Mauritius has a population of 1,309,448 as of 2023.
Size
1,937 sq km / 748 sq mi (smaller than Rhode Island)
Capital City
Port Louis, the capital, is also home to a major port in the western Indian Ocean.
Ethnic Groups
67% Indo-Pakistani 27.4% Creole 3% Chinese 2.6% Other
Religion
48.5% Hindu 26.3% Roman Catholic 17.3% Muslim 6.4% Christian 1.5% Other / Non-religious
Languages
English (official) Creole (common) French
English is spoken by a small percentage of population, with 86.5% of the population speaking Creole. Bhojpuri, an Indo-Aryan language, is spoken by 5.8% of the population.
Geography
Of volcanic origin, Mauritius is almost entirely surrounded by coral reef and is located in the Indian Ocean, about 500 miles east of Madagascar. Mauritius also includes Rodrigues Island.
Economy
Mauritius has undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a diversified, upper middle-income economy, advancing in industry, the finance, and tourism.
Interesting Fact
Mauritius was uninhabited until the early 1600’s. In 1767, the French took authority and brought slaves to establish a sugar industry on the island, and the colony prospered. In the 19th century the island was taken by the British. On March 12, 1968 Mauritius became an independent nation.
Important Facts
Mauritius was uninhabited until the early 1600’s. In 1767, the French took authority and brought slaves to establish a sugar industry on the island, and the colony prospered. In the 19th century the island was taken by the British. On March 12, 1968 Mauritius became an independent nation.
