Demographics of Mauritius
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Mauritius, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Mauritian society includes people from many different ethnic groups. A majority of the republic's residents are the descendants of people from India. Mauritius also contains substantial populations from continental Africa, China, France, Great Britain, and the East African island nation of Madagascar among other places, all of whom had been licitly, and not so licitly, given a labour contract.
Ethnic groups
make up approximately seventy percent of the population. The Indo-Mauritian population consists of Hindu and Muslim descendants of Indian labourers, with a small Christian community.Mauritian Creoles make up twenty five percent of the population. 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 form around two percent of the population. They are descendants of French colonists/settlers, comprising the largest group of European origin. There is a smaller population of people 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.
Sino-Mauritians from the Hakka and other Chinese sub-ethnic/linguistic groups make up around three percent of Mauritian society.
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, the construction industry, and harbour-related activities. Immigration policy does not provoke much debate in Mauritius, and the relative economic stability of the island serves to attract foreign workers.
Population
According to the total population was in, compared to 479,000 in 1950.The proportion of the population aged under 15 was 21.9% in 2010. 71.2% were between 15 and 65 years of age, with 6.9% being 65 years or older.
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 |
Structure of the population
Structure of the population :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 |
unknown | 373 | 246 | 619 | 0,05 |
Structure of the population :
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 |
Vital statistics
Mauritius has an estimated population of 1,283,415 on December 31, 2010. 14,701 children were born in 2011.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 and United Nations Demographic Yearbook.
Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate | Crude death rate | Natural change | TFR | |
1900 | 371 | 14 490 | 13 695 | 795 | 38.6 | 36.5 | 2.1 | |
1901 | 371 | 12 910 | 14 970 | -2 060 | 34.8 | 40.4 | -5.6 | |
1902 | 371 | 13 495 | 12 716 | 779 | 35.9 | 33.8 | 2.1 | |
1903 | 371 | 13 611 | 15 034 | -1 423 | 36.3 | 40.1 | -3.8 | |
1904 | 371 | 14 103 | 12 064 | 2 039 | 37.2 | 31.9 | 5.3 | |
1905 | 370 | 14 043 | 15 379 | -1 336 | 37.2 | 40.7 | -3.5 | |
1906 | 370 | 12 669 | 15 124 | -2 455 | 33.6 | 40.0 | -6.4 | |
1907 | 370 | 14 186 | 13 037 | 1 149 | 37.7 | 34.6 | 3.1 | |
1908 | 370 | 13 456 | 15 094 | -1 638 | 36.0 | 40.3 | -4.3 | |
1909 | 369 | 12 837 | 13 761 | - 924 | 34.4 | 36.9 | -2.5 | |
1910 | 369 | 13 329 | 12 488 | 841 | 36.1 | 33.8 | 2.3 | |
1911 | 369 | 14 585 | 12 204 | 2 381 | 39.2 | 32.8 | 6.4 | |
1912 | 370 | 13 209 | 14 429 | -1 220 | 35.5 | 38.8 | -3.3 | |
1913 | 371 | 15 153 | 13 201 | 1 952 | 40.8 | 35.5 | 5.3 | |
1914 | 372 | 15 229 | 12 134 | 3 095 | 40.8 | 32.5 | 8.3 | |
1915 | 373 | 13 094 | 13 101 | - 7 | 34.8 | 34.8 | -0.0 | |
1916 | 374 | 13 162 | 11 432 | 1 730 | 35.0 | 30.4 | 4.6 | |
1917 | 375 | 13 887 | 12 234 | 1 653 | 36.9 | 32.5 | 4.4 | |
1918 | 375 | 13 109 | 12 794 | 315 | 34.8 | 33.9 | 0.9 | |
1919 | 375 | 13 261 | 24 455 | -11 194 | 35.2 | 64.9 | -29.7 | |
1920 | 376 | 12 791 | 11 773 | 1 018 | 35.1 | 32.3 | 2.8 | |
1921 | 376 | 14 360 | 15 159 | - 799 | 38.1 | 40.3 | -2.2 | |
1922 | 376 | 13 955 | 12 967 | 988 | 37.0 | 34.5 | 2.5 | |
1923 | 377 | 13 879 | 10 778 | 3 101 | 36.8 | 28.5 | 8.3 | |
1924 | 380 | 15 430 | 10 558 | 4 872 | 41.1 | 28.1 | 13.0 | |
1925 | 383 | 16 545 | 9 327 | 7 218 | 42.6 | 24.9 | 17.7 | |
1926 | 386 | 15 520 | 9 958 | 5 562 | 39.4 | 25.3 | 14.1 | |
1927 | 389 | 13 748 | 10 015 | 3 733 | 34.5 | 25.1 | 9.4 | |
1928 | 391 | 15 206 | 11 342 | 3 864 | 37.9 | 28.2 | 9.7 | |
1929 | 393 | 13 771 | 12 413 | 1 358 | 34.0 | 30.7 | 3.3 | |
1930 | 393 | 12 793 | 14 341 | -1 548 | 31.6 | 35.4 | -3.8 | |
1931 | 393 | 11 941 | 15 467 | -3 526 | 29.7 | 38.4 | -8.7 | |
1932 | 390 | 10 266 | 12 848 | -2 582 | 25.7 | 32.2 | -6.5 | |
1933 | 390 | 13 479 | 10 615 | 2 864 | 33.8 | 26.6 | 7.2 | |
1934 | 392 | 13 516 | 10 069 | 3 447 | 33.7 | 25.1 | 8.6 | |
1935 | 394 | 13 246 | 10 445 | 2 801 | 32.8 | 25.8 | 7.0 | |
1936 | 398 | 13 867 | 10 500 | 3 367 | 34.1 | 25.8 | 8.3 | |
1937 | 400 | 14 097 | 11 527 | 2 570 | 34.4 | 28.1 | 6.3 | |
1938 | 402 | 13 420 | 12 046 | 1 374 | 32.6 | 29.2 | 3.4 | |
1939 | 405 | 14 578 | 11 340 | 3 238 | 35.2 | 27.4 | 7.8 | |
1940 | 407 | 12 145 | 10 373 | 1 772 | 29.1 | 24.9 | 4.2 | |
1941 | 407 | 13 430 | 10 436 | 2 994 | 32.2 | 25.0 | 7.2 | |
1942 | 408 | 13 553 | 11 927 | 1 626 | 32.5 | 28.6 | 3.9 | |
1943 | 410 | 13 604 | 10 642 | 2 962 | 32.6 | 25.5 | 7.1 | |
1944 | 419 | 18 258 | 11 355 | 6 903 | 43.4 | 27.0 | 16.4 | |
1945 | 424 | 16 290 | 15 277 | 1 013 | 38.4 | 36.0 | 2.4 | |
1946 | 437 | 16 939 | 12 678 | 4 261 | 38.8 | 29.0 | 9.8 | |
1947 | 445 | 19 458 | 8 830 | 10 628 | 43.7 | 19.8 | 23.9 | |
1948 | 455 | 19 429 | 10 680 | 8 749 | 42.7 | 23.5 | 19.2 | |
1949 | 458 | 20 931 | 7 523 | 13 408 | 45.7 | 16.4 | 29.3 | |
1950 | 479 | 23 667 | 6 611 | 17 056 | 49.4 | 13.8 | 35.6 | |
1951 | 498 | 23 543 | 7 305 | 16 238 | 47.3 | 14.7 | 32.6 | |
1952 | 514 | 24 689 | 7 569 | 17 120 | 48.0 | 14.7 | 33.3 | |
1953 | 537 | 24 428 | 8 550 | 15 878 | 45.5 | 15.9 | 29.6 | |
1954 | 551 | 22 513 | 8 587 | 13 926 | 40.9 | 15.6 | 25.3 | |
1955 | 570 | 23 612 | 7 260 | 16 352 | 41.4 | 12.7 | 28.7 | |
1956 | 591 | 25 666 | 6 910 | 18 756 | 43.4 | 11.7 | 31.7 | |
1957 | 609 | 26 055 | 7 823 | 18 232 | 42.8 | 12.8 | 29.9 | |
1958 | 627 | 25 398 | 7 307 | 18 091 | 40.5 | 11.7 | 28.9 | |
1959 | 644 | 24 792 | 7 040 | 17 752 | 38.5 | 10.9 | 27.6 | |
1960 | 662 | 26 017 | 7 588 | 18 429 | 39.3 | 11.5 | 27.8 | |
1961 | 680 | 27 028 | 6 697 | 20 331 | 39.7 | 9.8 | 29.9 | |
1962 | 700 | 27 162 | 6 485 | 20 677 | 38.8 | 9.3 | 29.5 | |
1963 | 715 | 28 859 | 6 912 | 21 947 | 40.4 | 9.7 | 30.7 | |
1964 | 735 | 28 610 | 6 421 | 22 189 | 38.9 | 8.7 | 30.2 | |
1965 | 754 | 27 195 | 6 637 | 20 558 | 36.1 | 8.8 | 27.3 | |
1966 | 773 | 27 831 | 6 944 | 20 887 | 36.0 | 9.0 | 27.0 | |
1967 | 789 | 24 471 | 6 750 | 17 721 | 31.0 | 8.6 | 22.5 | |
1968 | 804 | 25 409 | 7 382 | 18 027 | 31.6 | 9.2 | 22.4 | |
1969 | 815 | 22 621 | 6 733 | 15 888 | 27.7 | 8.3 | 19.5 | |
1970 | 828 | 22 765 | 6 520 | 16 245 | 27.5 | 7.9 | 19.6 | |
1971 | 841 | 21 926 | 6 436 | 15 490 | 26.1 | 7.7 | 18.4 | |
1972 | 851 | 21 495 | 6 753 | 14 742 | 25.3 | 7.9 | 17.3 | |
1973 | 869 | 20 015 | 6 779 | 13 236 | 23.0 | 7.8 | 15.2 | |
1974 | 881 | 24 002 | 6 424 | 17 578 | 27.3 | 7.3 | 20.0 | |
1975 | 891 | 22 557 | 7 201 | 15 356 | 25.3 | 8.1 | 17.2 | |
1976 | 903 | 23 274 | 6 968 | 16 306 | 25.8 | 7.7 | 18.0 | |
1977 | 918 | 23 859 | 7 154 | 16 705 | 26.0 | 7.8 | 18.2 | |
1978 | 934 | 25 278 | 6 596 | 18 682 | 27.1 | 7.1 | 20.0 | |
1979 | 948 | 26 163 | 6 871 | 19 292 | 27.6 | 7.2 | 20.3 | |
1980 | 966 | 26 294 | 6 919 | 19 375 | 27.2 | 7.2 | 20.1 | |
1981 | 981 | 24 967 | 6 653 | 18 314 | 25.5 | 6.8 | 18.7 | |
1982 | 993 | 22 459 | 6 584 | 15 875 | 22.6 | 6.6 | 16.0 | |
1983 | 1 002 | 21 073 | 6 532 | 14 541 | 21.0 | 6.5 | 14.5 | |
1984 | 1 011 | 20 332 | 6 646 | 13 686 | 20.1 | 6.6 | 13.5 | |
1985 | 1 021 | 19 376 | 6 906 | 12 470 | 19.0 | 6.8 | 12.2 | |
1986 | 1 028 | 19 170 | 6 805 | 12 365 | 18.6 | 6.6 | 12.0 | |
1987 | 1 037 | 20 033 | 6 753 | 13 280 | 19.3 | 6.5 | 12.8 | |
1988 | 1 043 | 20 941 | 6 879 | 14 062 | 20.1 | 6.6 | 13.5 | |
1989 | 1 051 | 21 822 | 7 149 | 14 673 | 20.8 | 6.8 | 14.0 | |
1990 | 1 059 | 22 602 | 7 031 | 15 571 | 21.3 | 6.6 | 14.7 | |
1991 | 1 070 | 22 197 | 7 027 | 15 170 | 20.7 | 6.6 | 14.2 | |
1992 | 1 084 | 22 902 | 7 023 | 15 879 | 21.1 | 6.5 | 14.6 | |
1993 | 1 098 | 22 329 | 7 433 | 14 896 | 20.3 | 6.8 | 13.6 | |
1994 | 1 113 | 21 795 | 7 402 | 14 393 | 19.6 | 6.7 | 12.9 | |
1995 | 1 122 | 20 549 | 7 465 | 13 084 | 18.3 | 6.7 | 11.7 | |
1996 | 1 134 | 20 763 | 7 670 | 13 093 | 18.3 | 6.8 | 11.5 | |
1997 | 1 148 | 20 012 | 7 986 | 12 026 | 17.4 | 7.0 | 10.5 | |
1998 | 1 160 | 19 434 | 7 839 | 11 595 | 16.8 | 6.8 | 10.0 | |
1999 | 1 175 | 20 311 | 7 944 | 12 367 | 17.3 | 6.8 | 10.5 | |
2000 | 1 187 | 20 205 | 7 982 | 12 223 | 17.0 | 6.7 | 10.3 | |
2001 | 1 200 | 19 696 | 7 983 | 11 713 | 16.4 | 6.7 | 9.8 | |
2002 | 1 210 | 19 983 | 8 310 | 11 673 | 16.5 | 6.9 | 9.6 | |
2003 | 1 223 | 19 343 | 8 520 | 10 823 | 15.8 | 7.0 | 8.8 | |
2004 | 1 233 | 19 230 | 8 475 | 10 755 | 15.6 | 6.9 | 8.7 | |
2005 | 1 243 | 18 820 | 8 646 | 10 174 | 15.1 | 7.0 | 8.2 | |
2006 | 1 253 | 17 604 | 9 162 | 8 442 | 14.0 | 7.3 | 6.7 | |
2007 | 1 261 | 17 034 | 8 498 | 8 536 | 13.5 | 6.7 | 6.8 | |
2008 | 1 268 | 16 372 | 9 004 | 7 368 | 12.9 | 7.1 | 5.8 | |
2009 | 1 275 | 15 344 | 9 224 | 6 120 | 12.0 | 7.2 | 4.8 | 1.502 |
2010 | 1 281 | 15 005 | 9 131 | 5 874 | 11.7 | 7.1 | 4.6 | 1.466 |
2011 | 1 286 | 14 701 | 9 170 | 5 531 | 11.7 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 1.446 |
2012 | 1 256 | 14 502 | 9 343 | 5 159 | 11.5 | 7.4 | 4.1 | 1.544 |
2013 | 1 259 | 13 688 | 9 440 | 4 248 | 10.9 | 7.5 | 3.4 | 1.438 |
2014 | 1 261 | 13 283 | 9 682 | 3 601 | 10.5 | 7.7 | 2.8 | 1.424 |
2015 | 1 263 | 12,738 | 9,747 | 2,991 | 10.1 | 7.7 | 2.4 | |
2016 | 1 263 | 12,948 | 10,174 | 2,774 | 10.2 | 8.1 | 2.1 | |
2017 | 1 265 | 13,385 | 10,140 | 3,245 | 10.6 | 8.0 | 2.6 | |
2018 | 1 266 | 12,980 | 10,787 | 2,193 | 10.3 | 8.5 | 1.8 | |
2019 | 1 265 | 12,862 | 11,174 | 1,688 | 10.2 | 8.8 | 1.4 |
Life expectancy
Language
The main languages spoken in Mauritius are English, French and Mauritian Creole. 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.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 was developed in the 18th century by 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.
Mauritian Creole is a French-based creole due to its close ties with French pronunciation and vocabulary.
Around 10.2% people can speak the Tamil language and many of their children have started to learn the language.
Religion
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.More than 90% of the Sino-Mauritian community are Christian; the remainder are largely Buddhist.
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:
Other demographic statistics
Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.- One birth every 39 minutes
- One death every 50 minutes
- One net migrant every Infinity minutes
- Net gain of one person every 180 minutes
;Population:
;Age structure:
;Median age:
;Birth rate:
;Death rate:
;Total fertility rate:
;Population growth rate:
;Contraceptive prevalence rate:
;Net migration rate:
;Life expectancy at birth:
;Infant mortality rate:
;Dependency ratios:
;Urbanization:
;Nationality:
noun:
Mauritian
adjective:
Mauritian
;Ethnic groups:
Mauritians of Indian Origin. 45%
Mauritians of African Origin 35%, Arabo Mauritian 15%,
Mauritians of French Origin 3%,
Mauritians of Chinese Origin 2%
;Religions:
Hinduism 48.5%
Roman Catholicism 26.3%
Other Christian 6.4%
Islam 17.3%
None 0.7%
Other 0.6
Unspecified 0.1%
;Languages:
Creole 82.5%
Tamil 10.2%
French 4.1%,
Two languages 1.4%,
Other 2.6%
Unspecified 0.1%
;Sex ratio:
at birth
1 male/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male/female
15–64 years:
0.99 male/female
65 years and over:
0.67 male/female
total population:''
0.98 male/female
;Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
;School life expectancy :
;Unemployment, youth ages 15–24: