Demographics of Mauritius
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mauritian society is multiethnic. Indo-Mauritians make up the bulk of the population with the rest being descendants of people from Subsaharan Africa, including Madagascar, China and Western Europe, mostly France.
Population1,308,222 (2022 est.)
Density640 inhabitants per km² (2023)
Growth rate0.1% (2022 est.)
Birth rate9.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
| Demographics of Mauritius | |
|---|---|
 Population pyramid of Mauritius in 2020 | |
| Population | 1,308,222 (2022 est.) |
| Density | 640 inhabitants per km² (2023) |
| Growth rate | 0.1% (2022 est.) |
| Birth rate | 9.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 74.86 years |
| • male | 72.04 years |
| • female | 77.88 years |
| Fertility rate | 1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | 12.08 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Net migration rate | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Age structure | |
| 0–14 years | 15.4% |
| 65 and over | 11.08% |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | Mauritian |
Mauritius also hosts foreign nationals from mostly India, Bangladesh and France with the rest from South Africa, Madagascar and Subsaharan Africa. As of 2023, Mauritius had the highest population density in Africa.
Population
According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[1][2], the total population was 1,298,915 in 2021, compared to 479,000 in 1950.[3]
The proportion of the population aged under 15 was 21.9% in 2010.[3] 71.2% were between 15 and 65 years of age, with 6.9% being 65 years or older.[3]
2022 Census
Mauritius has a population of 1,235,260 (608,090 males, 627,170 females), according to the 2022 Census.[4] The population on the island of Mauritius was 1,191,280 (586,590 males and 604,690 females);[5] Rodrigues island was 43,650 (21,330 males and 22,320 females); and Agaléga island was 330 (170 males and 160 females).[5][4][6]
The average age of the population was 38 years;[5][4][6] the proportion of children aged under 15 years decreased from 20.7% (in 2011) to 15.4% (in 2022); and the number of adults aged 60 years and over increased from 12.7% (2011) to 18.7% (2022).[6]
View source data.
View source data.
View source data.
Structure of the population
UN estimates
| Total population | Population aged 0–14 (%) | Population aged 15–64 (%) | Population aged 65+ (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 479 000 | 45.2 | 51.9 | 3.0 |
| 1955 | 570 000 | 46.1 | 51.3 | 2.6 |
| 1960 | 662 000 | 46.6 | 50.9 | 2.5 |
| 1965 | 754 000 | 46.2 | 51.3 | 2.5 |
| 1970 | 828 000 | 43.8 | 53.6 | 2.6 |
| 1975 | 891 000 | 39.9 | 57.3 | 2.8 |
| 1980 | 966 000 | 35.4 | 61.0 | 3.6 |
| 1985 | 1 021 000 | 31.4 | 64.5 | 4.1 |
| 1990 | 1 059 000 | 29.7 | 65.8 | 4.5 |
| 1995 | 1 122 000 | 27.8 | 67.2 | 5.0 |
| 2000 | 1 187 000 | 26.7 | 67.6 | 5.7 |
| 2005 | 1 243 000 | 24.8 | 69.1 | 6.1 |
| 2010 | 1 281 000 | 21.9 | 71.2 | 6.9 |
2012 estimates
Population Estimates by sex and age group (01.VII.2012) (Based on the results of the 2011 Population Census.) :
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 621 297 | 634 585 | 1,255,882 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 38 379 | 37 772 | 76 151 | 6.06 |
| 5–9 | 46 802 | 45 130 | 91 932 | 7.32 |
| 10–14 | 49 926 | 48 044 | 97 970 | 7.80 |
| 15–19 | 50 158 | 49 996 | 100 154 | 7.97 |
| 20–24 | 48 747 | 47 374 | 96 121 | 7.65 |
| 25–29 | 43 794 | 43 392 | 87 186 | 6.94 |
| 30–34 | 52 325 | 51 550 | 103 875 | 8.27 |
| 35–39 | 45 447 | 44 448 | 89 895 | 7.16 |
| 40–44 | 43 961 | 43 150 | 87 111 | 6.94 |
| 45–49 | 49 134 | 48 570 | 97 704 | 7.78 |
| 50–54 | 43 718 | 44 514 | 88 232 | 7.03 |
| 55–59 | 37 174 | 38 625 | 75 799 | 6.04 |
| 60–64 | 28 929 | 31 946 | 60 875 | 4.85 |
| 65–69 | 16 986 | 20 842 | 37 828 | 3.01 |
| 70–74 | 11 099 | 14 471 | 25 570 | 2.04 |
| 75–79 | 7 761 | 11 311 | 19 072 | 1.52 |
| 80–84 | 4 077 | 7 033 | 11 110 | 0.88 |
| 85+ | 2 880 | 6 417 | 9 297 | 0.74 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 135 107 | 130 946 | 266 053 | 21.18 |
| 15–64 | 443 387 | 443 565 | 886 952 | 70.62 |
| 65+ | 42 803 | 60 074 | 102 877 | 8.19 |
Census 2019
Population by sex and age group (Census 04.VII.2019) (Excludes the islands of St. Brandon and Agalega.):[7]
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 610 848 | 625 969 | 1,236,817 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 36 702 | 36 376 | 73 078 | 5.91 |
| 5–9 | 44 947 | 44 068 | 89 015 | 7.20 |
| 10–14 | 47 302 | 46 337 | 93 639 | 7.57 |
| 15–19 | 50 715 | 50 293 | 101 008 | 8.17 |
| 20–24 | 46 871 | 45 800 | 92 671 | 7.49 |
| 25–29 | 45 589 | 45 348 | 90 937 | 7.35 |
| 30–34 | 52 182 | 51 247 | 103 429 | 8.36 |
| 35–39 | 44 241 | 43 556 | 87 797 | 7.10 |
| 40–44 | 45 150 | 44 236 | 89 386 | 7.23 |
| 45–49 | 49 800 | 49 541 | 99 341 | 8.03 |
| 50–54 | 42 996 | 43 341 | 86 337 | 6.98 |
| 55–59 | 35 713 | 37 341 | 73 054 | 5.91 |
| 60–64 | 27 143 | 30 199 | 57 342 | 4.64 |
| 65–69 | 15 846 | 19 593 | 35 439 | 2.87 |
| 70–74 | 10 986 | 14 389 | 25 375 | 2.05 |
| 75–79 | 7 349 | 10 695 | 18 044 | 1.46 |
| 80–84 | 4 176 | 7 193 | 11 369 | 0.92 |
| 85–89 | 2 135 | 4 233 | 6 368 | 0.51 |
| 90–94 | 512 | 1 470 | 1 982 | 0.16 |
| 95–99 | 107 | 384 | 491 | 0.04 |
| 100+ | 13 | 83 | 96 | 0.01 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 128 951 | 126 781 | 255 732 | 20.68 |
| 15–64 | 440 400 | 440 902 | 881 302 | 71.26 |
| 65+ | 41 124 | 58 040 | 99 164 | 8.02 |
| unknown | 373 | 246 | 619 | 0.05 |
Vital statistics
The table below presents the population development of Mauritius since 1900. The figures up to 1945 are for the island of Mauritius only. As of 1946, the island of Rodrigues is included.
Figures are from Statistics Mauritius[8] and United Nations Demographic Yearbook.[9]
| Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | TFR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 371,000 | 14,490 | 13,695 | 795 | 38.6 | 36.5 | 2.1 | |
| 1901 | 371,000 | 12,910 | 14,970 | -2,060 | 34.8 | 40.4 | -5.6 | |
| 1902 | 371,000 | 13,495 | 12,716 | 779 | 35.9 | 33.8 | 2.1 | |
| 1903 | 371,000 | 13,611 | 15,034 | -1,423 | 36.3 | 40.1 | -3.8 | |
| 1904 | 371,000 | 14,103 | 12,064 | 2,039 | 37.2 | 31.9 | 5.3 | |
| 1905 | 370,000 | 14,043 | 15,379 | -1,336 | 37.2 | 40.7 | -3.5 | |
| 1906 | 370,000 | 12,669 | 15,124 | -2,455 | 33.6 | 40.0 | -6.4 | |
| 1907 | 370,000 | 14,186 | 13,037 | 1,149 | 37.7 | 34.6 | 3.1 | |
| 1908 | 370,000 | 13,456 | 15,094 | -1,638 | 36.0 | 40.3 | -4.3 | |
| 1909 | 369,000 | 12,837 | 13,761 | – 924 | 34.4 | 36.9 | -2.5 | |
| 1910 | 369,000 | 13,329 | 12,488 | 841 | 36.1 | 33.8 | 2.3 | |
| 1911 | 369,000 | 14,585 | 12,204 | 2,381 | 39.2 | 32.8 | 6.4 | |
| 1912 | 370,000 | 13,209 | 14,429 | -1,220 | 35.5 | 38.8 | -3.3 | |
| 1913 | 371,000 | 15,153 | 13,201 | 1,952 | 40.8 | 35.5 | 5.3 | |
| 1914 | 372,000 | 15,229 | 12,134 | 3,095 | 40.8 | 32.5 | 8.3 | |
| 1915 | 373,000 | 13,094 | 13,101 | – 7 | 34.8 | 34.8 | -0.0 | |
| 1916 | 374,000 | 13,162 | 11,432 | 1,730 | 35.0 | 30.4 | 4.6 | |
| 1917 | 375,000 | 13,887 | 12,234 | 1,653 | 36.9 | 32.5 | 4.4 | |
| 1918 | 375,000 | 13,109 | 12,794 | 315 | 34.8 | 33.9 | 0.9 | |
| 1919 | 375,000 | 13,261 | 24,455 | -11,194 | 35.2 | 64.9 | -29.7 | |
| 1920 | 376,000 | 12,791 | 11,773 | 1,018 | 35.1 | 32.3 | 2.8 | |
| 1921 | 376,000 | 14,360 | 15,159 | – 799 | 38.1 | 40.3 | -2.2 | |
| 1922 | 376,000 | 13,955 | 12,967 | 988 | 37.0 | 34.5 | 2.5 | |
| 1923 | 377,000 | 13,879 | 10,778 | 3,101 | 36.8 | 28.5 | 8.3 | |
| 1924 | 380,000 | 15,430 | 10,558 | 4,872 | 41.1 | 28.1 | 13.0 | |
| 1925 | 383,000 | 16,545 | 9,327 | 7,218 | 42.6 | 24.9 | 17.7 | |
| 1926 | 386,000 | 15,520 | 9,958 | 5,562 | 39.4 | 25.3 | 14.1 | |
| 1927 | 389,000 | 13,748 | 10,015 | 3,733 | 34.5 | 25.1 | 9.4 | |
| 1928 | 391,000 | 15,206 | 11,342 | 3,864 | 37.9 | 28.2 | 9.7 | |
| 1929 | 393,000 | 13,771 | 12,413 | 1,358 | 34.0 | 30.7 | 3.3 | |
| 1930 | 393,000 | 12,793 | 14,341 | -1,548 | 31.6 | 35.4 | -3.8 | |
| 1931 | 393,000 | 11,941 | 15,467 | -3,526 | 29.7 | 38.4 | -8.7 | |
| 1932 | 390,000 | 10,266 | 12,848 | -2,582 | 25.7 | 32.2 | -6.5 | |
| 1933 | 390,000 | 13,479 | 10,615 | 2,864 | 33.8 | 26.6 | 7.2 | |
| 1934 | 392,000 | 13,516 | 10,069 | 3,447 | 33.7 | 25.1 | 8.6 | |
| 1935 | 394,000 | 13,246 | 10,445 | 2,801 | 32.8 | 25.8 | 7.0 | |
| 1936 | 398,000 | 13,867 | 10,500 | 3,367 | 34.1 | 25.8 | 8.3 | |
| 1937 | 400,000 | 14,097 | 11,527 | 2,570 | 34.4 | 28.1 | 6.3 | |
| 1938 | 402,000 | 13,420 | 12,046 | 1,374 | 32.6 | 29.2 | 3.4 | |
| 1939 | 405,000 | 14,578 | 11,340 | 3,238 | 35.2 | 27.4 | 7.8 | |
| 1940 | 407,000 | 12,145 | 10,373 | 1,772 | 29.1 | 24.9 | 4.2 | |
| 1941 | 407,000 | 13,430 | 10,436 | 2,994 | 32.2 | 25.0 | 7.2 | |
| 1942 | 408,000 | 13,553 | 11,927 | 1,626 | 32.5 | 28.6 | 3.9 | |
| 1943 | 410,000 | 13,604 | 10,642 | 2,962 | 32.6 | 25.5 | 7.1 | |
| 1944 | 419,000 | 18,258 | 11,355 | 6,903 | 43.4 | 27.0 | 16.4 | |
| 1945 | 424,000 | 16,290 | 15,277 | 1,013 | 38.4 | 36.0 | 2.4 | |
| 1946 | 437,000 | 16,939 | 12,678 | 4,261 | 38.8 | 29.0 | 9.8 | |
| 1947 | 445,000 | 19,458 | 8,830 | 10,628 | 43.7 | 19.8 | 23.9 | |
| 1948 | 455,000 | 19,429 | 10,680 | 8,749 | 42.7 | 23.5 | 19.2 | |
| 1949 | 458,000 | 20,931 | 7,523 | 13,408 | 45.7 | 16.4 | 29.3 | |
| 1950 | 479,000 | 23,667 | 6,611 | 17,056 | 49.4 | 13.8 | 35.6 | |
| 1951 | 498,000 | 23,543 | 7,305 | 16,238 | 47.3 | 14.7 | 32.6 | |
| 1952 | 514,000 | 24,689 | 7,569 | 17,120 | 48.0 | 14.7 | 33.3 | |
| 1953 | 537,000 | 24,428 | 8,550 | 15,878 | 45.5 | 15.9 | 29.6 | |
| 1954 | 551,000 | 22,513 | 8,587 | 13,926 | 40.9 | 15.6 | 25.3 | |
| 1955 | 570,000 | 23,612 | 7,260 | 16,352 | 41.4 | 12.7 | 28.7 | |
| 1956 | 591,000 | 25,666 | 6,910 | 18,756 | 43.4 | 11.7 | 31.7 | |
| 1957 | 609,000 | 26,055 | 7,823 | 18,232 | 42.8 | 12.8 | 29.9 | |
| 1958 | 627,000 | 25,398 | 7,307 | 18,091 | 40.5 | 11.7 | 28.9 | |
| 1959 | 644,000 | 24,792 | 7,040 | 17,752 | 38.5 | 10.9 | 27.6 | |
| 1960 | 662,000 | 26,017 | 7,588 | 18,429 | 39.3 | 11.5 | 27.8 | |
| 1961 | 680,000 | 27,028 | 6,697 | 20,331 | 39.7 | 9.8 | 29.9 | |
| 1962 | 700,000 | 27,162 | 6,485 | 20,677 | 38.8 | 9.3 | 29.5 | |
| 1963 | 715,000 | 28,859 | 6,912 | 21,947 | 40.4 | 9.7 | 30.7 | |
| 1964 | 735,000 | 28,610 | 6,421 | 22,189 | 38.9 | 8.7 | 30.2 | |
| 1965 | 754,000 | 27,195 | 6,637 | 20,558 | 36.1 | 8.8 | 27.3 | |
| 1966 | 773,000 | 27,831 | 6,944 | 20,887 | 36.0 | 9.0 | 27.0 | |
| 1967 | 789,000 | 24,471 | 6,750 | 17,721 | 31.0 | 8.6 | 22.5 | |
| 1968 | 804,000 | 25,409 | 7,382 | 18,027 | 31.6 | 9.2 | 22.4 | |
| 1969 | 815,000 | 22,621 | 6,733 | 15,888 | 27.7 | 8.3 | 19.5 | |
| 1970 | 828,000 | 22,765 | 6,520 | 16,245 | 27.5 | 7.9 | 19.6 | |
| 1971 | 841,000 | 21,926 | 6,436 | 15,490 | 26.1 | 7.7 | 18.4 | |
| 1972 | 850,968 | 21,495 | 6,753 | 14,742 | 25.3 | 7.9 | 17.3 | |
| 1973 | 869,334 | 20,015 | 6,779 | 13,236 | 23.0 | 7.8 | 15.2 | |
| 1974 | 880,650 | 24,002 | 6,424 | 17,578 | 27.3 | 7.3 | 20.0 | |
| 1975 | 892,045 | 22,557 | 7,201 | 15,356 | 25.3 | 8.1 | 17.2 | 3.19 |
| 1976 | 903,610 | 23,274 | 6,968 | 16,306 | 25.8 | 7.7 | 18.0 | 3.13 |
| 1977 | 918,005 | 23,859 | 7,154 | 16,705 | 26.0 | 7.8 | 18.2 | 3.04 |
| 1978 | 933,499 | 25,278 | 6,596 | 18,682 | 27.1 | 7.1 | 20.0 | 3.09 |
| 1979 | 949,888 | 26,163 | 6,871 | 19,292 | 27.6 | 7.2 | 20.3 | 3.07 |
| 1980 | 966,039 | 26,294 | 6,919 | 19,375 | 27.2 | 7.2 | 20.1 | 3.19 |
| 1981 | 980,462 | 24,967 | 6,653 | 18,314 | 25.5 | 6.8 | 18.7 | 2.68 |
| 1982 | 992,521 | 22,459 | 6,584 | 15,875 | 22.6 | 6.6 | 16.0 | 2.39 |
| 1983 | 1,001,691 | 21,073 | 6,532 | 14,541 | 21.0 | 6.5 | 14.5 | 2.23 |
| 1984 | 1,012,221 | 20,332 | 6,646 | 13,686 | 20.1 | 6.6 | 13.5 | 2.16 |
| 1985 | 1,020,528 | 19,376 | 6,906 | 12,470 | 19.0 | 6.8 | 12.2 | 2.02 |
| 1986 | 1,028,360 | 19,170 | 6,805 | 12,365 | 18.6 | 6.6 | 12.0 | 1.99 |
| 1987 | 1,036,082 | 20,033 | 6,753 | 13,280 | 19.3 | 6.5 | 12.8 | 2.05 |
| 1988 | 1,043,239 | 20,941 | 6,879 | 14,062 | 20.1 | 6.6 | 13.5 | 2.14 |
| 1989 | 1,051,260 | 21,822 | 7,149 | 14,673 | 20.8 | 6.8 | 14.0 | 2.23 |
| 1990 | 1,058,775 | 22,602 | 7,031 | 15,571 | 21.3 | 6.6 | 14.7 | 2.32 |
| 1991 | 1,070,266 | 22,197 | 7,027 | 15,170 | 20.7 | 6.6 | 14.2 | 2.30 |
| 1992 | 1,084,441 | 22,902 | 7,023 | 15,879 | 21.1 | 6.5 | 14.6 | 2.37 |
| 1993 | 1,097,374 | 22,329 | 7,433 | 14,896 | 20.3 | 6.8 | 13.6 | 2.31 |
| 1994 | 1,112,846 | 21,795 | 7,402 | 14,393 | 19.6 | 6.7 | 12.9 | 2.25 |
| 1995 | 1,122,457 | 20,549 | 7,465 | 13,084 | 18.3 | 6.7 | 11.7 | 2.14 |
| 1996 | 1,133,996 | 20,763 | 7,670 | 13,093 | 18.3 | 6.8 | 11.5 | 2.12 |
| 1997 | 1,148,284 | 20,012 | 7,986 | 12,026 | 17.4 | 7.0 | 10.5 | 2.04 |
| 1998 | 1,160,421 | 19,434 | 7,839 | 11,595 | 16.8 | 6.8 | 10.0 | 1.97 |
| 1999 | 1,175,267 | 20,311 | 7,944 | 12,367 | 17.3 | 6.8 | 10.5 | 2.05 |
| 2000 | 1,186,873 | 20,205 | 7,982 | 12,223 | 17.0 | 6.7 | 10.3 | 1.99 |
| 2001 | 1,196,287 | 19,696 | 7,983 | 11,713 | 16.4 | 6.7 | 9.8 | 1.93 |
| 2002 | 1,204,621 | 19,983 | 8,310 | 11,673 | 16.5 | 6.9 | 9.6 | 1.96 |
| 2003 | 1,213,370 | 19,343 | 8,520 | 10,823 | 15.8 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 1.91 |
| 2004 | 1,221,003 | 19,230 | 8,475 | 10,755 | 15.6 | 6.9 | 8.7 | 1.92 |
| 2005 | 1,228,254 | 18,820 | 8,646 | 10,174 | 15.1 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 1.88 |
| 2006 | 1,233,996 | 17,604 | 9,162 | 8,442 | 14.0 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 1.77 |
| 2007 | 1,239,630 | 17,034 | 8,498 | 8,536 | 13.5 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 1.74 |
| 2008 | 1,244,121 | 16,372 | 9,004 | 7,368 | 12.9 | 7.1 | 5.8 | 1.67 |
| 2009 | 1,247,429 | 15,344 | 9,224 | 6,120 | 12.0 | 7.2 | 4.8 | 1.59 |
| 2010 | 1,250,400 | 15,005 | 9,131 | 5,874 | 11.7 | 7.1 | 4.6 | 1.57 |
| 2011 | 1,252,404 | 14,701 | 9,170 | 5,531 | 11.7 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 1.55 |
| 2012 | 1,251,602 | 14,502 | 9,343 | 5,159 | 11.5 | 7.4 | 4.1 | 1.56 |
| 2013 | 1,253,708 | 13,688 | 9,440 | 4,248 | 10.9 | 7.5 | 3.4 | 1.45 |
| 2014 | 1,255,126 | 13,283 | 9,682 | 3,601 | 10.5 | 7.7 | 2.8 | 1.44 |
| 2015 | 1,256,135 | 12,738 | 9,747 | 2,991 | 10.1 | 7.7 | 2.4 | 1.37 |
| 2016 | 1,256,340 | 12,948 | 10,174 | 2,774 | 10.2 | 8.1 | 2.1 | 1.41 |
| 2017 | 1,256,816 | 13,385 | 10,140 | 3,245 | 10.6 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 1.46 |
| 2018 | 1,256,843 | 12,980 | 10,787 | 2,193 | 10.3 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 1.42 |
| 2019 | 1,256,589 | 12,862 | 11,174 | 1,688 | 10.2 | 8.8 | 1.4 | 1.41 |
| 2020 | 1,255,954 | 13,465 | 11,060 | 2,405 | 10.6 | 8.7 | 1.9 | 1.46 |
| 2021 | 1,255,609 | 12,982 | 13,274 | -292 | 10.3 | 10.5 | -0.2 | 1.42 |
| 2022 | 1,251,135 | 12,096 | 12,938 | -842 | 9.6 | 10.2 | -0.6 | 1.33 |
| 2023 | 1,248,317 | 12,872 | 11,839 | 1,033 | 10.3 | 9.5 | 0.8 | 1.40 |
| 2024 | 1,245,449 | 12,853 | 12,507 | 346 | 10.3 | 10.0 | 0.3 | 1.44 |
| 2025 | 1,243,741 | 13,250 | 12,685 | 565 | 10.7 | 10.2 | 0.5 | |
Current vital statistics
| Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12,872 | 11,839 | +1033 |
| 2024 | 12,853 | 12,507 | +346 |
| Difference |  -19 (-0.1%) |
 +668 (+5.64%) |
-687 |
Life expectancy
| Period | Life expectancy in Years[11] |
|---|---|
| 1950–1955 | 50.19 |
| 1955–1960 |  55.74 |
| 1960–1965 | 61.23 |
| 1965–1970 | 62.96 |
| 1970–1975 | 63.55 |
| 1975–1980 | 65.58 |
| 1980–1985 | 68.10 |
| 1985–1990 | 68.49 |
| 1990–1995 | 70.28 |
| 1995–2000 | 70.36 |
| 2000–2005 | 72.09 |
| 2005–2010 | 72.75 |
| 2010–2015 | 74.13 |
Ethnic groups
Indo-Mauritians represent roughly sixty-eight percent of the population. The Indo-Mauritian population consists of Hindu and Muslim descendants of Indian laborers.
Mauritian Creoles, descendants of African slaves, represent twenty-seven percent of the population. The Creole community also includes the country's mixed-race communities, which consist of people with any admixture of the island's other groups.[12] Rodriguais and Chagossians are usually incorporated within the Creole ethnic group.
Sino-Mauritians from the Hakka and other ethnolinnguistic groups make up around three percent of Mauritian society.[13]
White Mauritians, of mostly French descent, make up roughly two percent of the population of Mauritius.[14][15]
While the government officially groups Mauritians into four ethnic groups – Hindus, Muslims, Chinese, and General Population – the general population includes all who do not practice Hinduism or Islam and are not Chinese by ethnicity. The general population is mostly made-up of Christian Creole and White Mauritians.
Small groups of foreign students from Europe or the Indian Ocean region are also present. Recent years have seen a steady flow of foreign workers into the textile industry (primarily Bangladeshi men), the construction industry (primarily Indian and Bangladeshi workers), and harbor-related activities.
Language
The main languages spoken in Mauritius are Mauritian Creole, English, French, and Bhojpuri.[16] English is the official administrative language of the parliament, though French is also permitted. However, the lingua franca is Mauritian Creole, and the newspapers and television programs are usually in French.[17] The Mauritian currency features the Latin, Tamil and Devanagari scripts.
Mauritian Creole, which is spoken by 90 percent of the population, is considered to be the native language of the country and is used most often in informal settings.[16] It was developed in the 18th century by enslaved Africans who used a pidgin language to communicate with each other and with French enslavers and colonizers. The pidgin evolved with later generations to become a casual and main language.[18]
Mauritian Creole is a French-based creole.
Religion
Religion in Mauritius (2022 census)[19]
- Hinduism (47.9%)
- Christianity (32.3%)
- Islam (18.2%)
- Other (1.00%)
- None (0.60%)
More than 90% of the Sino-Mauritian community are Christian; the remainder are largely Buddhist.[13]
Migrants
According to the United Nations, there were 28,713 international migrants in Mauritius in 2017.
Their most common countries of origin were as follows:
| International migrants in Mauritius in 2017 | |
|---|---|
 India | 8,689 |
 Bangladesh | 8,364 |
 China | 2,964 |
 Madagascar | 2,287 |
 France | 1,511 |
 Sri Lanka | 1,131 |
 South Africa | 624 |
 Great Britain | 456 |
 Pakistan | 187 |
 Italy | 146 |
 Germany | 136 |
 Seychelles | 124 |
Source: United Nations "Migrant Stock by Origin and Destination" (PDF). 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019. | |
