Mauritius

Cultural Attributes

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Holidays

• Independence Day

  3/12

  Independence Day

• Christmas

  12/25

  Christmas

  Mauritius is the most developed of the Mascarene Islands, in the warm and tropical southern hemisphere. Hence, Christmas in Mauritius is usually a nice, sunny day. The Creole ‘Pere Noel,’ pronounced ‘pear- no-el’ or Santa Claus is a bit warm beneath his beard.

  On the Mauritian island, many different cultures co-exist. These cultures include Indian Hindus, Indian Muslims, Creoles, Chinese and Caucasians. Christmas in Mauritius is marked to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Since Mauritius has a large Christian population, practically every living room has a Christmas tree. Children wake up on Christmas morning to see what Santa Claus has brought them. Shopping arcades are filled with Santa’s in a red cap and beard. There are also many short programs comprised of Christmas poems, songs and dances, which spread Christmas cheer.

  The city hall of Curepipe is filled with a Christmas trees all decorated with lights. In Mauritius, Christmas trees are often made of filao. Even if Christmas is a Christian celebration, many Muslim and Hindu families exchange gifts on Christmas Day, even if they don’t have a Christmas tree or attend Midnight Mass. After attending Midnight Mass, where the choirs sing Christmas songs and a Nativity telling the story of Jesus is performed, families go home to enjoy a Christmas dinner.

  Mauritius Christmas eating habits reflect the ethnic variety of the people. Traditional blends of home-ground spices are found in a lot of the dishes. The Christmas menu in Mauritius is a French-Mauritian delightful combination of cold fish terrine, cold meats, a fruit salad composed of pineapples, grapes, carrots and bacon and other salads made of mangoes, lychees and bananas. Spice cakes composed of cloves, vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom are also available.

Dates of Interest

• December 25th

  Mauritius is the most developed of the Mascarene Islands, in the warm and tropical southern hemisphere. Hence, Christmas in Mauritius is usually a warm, sunny day. The Creole "Pere Noel," pronounced "pear- no-el," or Santa Claus, is a bit warm beneath his beard. On the Mauritian island, many different cultures co-exist. These cultures include Indian Hindus, Indian Muslims, Creoles, Chinese and Caucasians. Christmas in Mauritius is marked to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Since Mauritius has a large Christian population, practically every living room has a Christmas tree. Children wake up on Christmas morning to see what Santa Claus has brought them. Shopping arcades are filled with Santa's in a red cap and beard. There are also many short programs comprised of Christmas poems, songs and dances, which spread Christmas cheer.

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Historical Eras

Overview

Timeline of Key Events

1. 1498

   Portuguese explorers stumble upon Mauritius.

   Portuguese explorers stumble upon Mauritius in the wake of Vasco da Gama’s voyage around the Cape of Good Hope.

2. 1510

   Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas visits the island and names it Cirné.

   Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas visits the island and names it Cirné. It is used as a port of call, but the Portuguese do not establish a permanent settlement.

3. 1598 – 1710

   The Dutch period.

   The Dutch period. In 1598, a Dutch squadron, under the orders of Admiral Wybrand Van Warwyck, landed at Grand Port and named the island “Mauritius”, in honor of Prince Maurice Van Nassau, “Stathouder” of Holland. However, it was not until 1638 that there was a first attempt of Dutch settlement.

4. 1715 – 1810

   The French period.

   The French period. Abandoned by the Dutch, the island became a French colony when, in September 1715, Guillaume Dufresne D’Arsel landed and took possession of this precious port of call on the route to India. He named the island “Isle de France”, but it was only in 1721 that the French started their occupation.

5. 1810 – 1968

   The British period.

   The British period. The British administration, which began with Robert Farquhar as governor, was followed by rapid social and economic changes. One of the most important events was the abolition of slavery in 1835.

6. 1834

   British abolish slavery.

   British abolish slavery. It is phased out on the island under a transition period known as “apprenticeship”.

7. 1876

   Indian rupee becomes official currency.

   Indian rupee becomes official currency.

Religion

Languages Spoken

• Bhojpuri
• Creole
• English
• French
• French
• Hindi
• Urdu

Population

Population

1,310,504

Population in Major Urban Areas

PORT LOUIS (capital) 151,000

Nationality Noun

Mauritian(s)

Ethnic Groups

Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Education

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Mauritius stands among the highest on the African continent, reflecting the island nation's strong public health infrastructure, accessible medical care, and relatively high standard of living. As of the most recent estimates, the overall life expectancy at birth is approximately 74 to 75 years, with women typically living longer than men. Female life expectancy hovers around 77 to 78 years, while male life expectancy falls closer to 71 to 72 years — a gap consistent with global patterns observed across many countries. This relatively high figure is the result of several decades of sustained investment in healthcare. Mauritius operates a universal public health system that provides free medical services to all citizens, from primary care clinics to hospital treatment. This broad access has contributed to lower rates of infant and child mortality, both of which factor significantly into life expectancy calculations. The infant mortality rate in Mauritius has declined considerably over the past few decades, falling to approximately 12 to 13 deaths per 1,000 live births in recent years. Mauritius has undergone an epidemiological transition typical of upper-middle-income countries, shifting from infectious diseases as the primary cause of death toward non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Diabetes in particular presents a significant public health challenge on the island, with prevalence rates among the highest in the region, and it remains a factor that places downward pressure on continued life expectancy gains. Despite these challenges, overall trends reflect meaningful long-term progress. Life expectancy in Mauritius has risen by more than a decade since the 1960s, when figures were considerably lower due to higher rates of infectious disease and limited medical infrastructure. It is worth noting that life expectancy saw a modest dip in the early 2020s, largely attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a pattern observed in many countries globally. Ongoing government initiatives focused on preventive care, diabetes management, and health education continue to support incremental improvements. The country's performance in this area has made it a notable example of health development success within sub-Saharan Africa and the broader Indian Ocean region.

Infant Mortality Rate

Mauritius has achieved remarkably low infant mortality rates by regional and global standards, reflecting the country's sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, maternal health services, and public health programs over several decades. As of recent data, the infant mortality rate in Mauritius stands at approximately 11 to 13 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing it among the better-performing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the broader Indian Ocean region. This figure represents a dramatic improvement from earlier decades, when infant mortality was considerably higher, and demonstrates the effectiveness of the country's universal healthcare system and targeted child health initiatives. Several factors contribute to this positive outcome. Mauritius provides free public healthcare to all citizens, ensuring that prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal services are accessible across the population. The vast majority of births in Mauritius take place in medical facilities attended by trained health professionals, which significantly reduces risks associated with complications during delivery. Vaccination coverage rates in the country are high, protecting infants from a range of preventable infectious diseases that historically contributed to early childhood mortality. Neonatal mortality — deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life — has been a particular focus of health authorities in recent years, as this segment accounts for a significant portion of overall infant deaths. Improvements in neonatal intensive care units and the training of specialized nursing and medical staff have helped reduce deaths in this critical early window. Gender disparities in infant survival are minimal, and urban-rural differences in healthcare access, while present, are less pronounced in Mauritius than in many developing nations due to the country's small geographic size and relatively well-distributed health services network. Despite these achievements, health officials continue to monitor and address underlying causes of infant mortality, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, and congenital conditions, with ongoing programs aimed at further reducing these rates in line with global Sustainable Development Goal targets.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Mauritius stands among the highest on the African continent, reflecting the island nation's strong public health infrastructure, accessible medical care, and relatively high standard of living. As of the most recent estimates, the overall life expectancy at birth is approximately 74 to 75 years, with women typically living longer than men. Female life expectancy hovers around 77 to 78 years, while male life expectancy falls closer to 71 to 72 years — a gap consistent with global patterns observed across many countries. This relatively high figure is the result of several decades of sustained investment in healthcare. Mauritius operates a universal public health system that provides free medical services to all citizens, from primary care clinics to hospital treatment. This broad access has contributed to lower rates of infant and child mortality, both of which factor significantly into life expectancy calculations. The infant mortality rate in Mauritius has declined considerably over the past few decades, falling to approximately 12 to 13 deaths per 1,000 live births in recent years. Mauritius has undergone an epidemiological transition typical of upper-middle-income countries, shifting from infectious diseases as the primary cause of death toward non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Diabetes in particular presents a significant public health challenge on the island, with prevalence rates among the highest in the region, and it remains a factor that places downward pressure on continued life expectancy gains. Despite these challenges, overall trends reflect meaningful long-term progress. Life expectancy in Mauritius has risen by more than a decade since the 1960s, when figures were considerably lower due to higher rates of infectious disease and limited medical infrastructure. It is worth noting that life expectancy saw a modest dip in the early 2020s, largely attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a pattern observed in many countries globally. Ongoing government initiatives focused on preventive care, diabetes management, and health education continue to support incremental improvements. The country's performance in this area has made it a notable example of health development success within sub-Saharan Africa and the broader Indian Ocean region.

Infant Mortality Rate

Mauritius has achieved remarkably low infant mortality rates by regional and global standards, reflecting the country's sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, maternal health services, and public health programs over several decades. As of recent data, the infant mortality rate in Mauritius stands at approximately 11 to 13 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing it among the better-performing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the broader Indian Ocean region. This figure represents a dramatic improvement from earlier decades, when infant mortality was considerably higher, and demonstrates the effectiveness of the country's universal healthcare system and targeted child health initiatives. Several factors contribute to this positive outcome. Mauritius provides free public healthcare to all citizens, ensuring that prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal services are accessible across the population. The vast majority of births in Mauritius take place in medical facilities attended by trained health professionals, which significantly reduces risks associated with complications during delivery. Vaccination coverage rates in the country are high, protecting infants from a range of preventable infectious diseases that historically contributed to early childhood mortality. Neonatal mortality — deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life — has been a particular focus of health authorities in recent years, as this segment accounts for a significant portion of overall infant deaths. Improvements in neonatal intensive care units and the training of specialized nursing and medical staff have helped reduce deaths in this critical early window. Gender disparities in infant survival are minimal, and urban-rural differences in healthcare access, while present, are less pronounced in Mauritius than in many developing nations due to the country's small geographic size and relatively well-distributed health services network. Despite these achievements, health officials continue to monitor and address underlying causes of infant mortality, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, and congenital conditions, with ongoing programs aimed at further reducing these rates in line with global Sustainable Development Goal targets.

Country Identity

Country Name

Mauritius

Full Country Name

Republic of Mauritius

Government Structure

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Legal System

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Prithvirajsing ROOPUN (since 2 December 2019) and Vice President Marie Cyril Eddy BOISSÉZON (since 2 December 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 12 November 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and responsible to the National Assembly election results: Prithvirajsing ROOPUN elected president and Marie Cyril Eddy BOISSÉZON elected vice president on 2 December 2019; Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM appointed prime minister following the Labour Party-led alliance victory in the November 2024 general elections, returning him to the post he previously held from 2005 to 2014

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by popular vote through a first-past-the-post system in multi-member constituencies, and up to 8 seats allocated by the Electoral Supervisory Commission under a "best loser" system designed to ensure fair representation of ethnic and religious communities; members serve five-year terms) Elections: Last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024) Election results: Percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MSM-led Morisien Alliance 42, PTr-MMM alliance 14, OPR 2; appointed seats - MSM-led alliance 4, PTr-MMM alliance 2, OPR 2

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Constitution

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Independence

12 March 1968 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Capital City

Capital Name

Port Louis

Capital - geographic coordinate

20 09 S, 57 29 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Military

Branches: no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

Mauritius Rupee (MUR)

GDP — official exchange rate

$6,681,000,000 (USD)

GDP Real Growth Rate

6%

Gini Index

37