Demographics of Mauritius

Indo-Mauritians make up approximately sixty percent of the population. The Indo-Mauritian population consists of Hindu and Muslim descendants of Indian labourers, with a small Christian community.

Mauritian Creoles (descendants of African slaves) make up thirty five percent of the population.[1] Nowadays, a significant proportion of them are predominantly black with varying amounts of French and Indian ancestry. Rodriguais and Chagossians are usually incorporated within the Creole ethnic group.

Franco-Mauritians (Mauritians of French ancestry) form around two percent of the population. They are descendants of French settlers, comprising the largest group of European origin.[2] There is a smaller population of British descent, most of whom have been absorbed within the Franco-Mauritian community. There is also a considerable number of white foreign expatriates living in Mauritius, about 8000 from France and 2000 from South Africa. Along with the French European community, there is a small number of British expatriates or people of British descent in Mauritius.[3][4]

Sino-Mauritians from the Hakka and other Chinese sub-ethnic/linguistic groups make up around three percent of Mauritian society.[5]

While the government officially groups Mauritians in four ethnic groups – Hindus, Muslims, Chinese and general population – the general population includes all who do not practice the Hindu or Muslim religion, or are not Chinese by race. Hence the general population is the Christian community, which includes Blacks, mixed peoples, whites, and those who have converted to Christianity. The exception is that the general population does not include the Christian Chinese, although most practice a mix of Christianity and traditional Chinese religions.

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 Chinese women), the construction industry (primarily Indian workers), and harbour-related activities (primarily Taiwanese men). Immigration policy does not provoke much debate in Mauritius, and the relative economic stability of the island serves to attract foreign workers.

Mauritius's population, 1961-2003.

According to the 2019 revision of the World Population Prospects[6][7] the total population was 1,267,185 in 2018, compared to 479,000 in 1950.[8]

The proportion of the population aged under 15 was 21.9% in 2010.[8] 71.2% were between 15 and 65 years of age, with 6.9% being 65 years or older.[8]

Mauritius has an estimated population of 1,283,415 on December 31, 2010. 14,701 children were born in 2011 (birth rate 11.4 per 1,000).[10]

The table below presents the population development of Mauritius since 1900. The figure up to 1945 are for the island of Mauritius only. As of 1946 the island of Rodrigues is included.

Figures from Statistics Mauritius[11] and United Nations Demographic Yearbook.[12]

Life expectancy

Period	Life expectancy in Years[13]
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

Picture from the 1950s of the Central Market, Port Louis, Mauritius.

The main languages spoken in Mauritius are English, French, Mauritian Creole and ancestral asian languages. There is no official language. English is the official 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.[14]

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. It gradually replaced Bhojpuri as the native language of Indo-Mauritians [15] It was developed in the 18th century by African slaves who used a pidgin language to communicate with each other as well as with their French masters, who did not understand the various African languages. The pidgin evolved with later generations to become a casual language.[16]

Mauritian Creole is a French-based creole due to its close ties with French pronunciation and vocabulary.

Ancestral languages are taught as from primary education namely, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Chinese, Telegu and Marathi

In 2011, the population was estimated to be 48.5% Hindu, 26.3% Roman Catholic, 17.3% Muslim, 6.4% other Christian, 0.6% other religions, 0.7% no religion, and 0.1% unspecified.[17]

More than 90% of the Sino-Mauritian community are Christian; the remainder are largely Buddhist.[5]

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.

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.[18]

• One birth every 39 minutes
• One death every 50 minutes
• One net migrant every Infinity minutes
• Net gain of one person every 180 minutes

The following demographics are from the CIA World Factbook[19] unless otherwise indicated.

Population

1,364,283 (July 2018 est.)

Age structure

Population pyramid of Mauritius in 2017

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 138,707 /female 132,774)

15-24 years: 14.52% (male 100,281 /female 97,836)

25-54 years: 43.6% (male 297,558 /female 297,243)

55-64 years: 11.81% (male 76,620 /female 84,554)

65 years and over: 10.17% (male 57,094 /female 81,616) (2018 est.)

Median age

total: 35.7 years. Country comparison to the world: 77th

male: 34.5 years

female: 36.7 years (2018 est.)

Birth rate

12.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 152nd

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 127th

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 163rd

1.80 children born/woman (2010 est.)

2.02 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.57% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 150th

0.776% (2010 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

63.8% (2014)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 92nd

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76 years (2018 est.)

male: 72.6 years (2018 est.)

female: 79.7 years (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

9.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

12.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

17.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 41.6 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 14.1 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 40.8% of total population (2018)

rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian

Ethnic groups

Mauritians of Indian Origin 65.8%, Mauritians of African Origin 27.7%, Mauritians of Chinese Origin 3%, Mauritians of French Origin 2%

Religions

Hinduism 48.5%, Christianity 32.7%, Islam 17.3%, None 0.7%, Other 0.6, Unspecified 0.1%

Languages

As mother tongue: Mauritian Creole 86.8%, Bhojpuri 5%, French 4.1%, Two languages 1.4%, Other 2.6%, Unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

As ancestral languages: Hindi 33.5%, Urdu 17.3%, Tamil 6%, Chinese 3%, Telegu 2%, Marathi 2%

Sex ratio

at birth 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2016 est.)

total population: 93.2% (20196 est.)

male: 95.4% (2016 est.)

female: 91% (2016 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years (2017)

male: 14 years (2017)

female: 16 years (2017)

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24

total: 23.9% (2016 est.)

male: 18.3% (2016 est.)

female: 31.2% (2016 est.)

• Eriksen, T. H. (1998). Common denominators: nation-building and compromise in Mauritius. Oxford: Berg Publishers. ISBN 9781859739594.

• Media related to Demographics of Mauritius at Wikimedia Commons