Mauritius profile

Demography and Health

Mauritius is a small but stable society with a total population of about 1.26 million in 2024. The country’s demographic profile features relatively low birth and death rates (birth rate 10.2 per 1,000 people; death rate 9.4 per 1,000), contributing to a modest natural population growth. Life expectancy at birth stands at 73.4 years as of 2023, indicating decent health outcomes for a middle-income island nation. The mortality burden in children under five is 15.2 per 1,000 live births, illustrating ongoing challenges in pediatric health that Mauritius continues to address through public health programs and service provision. The net migration figure for 2024 shows a small outflow (-2,787 persons), suggesting that emigration, rather than rampant population decline, shapes skill and age structure dynamics, as some residents seek opportunities abroad. The health system benefits from 1.2 physicians per 1,000 people (2022) and 3.71 hospital beds per 1,000 people (2021), signaling a reasonable capacity to deliver primary and secondary care, though room remains to expand beyond urban centers to ensure geographic equity. The burden of undernutrition remains relatively low—5.9% of the population in 2022—yet persistent nutrition insecurity in pockets of the population warrants continued attention. Public health financing is substantial, with current health expenditure at 5.82% of GDP (2022) and domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, of about 733 international dollars (2022), underscoring a commitment to health services and affordability. Internet access is widespread, with about 79.5% of individuals online in 2023, reflecting a digitally connected society that can support health information and telemedicine initiatives. The suicide mortality rate, at 10.5 per 100,000 (2021), remains a critical indicator for mental health policy and social support systems, highlighting the importance of integrated mental health services within the broader health strategy. Overall, Mauritius displays solid health outcomes relative to its income level, supported by a mix of public funding, service capacity, and expanding digital health opportunities, while continuing to target nutrition, pediatric care, and mental health improvements.

Economy

Mauritius presents a diversified, service- and trade-oriented economy. The gross domestic product (GDP) per capita stands at 11,872 current US dollars in 2024, with a purchasing power parity (PPP) figure of 31,051 international dollars, signaling a standard of living that is appreciable but still catching up with higher-income peers. The economy shows amplified openness: exports of goods and services account for 46.2% of GDP in 2024, while imports consume 57.8% of GDP, illustrating a fairly open trade regime that depends on global demand and foreign sourcing for consumers and firms alike. Inflation is moderate at 3.58% in 2024, contributing to price stability for households and businesses. The unemployment rate is relatively low at 5.57% in 2023, suggesting a reasonably usable labor pool, though structural challenges may persist in certain segments or regions. Mauritius allocates funding to innovation with research and development (R&D) expenditure at 0.234% of GDP in 2023, a modest level that points to a growing but still embryonic innovation ecosystem. The country benefits from foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows at 5.39% of GDP in 2023, supporting capital formation, technology transfer, and employment in new sectors. The current account balance is negative, at -4.59% of GDP in 2023, indicating a reliance on external financing and/or continued external demand to sustain growth. High-technology exports amount to about 6.4 million US dollars in 2023, evidencing a nascent but emerging sophistication in technology-driven production and export. Overall, Mauritius’ economy blends a credible living-standard level with openness to global markets, while maintaining a balance between services-led growth and ongoing investment in knowledge-based activities, albeit with a need to expand R&D intensity and diversify export capabilities further to increase resilience against external shocks.

Trade and Investment

Mauritius operates in a highly open trade environment with a strong tilt toward services, supported by a growth-friendly investment climate. Exports of goods and services represent 46.2% of GDP in 2024, reflecting a diversified export base that includes tourism-linked services, financial services, and manufactured goods. Imports account for 57.8% of GDP in 2024, highlighting the country’s dependency on external sources for intermediate goods, consumer products, and energy—common for a small island economy with limited domestic production capacity. The current account balance stands at -4.59% of GDP in 2023, signaling ongoing external financing needs and sensitivity to global capital and trade cycles. Foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows are 5.39% of GDP in 2023, indicating that Mauritius remains an attractive destination for investors seeking regional access, investor protection, and a relatively open regulatory framework. The logistics performance index (LPI) for quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure sits at 2.5 (out of 5) in 2022, suggesting average to moderate efficiency in moving goods and materials, with opportunities for improvement in ports, customs, and transport networks. Regulatory quality stands at 1.06 in 2023, alongside a Rule of Law score of 0.805 and a Control of Corruption score of 0.453, implying a generally predictable business environment with some governance challenges that could affect investment decisions and regulatory certainty. Mauritius invests in knowledge-based activities, as seen in patent applications (residents) totaling 6 in 2021, and R&D expenditure at 0.234% of GDP in 2023, highlighting room to expand intellectual property activity and innovation-driven exports. The country’s high-technology exports, while still modest at about 6.4 million US dollars in 2023, indicate potential for higher-value manufacturing and tech-enabled services if investment in human capital and research infrastructure continues. Taken together, Mauritius appears well-positioned for international trade and investment, especially in tourism, financial services, and select high-value sectors, though continued emphasis on improving logistics, governance, and R&D intensity will bolster resilience and competitiveness.

Governance and Institutions

Mauritius shows a framework of governance that balances stability with development challenges. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism stand at 0.775 in 2023, signaling a relatively stable political environment by regional and international standards. The Regulatory Quality index is 1.06, indicating a reasonably capable regulatory framework that supports business activity, albeit with scope for simplification and modernization in certain areas. The Rule of Law measures at 0.805 point to solid adherence to legal norms, property rights, and contract enforcement, reinforcing confidence for investment and financial activity. Control of Corruption is 0.453, reflecting persistent but not extreme concerns about corruption that could impede public service delivery and private sector efficiency. Government Effectiveness scores 0.71 in 2023 suggest a functioning civil service capable of implementing policy, while ongoing reforms could improve efficiency, transparency, and service delivery. The convergence of these governance indicators implies Mauritius enjoys relative political and institutional stability, a conducive environment for business and investment, and a policymaking apparatus that can deliver reforms. Nevertheless, the mixed corruption signal and the need to sustain improvements in civil service efficiency indicate that governance remains a work in progress, requiring continued emphasis on transparency, accountability, and institutional capacity building to maintain competitiveness and social cohesion in the face of global and domestic pressures.

Infrastructure and Technology

Mauritius displays a solid technology-adoption profile amid ongoing infrastructure development. Internet penetration is high, with 79.5% of the population using the internet in 2023, supporting digital economies, e-government, and online services. The country’s health and education digitalization potential is reinforced by a relatively well-educated workforce and the ability to leverage digital platforms for business and governance. The transport and trade logistics side shows a mixed picture: the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) for quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure is 2.5 (2022) on a 1-to-5 scale, suggesting moderate efficiency and room for improvement in ports, customs processing, and freight mobility. Health infrastructure enjoys a capacity of 3.71 hospital beds per 1,000 people (2021) and 1.2 physicians per 1,000 people (2022), indicating accessible medical services, though broader geographic coverage could be pursued to reduce urban–rural disparities. Mauritius also exhibits evidence of science and technology activity, with high-technology exports totaling about 6.4 million US dollars in 2023 and research and development expenditure at 0.234% of GDP in 2023, underscoring a developing but comparatively modest investment in knowledge creation and high-value manufacturing. Patent activity (residents) sits at 6 applications in 2021, revealing nascent intellectual property activity that could be boosted by targeted incentives and stronger linkages between universities, industry, and startups. Renewable energy consumption accounts for 8.6% of total final energy consumption in 2021, highlighting opportunities to accelerate the energy transition ahead of climate commitments. Collectively, Mauritius demonstrates a credible digital and infrastructural base, yet the innovation ecosystem and logistics efficiency offer meaningful margins for improvement to sustain growth and competitiveness in a fast-changing global landscape.

Environment and Sustainability

Mauritius faces several environmental and sustainability challenges alongside opportunities for progress. Renewable energy accounts for 8.6% of total final energy consumption in 2021, indicating room to scale up clean energy sources to reduce import dependency and emissions. The level of water stress, measured as freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources, is 22.0% in 2021, signaling moderate pressure on water resources that will require prudent management, especially in tourism and agricultural sectors. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita stand at 4.92 t CO2e in 2023, placing Mauritius in a mid-range position globally, with potential for further reductions through energy and transport decarbonization. The country’s environmental vulnerability is heightened by its island geography and exposure to climate change impacts such as sea-level rise and extreme weather events, making resilience planning essential. The level of food security remains relatively favorable, with undernourishment at 5.9% of the population in 2022, yet climate and import reliance could affect future food availability and prices. Overall, Mauritius shows a commitment to sustainability through some progress in energy diversification and resource management, but the path toward deeper decarbonization, water-security resilience, and sustainable development will require intensified investments in renewable energy, efficient infrastructure, and climate adaptation strategies, alongside ongoing governance and public engagement to align policy with environmental risk and economic needs.