been reclassified as Endangered due to earlier culls.

Government and politics

The politics of Mauritius take place in a system where the president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government, with help from a group of ministers. Mauritius has a system where multiple political parties can compete. The government holds power, and the National Assembly, which is the country's only legislative body, also shares power. The National Assembly used to be called the Legislative Assembly until 1992, when Mauritius became a republic. It has 70 members: 62 are elected from 20 mainland constituencies, and 8 are chosen to ensure fair representation of ethnic and religious minorities. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has criticized this system after a complaint from a local group. The president is elected for five years by Parliament.

The island of Mauritius is divided into 20 constituencies, each returning three members. The island of Rodrigues is one district that returns two members. After elections, the Electoral Supervisory Commission may choose up to eight additional members to balance representation of minorities. This is called the best loser system.

The political party or group that wins the most seats in Parliament forms the government, and its leader becomes the prime minister. The prime minister chooses the Cabinet from elected members, except for the Attorney General, who does not need to be an elected member. The second-largest group in Parliament becomes the Official Opposition, and its leader is usually chosen by the president. The Assembly also elects a Speaker, a Deputy Speaker, and a Deputy Chairman of Committees.

Mauritius is a democracy with elections held every five years. The most recent election was on November 10, 2024, in all mainland constituencies and Rodrigues. Elections often involve competition between two major party groups.

In 2018, Mauritius ranked first in Africa for good governance. In 2024, it ranked 20th globally in the Democracy Index, being the only African country with "full democracy." In 2026, it ranked third in Africa and was classified as an electoral democracy.

Mauritius has one first-level administrative division: the Outer Islands of Mauritius, which includes several small islands. These include the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Saint Brandon, and Agaléga. The main island of Mauritius is divided into nine districts, which are the country's second-level administrative divisions.

Security in Mauritius is managed by 10,000 active-duty officers under the Commissioner of Police. The National Police Force has 8,000 members and handles domestic law enforcement. The Special Mobile Force and the coast guard are paramilitary units made up of police officers. Mauritius also has a special operations group called GIPM for counter-terrorism.

Mauritius has friendly relations with many countries, including African, American, Asian, European, and Oceanic nations. It has strong ties with South Africa, its largest trading partner, and with India due to history and trade. Mauritius has diplomatic relations with China and has expanded its presence in the Middle East by opening an embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Mauritius is part of several international organizations, including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, African Union, Commonwealth, La Francophonie, and others.

Mauritius has a legal system that mixes English common law and French civil law. The Constitution separates government powers and protects individual rights. The judicial system has two levels: the Supreme Court and lower courts. The Supreme Court includes divisions like the Family Division, Criminal Division, and Court of Appeal. Lower courts include the Intermediate Court, District Courts, and the Court of Rodrigues.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the highest court for appeals in Mauritius. Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has used this court as its final appeal. Appeals can be made to the Privy Council from the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, as allowed by law.

Demographics

Mauritius had a population of 1,235,260 people in 2022, according to the final census results. This included 608,090 males and 627,170 females. On the main island of Mauritius, there were 1,191,280 people (586,590 males and 604,690 females). Rodrigues Island had 43,650 people (21,330 males and 22,320 females), and Agalega Island had 330 people (170 males and 160 females). Mauritius has the second-highest population density in Africa. The average age of the population was 38 years in 2022. Between 2011 and 2022, the percentage of children under 15 years old decreased from 20.7% to 15.4%, while the percentage of people aged 60 or older increased from 12.7% to 18.7%.

After a constitutional change in 1982, census data no longer includes information about ethnic identities but still collects data on religious beliefs. The last census to measure ethnicity was in 1972. Mauritius is a multiethnic society with people of Indian, African, Chinese, and European (mainly French) origins. Mauritian Creoles have genetic traits linked to enslaved populations from East Africa and Madagascar, while Indo-Mauritians have genetic links to the Chota Nagpur Plateau in India.

In 2022, Bangladeshi nationals made up 1.21% of the population, and Indian nationals made up 1.19%. Bengali was spoken at home by 1.18% of the population. Non-Mauritians accounted for 2.62% of the total resident population.

The Constitution of Mauritius recognizes four communities for representation in the National Assembly: Hindus, Muslims, Sino-Mauritians, and the General Population. These groups are based on religious and cultural identities. The 1972 ethnic statistics are used to apply the Best Loser System, a method created in the 1950s to ensure fair ethnic representation in elections.

According to the 2022 census, 47.87% of Mauritians follow Hinduism, 32.29% follow Christianity (24.94% of whom are Catholic), 18.24% follow Islam, and 0.86% follow other religions. About 0.63% of people reported being non-religious, and 0.11% did not answer. The Constitution protects religious freedom and prohibits discrimination based on religion. Some religious groups, such as Hindu temples and Muslim mosques, receive tax exemptions and financial support based on their population share. Public holidays include Hindu festivals like Maha Shivaratri and Diwali, Christian holidays like Christmas, and Muslim holidays like Eid al-Fitr. The government helps organize these events, such as the Maha Shivaratri pilgrimage to Ganga Talao and Catholic processions.

The Constitution does not name an official language but states that English is the official language of the National Assembly. Members can also speak in French. English and French are widely used in government, courts, and business. Some laws, like the Civil and Criminal Codes, are written in French. The currency includes Latin, Tamil, and Devanagari scripts.

Most Mauritians speak Mauritian Creole as their first language but are also fluent in English and French. They often switch languages depending on the situation. French and English are used in education and work, while Asian languages are used in music, religion, and culture. Media and literature are mostly in French.

Mauritian Creole, based on French with some other influences, is spoken by most people. Creole languages vary slightly by island, such as Rodriguan Creole on Rodrigues and Chagossian Creole on Chagos. Bhojpuri, Hindi, Tamil, and other languages are officially recognized. In 2022, 5.1% of people spoke Bhojpuri, down from 12.1% in 2000.

Students must learn English and French in school and may also choose to study an Asian language or Mauritian Creole. Public and government-funded private schools usually teach in English, while paid private schools often use French. Exams like the O-Level and A-Level are held in English by Cambridge International Examinations in public schools, while paid private schools follow the French Baccalaureate system.

Education

The education system in Mauritius includes pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Students attend two to three years of pre-primary school, followed by six years of primary education, which ends with the Primary School Achievement Certificate. Next, students study for five years in secondary school, earning the School Certificate, and then complete two years of higher secondary education, which ends with the Higher School Certificate.

Secondary schools in Mauritius often have the word "college" in their names. The O-Level and A-Level exams are managed by the University of Cambridge through its international examinations program, working with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.

Tertiary education in Mauritius includes universities and technical institutions. The two main public universities are the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology. Other public universities include the Université des Mascareignes, established in 2012, and the Open University of Mauritius. Since 2019, these four public universities and other technical schools and colleges do not charge tuition fees for students.

The government of Mauritius provides free education to citizens from pre-primary through tertiary levels. In 2013, the government spent about ₨ 13,584 million on education, which was 13% of its total spending. In 2017, the government changed the education system by introducing the Nine-Year Continuous Basic Education program, which removed the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE).

In 2022, the adult literacy rate in Mauritius was 91.9%, and 8.8% of the population had a tertiary-level qualification. Mauritius was ranked 53rd in the Global Innovation Index in 2025, and it was the top-ranked country in Africa.

Economy

Mauritius is often called the most developed country in Africa. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritius has grown from a poor, agriculture-based economy to a wealthy one with many different industries, including tourism, textiles, sugar, and financial services. This economic growth since independence is known as "the Mauritian Miracle" and is considered a success story for Africa (Romer, 1992; Frankel, 2010; Stiglitz, 2011).

In recent years, new industries like information and communication technology, seafood, hospitality, property development, healthcare, renewable energy, and education have become important. These areas have attracted investments from both local and foreign businesses. Mauritius has one of the largest areas in the ocean where it can use resources, and in 2012, the government announced plans to develop its marine economy.

Mauritius does not have oil or gas reserves and must import most of its energy needs. The country uses renewable energy sources like biomass, hydro, solar, and wind power. Mauritius contributes about 0.01% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The country has promised to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to current levels and aims to reach net zero emissions by 2070. To help achieve these goals, Mauritius plans to stop using coal for electricity by 2030, reduce landfill waste by 70% through recycling, and increase the use of electric vehicles to 15% by 2030.

Mauritius ranks high in economic competitiveness, has a friendly environment for investments, strong governance, and a free economy. In 2018, its Gross Domestic Product (PPP) was estimated at US$29.187 billion, and GDP (PPP) per person was over US$22,909, the second highest in Africa.

According to the World Bank in 2019, Mauritius has a high-income economy. The same report ranked Mauritius 13th globally in ease of doing business out of 190 countries. The country’s challenges include relying too much on a few industries, losing skilled workers, a shortage of trained labor, an aging population, and inefficient public companies.

In 2019, Mauritius was ranked 9th in the world for economic freedom. Historically, the country has depended on outside financial support, such as tourism revenue, offshore finance, and foreign aid.

In 2018, financial and insurance activities made up 11.1% of Mauritius’s GDP. Over time, the country has become a popular place for investment in Africa because of its location between Asia and Africa, strong laws, ease of doing business, tax agreements, a skilled and multilingual workforce, political stability, low crime rates, and modern infrastructure. Many international banks, legal firms, and investment companies operate in Mauritius.

Corporate taxes range from 15% to 17%, and individual taxes range from 10% to 25%. The country offers tax breaks in some areas to attract investment but is sometimes called a tax haven due to past issues in its financial sector. Mauritius has improved its reputation by following international rules, signing agreements to share tax information with 127 countries, and joining groups that fight money laundering.

Tourism is a major part of Mauritius’s economy. The island has warm seas, beaches, tropical plants and animals, and a diverse population. In 2025, 1.44 million tourists visited Mauritius, an increase from 1.38 million in 2024.

Mauritius has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Aapravasi Ghat and Le Morne Cultural Landscape. Black River Gorges National Park is on UNESCO’s list of potential sites.

Since 2005, public buses and trains in Mauritius have been free for students, people with disabilities, and seniors. The Metro Express railway connects five cities and the University of Mauritius, with plans to expand further. The Port Louis harbor handles international trade and cruise ships. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is the main airport in the Indian Ocean and serves Air Mauritius, the national airline. The Plaine Corail Airport connects Rodrigues to the main island and to Réunion.

In 2016, the information and communications technology (ICT) sector contributed 5.7% to Mauritius’s GDP. The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), which manages internet resources for Africa, is based in Ebene. Mauritius is connected to global internet systems through several underwater fiber-optic cables.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mauritius has become the world’s largest exporter of macaques for medical research. China, once the top exporter, limited its exports to support its own needs. Western countries now rely on Mauritius for these monkeys. Farmers and trappers sell the monkeys to exporters. Supporters say the industry helps control the macaque population, which benefits farming and the environment. Some Hindu citizens in Mauritius have raised concerns about the ethical and religious aspects of the industry.

Culture

Prominent Mauritian painters include Henri Le Sidaner, Malcolm de Chazal, Raouf Oderuth, and Vaco Baissac. Gabrielle Wiehe is a well-known illustrator and graphic designer.

The Mauritius "Post Office" stamps, the first stamps made in a country other than Great Britain, are among the rarest postage stamps in the world. These stamps are widely considered the most valuable item in the study of stamps.

The unique architecture of Mauritius shows the island's history as a colonial trade center connecting Europe with the East. Styles and designs brought by Dutch, French, and British settlers from the 1700s onward, along with influences from India and East Africa, created a special mix of architectural styles. These styles are important historically, socially, and artistically around the world. Buildings in Mauritius have many different designs, materials, and decorations that are unique to the country and reflect the history of the Indian Ocean and European colonialism.

Over many years, political, social, and economic changes have caused many historic buildings in Mauritius to be destroyed. Between 1960 and 1980, many old homes in high areas of the island, called campagnes, were lost quickly. More recently, plantations, homes, and public buildings have been torn down or changed greatly to make way for new developments to support the growing tourism industry. The capital city, Port Louis, stayed mostly the same until the mid-1990s, but now shows the lasting damage to its historic buildings. Rising land prices and the high cost of keeping old buildings in good condition, along with fewer people who know traditional building skills, make it harder to protect these structures.

Historically, most people in Mauritius lived in homes called creole houses.

Mauritius is known in literature for the novel Paul et Virginie, a famous French book by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, and for the character Dodo in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Well-known Mauritian writers include Jean-Marie Le Clézio, Ananda Devi, Nathacha Appanah, Malcolm de Chazal, Eugénie Poujade, Marie-Thérèse Humbert, Shenaz Patel, Khal Torabully, Aqiil Gopee, Lindsey Collen-Seegobin, Dev Virahsawmy, and Abhimanyu Unnuth. Le Clézio, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2008, has both French and Mauritian citizenship. Mauritius hosts the Le Prince Maurice Prize, which is given to writers who speak English or French each year.

The main music styles in Mauritius are sega and seggae, a mix of sega and other styles, Bhojpuri folk songs, and Indian film music, especially Bollywood. Western classical music is taught at the François Mitterrand Conservatory, and Indian classical music is taught at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.

Mauritian food combines Indian, Creole, French, and Chinese cuisines, with many dishes found only on the island. Local versions of Asian and European foods include vegetarian and meat dishes, flatbreads called farata or roti, a rice dish with potatoes called briani, wok-cooked dishes like mines frires and diriz frires, a chop suey dish called bol renversé, a tomato and sausage dish called rougaille, and a cold drink called alouda from the Mughlai tradition. Local French pastries and bread are sold in many places, along with desserts like napolitaine, a pink-iced version of sablé, coconut-based gâteau coco, macacha coco, and iced kulfi.

Common ingredients in Mauritian homes include masala spices, dals, Indian-style pickles called achar, and leafy vegetables called brèdes. Street food sold by vendors includes wraps like dholl puri and roti, and Indian-style fried snacks like gâteau piment and chana puris.

Public holidays in Mauritius mix traditions from Hindu, Christian, Chinese, and Muslim cultures. There are 14 annual public holidays, with New Year celebrated over two days if it falls on a weekend. Most religious holidays change dates each year, except for Christmas. Other festivals like Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Durga Puja, Makar Sankranti, and Père Laval Pilgrimage add to the cultural mix in Mauritius.

The most popular sport in Mauritius is football, with the national team called The Dodos or Club M. Other popular sports include cycling, table tennis, horse racing, badminton, volleyball, basketball, handball, boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, bodybuilding, and athletics. Water sports include swimming, sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.

Kim le Court is a successful professional cyclist. She has won many races in the African Road Championships and is the 2024 national road race and time trial champion. She won stage 8 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia Women. In 2025, she won Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes