Quick facts
Mauritius population overview
Mauritius is the 48th most populous of 58 countries and territories in Africa. The United Nations put the population at 1,267,550 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of -0.3% the live estimate on this page falls by roughly 9 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 11,281 births (8.9 per 1,000 people) and 11,915 deaths (9.4 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 2,662 people. The infant mortality rate is 11 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 680,331 in 1960 to 1,243,741 in 2025 — a change of +82.8%, or +0.9% per year on average. It peaked at 1,266,334 in 2021 and has declined 0.1% since.
Demographically, the median age is 38.3 years; life expectancy at birth is 75.4 years; women have on average 1.4 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 14.5% of residents are under 15 and 14.1% are 65 or older (2025); 39% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Port Louis. Mauritius covers 2,010 km², giving a population density of about 629 people per km². GDP was $16.16B in 2025 — about $12,991 per person (World Bank classification: upper middle income).
Mauritius population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #160 of 238 → | 1,264,810 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 1,267,550 |
| World rank | #159 of 238 |
| Rank in Africa | #48 of 58 |
| Share of world population | 0.015% |
| Annual growth rate #194 of 238 → | -0.3% |
| Births per year est. | 11,281 |
| Deaths per year est. | 11,915 |
| Net migration per year est. · #186 of 238 → | -2,662 |
| Birth rate #152 of 216 → | 8.9 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #38 of 216 → | 9.4 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #100 of 238 → | 11 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #93 of 238 → | 99.3 males per 100 females |
| Median age #82 of 238 → | 38.3 years |
| Life expectancy #116 of 216 → | 75.4 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #167 of 216 → | 1.4 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #175 of 216 → | 39% |
| Surface area 2023 · #175 of 215 → | 2,010 km² |
| Population density #13 of 215 → | 629 per km² |
| Capital | Port Louis |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #145 of 212 → | $16.16B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #95 of 212 → | $12,991 |
| Income group World Bank | Upper middle income |
Mauritius population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 1,264,810 | – | – |
| 2025 | 1,243,741 | -2,038 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 1,245,779 | -2,868 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 1,248,647 | -13,876 | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 1,262,523 | -3,811 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 1,266,334 | +320 | +0% |
| 2020 | 1,266,014 | +3,135 | +0% |
| 2015 | 1,262,879 | +12,479 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 1,250,400 | +22,146 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 1,228,254 | +41,381 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 1,186,873 | +64,416 | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 1,122,457 | +63,682 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 1,058,775 | +38,247 | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 1,020,528 | +54,489 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 966,039 | +74,039 | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 892,000 | +66,000 | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 826,000 | +73,000 | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 753,000 | +72,669 | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 680,331 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Mauritius
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Louis Capital | 155,226 | 12.3% |
| 2 | Vacoas | 115,289 | 9.1% |
| 3 | Beau Bassin-Rose Hill | 111,355 | 8.8% |
| 4 | Curepipe | 78,618 | 6.2% |
| 5 | Quatre Bornes | 77,308 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Triolet | 24,361 | 1.9% |
| 7 | Goodlands | 21,063 | 1.7% |
| 8 | Bel Air Rivière Sèche | 18,036 | 1.4% |
Port Louis is the largest city with 155,226 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Mauritius cities →
About Mauritius
Population over time
- From 680,331 in 1960 to 1,264,810 today — up 85.9%.
- Population peaked at 1,266,334 in 2021 and is down 0.1% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: -0.2% per year.
- World rank: Population #160 of 238 · Population growth rate #194 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 73.8 years (2024), up 15.3 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.4 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #116 of 216 · Fertility rate #167 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 10.3 births vs 10 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 0.3 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #152 of 216 · Death rate #38 of 216.
Age structure
- 14.5% of the population is under 15 and 14.1% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 3% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #185 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #72 of 216 · Median age #82 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 4.41 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions are at or near their historical peak.
- Per person: 3.54 t in 2024, vs 0.37 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #140 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #84 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 1,172.4 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 86.3% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 8.6% of final energy in 2021 (-38.5 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #86 of 150 · Renewable energy share #156 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 19.5% of land area (2023).
- Net deforestation: cover fell from 20.2% to 19.5% since 1990 — roughly 15 km² of forest lost.
- World rank: Forest area #133 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 39% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 39.9% in 1960 (-0.8 points).
- Still majority-rural — less than half the population lives in cities.
- World rank: Urban population #175 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low–medium — freshwater withdrawals are 23% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 2,179 m³ in 2022, down 46.1% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #101 of 183 · Water stress #55 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $16.16B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 32.9% since 2015.
- That works out to $12,991 per person.
- World rank: GDP #145 of 212 · GDP per capita #95 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 5.6% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 3.7% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #81 of 186 · Inflation rate #77 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 73.3% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 172.7 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #125 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #17 of 210.
Mauritius in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mauritius in 2026?
As of October 2026, Mauritius has an estimated population of 1,264,810. The United Nations estimated 1,267,550 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the -0.3% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Mauritius growing or shrinking?
It is shrinking at -0.3% per year — roughly 9 fewer people every day. Each year there are about 11,281 births and 11,915 deaths, with net migration of -2,662.
What is the population density of Mauritius?
About 629 people per square kilometre: 1,264,810 people living on 2,010 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Mauritius?
The median age is 38.3 years, and life expectancy at birth is 75.4 years. 14.5% of the population is under 15 and 14.1% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Mauritius rank by population?
Mauritius is the 159th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 48th in Africa, with 0.015% of the global population.
How has the population of Mauritius changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 680,331; by 2025 it had grown to 1,243,741 (+82.8%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Mauritius Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/mauritius/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/mauritius/">Mauritius Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (-0.3%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.