Mauritius

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Mauritius was uninhabited until 1638 when the Dutch established a settlement, and first France and then the UK controlled the island. Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 and has remained a stable democracy.

Geography

Area
total : 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Climate
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Natural resources
arable land, fish

People and Society

Population
total: 1,310,504 (2024 est.)

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.)

Population growth rate
0.07% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Port Louis

Executive branch
chief of state: President Dharam GOKHOOL (since 7 December 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 13 November 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Gajjaluxmi MOOTOOSAMY (since 5 June 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); note - also accredited to Seychelles

Economy

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)
$34.406 billion (2024 est.)
$32.864 billion (2023 est.)
$31.296 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$27,300 (2024 est.)
$26,100 (2023 est.)
$24,800 (2022 est.)

Exports
$6.381 billion (2023 est.)
$6.138 billion (2022 est.)
$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
$8.027 billion (2023 est.)
$8.052 billion (2022 est.)
$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)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.806, ranking it 73rd out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 89th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.369. (more information)