Mauritius
Africa Β· Capital: Port Louis
How it is run: Mauritius is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Mauritius is home to 1.2 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak English, French, Mauritian Creole.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
1.2 million people
That is about 154 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
2,040 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
About 610 people share every square kilometre β very crowded, so cities grow upward with apartments.
π Size in its region
49th most people in Africa
53rd largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, French, Mauritian Creole
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Mauritian rupee (β¨)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
73.8 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$12,991
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
39% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
14.5% of the population
An older country β there are more grandparents than schoolchildren.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+230
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.mu
π§ People here are called
Mauritian
π·οΈ Name at home
Mauritius Β· Maurice Β· Moris
Also written: Republic of Mauritius, RΓ©publique de Maurice.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Mauritius has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Mauricio
French
Γle Maurice
Arabic
Ω ΩΨ±ΩΨ΄ΩΩΨ³
Chinese
ζ―ιζ±ζ―
Japanese
γ’γΌγͺγ·γ£γΉ
Russian
ΠΠ°Π²ΡΠΈΠΊΠΈΠΉ
Portuguese
MaurΓcio
German
Mauritius
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 191.0Γ as many people as Mauritius.
- Mauritius covers roughly 19 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Mauritius lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 622 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Mauritius lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Mauritius
ποΈ Capital
Port Louis
π Region
Africa Β· Eastern Africa
π€ Country code
MU
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Mauritius π
π§ Where on the map
20.3Β° S, 57.5Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+4 β when it is noon in London it is about 16:00 in Port Louis.
- Mauritius is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Mauritius is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Mauritius lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Mauritius sits in Eastern Africa, in the southern and eastern half of the globe.
- Mauritius is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Mauritius has 3 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Mauritius can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Mauritius spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Mauritius?
Port Louis
Which money do people spend in Mauritius?
Mauritian rupee (β¨)
How many countries share a land border with Mauritius?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Mauritius?
1.2 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.