Mauritius is a tropical Indian Ocean island nation east of Madagascar, famous for white-sand beaches, Creole culture, and being the only known home of the now-extinct dodo bird.
Geography & landscape
Mauritius sits in Eastern Africa, in the southern hemisphere of Africa. With an area of approximately 2,040 km², it is a compact territory, set in the southern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Port Louis, lies near coordinates -20.28°, 57.55°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Africa, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Eastern Africa region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Mauritius.
People & society
The population of Mauritius is around 1.3M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Mauritius recognises multiple official languages — English and French — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Mauritius is structured as a parliamentary republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Port Louis, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee (MUR). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Port Louis and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Mauritius shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Mauritius through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Port Louis, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +230, and clocks are set to the MUT (UTC+4) time zone. ISO standards identify Mauritius as MU (alpha-2) and MUS (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇲🇺, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Port Louis | — |
| Continent | Africa | — |
| Sub-region | Eastern Africa | — |
| Population | 1.3M | people |
| Area | 2,040 | km² |
| Currency | Mauritian Rupee (MUR) | — |
| Calling code | +230 | international dialling |
| Time zone | MUT (UTC+4) | standard time |
| Government type | Parliamentary republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | MU | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | MUS | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | -20.28 | degrees |
| Longitude | 57.55 | degrees |
Did you know?
The dodo, extinct since the late 17th century, lived only on Mauritius and is the country's national bird and a beloved symbol.
