The Human Truth Foundation

Mauritius (The Republic of Mauritius)

https://www.humantruth.info/mauritius.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#mauritius

Mauritius
Republic of Mauritius
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index46th best
CapitalPort Louis
Land Area 2 030km21
LocationAfrica
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population1.3m2
Life Expectancy73.56yrs (2017)3
GNI$22 025 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesMU, MUS, 4805
Internet Domain.mu6
CurrencyRupee (MUR)7
Telephone+2308

1. Overview

#france #mauritius #netherlands #portugal #UK

Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverPrediction for your arrival: it's a sunny, 29°C in the air and water. Soon you're lazing on a white-sand beach with a tropical fruit juice in hand - the best cure for winter blues. Mark Twain once wrote that 'Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius'. For the most part, it's true: Mauritius is rightly famed for its sapphire waters, powder-white beaches and luxury resorts. But there´s so much more to Mauritius than the beach when it comes to attractions. There's bird-watching and hiking in the forested and mountainous interior or world-class diving and snorkelling. Or there are boat trips to near-perfect islets and excursions to fabulous botanical gardens and colonial plantation houses. Either way, the possibilities can seem endless. And the real Mauritius - a hot curry of different cultures, traffic and quiet fishing villages - is never far away.

Ultimately, Mauritius is the kind of place that rewards even the smallest attempts at exploration. So, if your biggest discovery is the beach butler service at your hotel, then you'll need to plan a second visit!

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Mauritius National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
60Belarus0.808
61Panama0.805
62Malaysia0.803
63=Mauritius0.802
63=Georgia0.802
63=Serbia0.802
66Thailand0.800
67Albania0.796
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
59St Kitts & Nevis$23 358
60Bulgaria$23 079
61Guyana$22 465
62Mauritius$22 025
63Uruguay$21 269
64Argentina$20 925
65Montenegro$20 839
66Costa Rica$19 974
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.2
2Norway29.2
3Sweden30.2
...
43USA64.1
44Lithuania64.2
45Andorra64.8
46Mauritius66.1
47Bulgaria68.6
48Romania70.2
49Thailand70.4
50Argentina70.6
Africa Avg115.2
World Avg89.2
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Mauritius's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #mauritius #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Mauritius's population is predicted to rise to 1.394 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.32. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account13. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.14

Mauritius was once forecast to have a much gloomier future after a population explosion in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with the New York Times in 1962 saying that if things continued as they were the island would hit 2m by year 2000 and be "reduced to indescribable misery"15. The surge didn't last; life expectancy in Mauritius improved by only +5.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Thankfully, increasing education and women's rights worked to keep the fertility rate at a sensible level, and hence, the population stabilized.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
152Estonia1.3m
153Equatorial Guinea1.3m
154Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.3m
155Mauritius1.3m
156Cyprus1.2m
157Swaziland1.1m
158Djibouti1.0m
159Fiji0.9m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
77Ecuador73.7
78Vietnam73.6
79Latvia73.6
80Mauritius73.6
81Palestine73.5
82N. Korea73.3
83Trinidad & Tobago73.0
84Colombia72.8
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
16
Pos.202216
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
115Micronesia2.67
116Canada1.33
117Marshall Islands2.67
118=Mauritius1.32
118=Finland1.32
120Thailand1.32
121Cyprus1.31
122Luxembourg1.31
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
17
Pos.2016
Per 10017
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
128Sri Lanka23.7
129Moldova24.7
130China25.3
131Mauritius25.9
132Uruguay26.8
133Cyprus26.9
134Chile27.0
135Macedonia27.7
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants18
Pos.2017
%18
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
117Ecuador2.4%
118Paraguay2.4%
119Uruguay2.3%
120Mauritius2.3%
121Benin2.3%
122S. Korea2.3%
123Cameroon2.2%
124Bulgaria2.2%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants19
Pos.2010
%19
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
58Kyrgyzstan11.2%
59Tajikistan11.2%
60Cuba10.9%
61Mauritius10.9%
62Greece10.8%
63Mexico10.7%
64Andorra10.7%
65Liberia10.5%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Mauritius's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Africa (2025)20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank20
1Cape Verde65.1
2S. Africa70.5
3Mauritius76.4
4Seychelles83.6
5Namibia86.6
6Ghana89.8
7Botswana89.8
8Lesotho91.8
9Burkina Faso93.5
10Senegal94.6
11Madagascar100.2
12Gabon101.8
13Mali102.1
Africa Avg116.60
q=54.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank20
1Sweden7.5
2Netherlands8.6
3Denmark9.0
...
60Ukraine73.9
61Ecuador74.6
62Panama76.4
63Mauritius76.4
64Suriname76.4
65Romania76.6
66Guatemala77.4
67Macedonia78.3
World Avg90.04
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark21. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia21.

30 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe21, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia21.

For more, see:

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics #slavery

Press Freedom
Higher is better
22
Pos.202522
1Norway92.31
2Estonia89.46
3Netherlands88.64
...
47Belize68.32
48Italy68.01
49Mauritania67.52
50Mauritius67.31
51Ghana67.13
52Panama66.75
53Liberia66.61
54Romania66.42
Africa Avg52.30
World Avg54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.
Slavery in the 2020s
Lower is better
23
Pos.Slavery in the 2020s
Per 100023
1=Switzerland0.50
1=Norway0.50
3=Germany0.60
...
8=Japan1.10
8=Ireland1.10
10Finland1.40
11Mauritius1.50
12=Australia1.60
12=Lesotho1.60
12=New Zealand1.60
15Taiwan1.70
Africa Avg6.90
World Avg7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.
Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
51=Jamaica2.0
51=Guyana2.0
51=USA2.0
51=Mauritius2.0
51=Argentina2.0
51=Greece2.0
51=Antigua & Barbuda2.0
51=Sao Tome & Principe2.0
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
24
Pos.2009
Treaties24
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
115=Jamaica14
115=Jordan14
115=China14
115=Mauritius14
115=Botswana14
115=Madagascar14
115=Syria14
115=Sudan14
Africa Avg14.8
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
25
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty25
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
44Sri Lanka6.91
45Syria7.02
46Uganda7.03
47Mauritius7.09
48Australia7.31
49Brazil7.36
50Guinea7.43
51Finland7.49
Africa Avg9.88
World Avg10.02
q=195.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Mauritius and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting. Mauritius has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
26
Pos.202226
1Denmark0.01
2Norway0.01
3Switzerland0.02
...
83Jamaica0.35
84Mexico0.36
85El Salvador0.37
86Mauritius0.37
87Peru0.37
88Ecuador0.37
89Sri Lanka0.37
90Lebanon0.38
Africa Avg0.53
World Avg0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Year Women Can Vote
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
107=Cambodia1955
108=Mali1956
108=Benin1956
108=Mauritius1956
108=Somalia1956
108=Gabon1956
108=Egypt1956
108=Comoros1956
Africa Avg1961
World Avg1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#2020s #antisemitism #freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

Anti-Semite Opinions
Lower is better
27
Pos.2014
%27
1Laos0
2Philippines3
3Sweden4
...
73=Dominican Rep.41
74Serbia42
75=Bulgaria44
75=Mauritius44
77Poland45
78Indonesia48
79Panama52
80=Senegal53
Africa Avg45.9
World Avg36.8
q=101.
LGBT Equality in the 2020s
Higher is better
28
Pos.LGBT Equality in the 2020s
Score28
1=Germany4.88
1=Spain4.88
3Portugal4.81
...
156Kuwait-3.44
157Namibia-3.52
158Tuvalu-3.53
159Mauritius-3.94
160Ivory Coast-3.95
161=Benin-4.09
161=Equatorial Guinea-4.09
163Niger-4.12
Africa Avg-3.78
World Avg-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Criminal Code criminalizes sodomy (reform cases ongoing)

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Mauritius had legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination, and other protections.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
29
Pos.202129
1=Belgium1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
...
77=Latvia2.8
77=Monaco2.8
77=Jamaica2.8
77=Mauritius2.8
77=Gambia2.8
77=Montenegro2.8
77=Argentina2.8
77=UK2.8
Africa Avg3.1
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Mauritius's Health

#health

Compared to Africa (2025)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Mauritius72.2
2Tunisia73.9
3Seychelles78.0
4Morocco85.7
5Cape Verde97.0
6Algeria97.2
7Libya100.6
8Sao Tome & Principe108.5
9Botswana108.7
10Egypt113.2
11Ghana117.4
12Rwanda117.5
13Kenya119.7
Africa Avg127.77
q=54.
Health (2025)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Monaco10.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Japan40.8
...
49Poland71.1
50Malta71.3
51Hungary72.0
52Mauritius72.2
53Greenland72.3
54Slovakia72.8
55Montenegro73.5
56Tunisia73.9
World Avg97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan31.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean31, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia31.

For more, see:

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mauritius #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Mauritius does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Mauritius does better than average when it comes to delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-201532 (amongst the highest in Africa), its alcohol consumption rate33, the prevalence of overweight adults34 (but high for Africa), its adolescent birth rate35, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s36, childhood mortality in the 2020s37 and in its average life expectancy11. But, there's bad news too. Mauritius does worse than average in its smoking rate38, its suicide rate39, its fertility rate16 (still good for Africa) and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance40. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Mauritius improved by +5.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Mauritius's peak fertility rate was 6.18 in 1961.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
77Ecuador73.7
78Vietnam73.6
79Latvia73.6
80Mauritius73.6
81Palestine73.5
82N. Korea73.3
83Trinidad & Tobago73.0
84Colombia72.8
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
33
Pos.2016
Per Capita33
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
59=Central African Rep.3.3
59=Tajikistan3.3
61Kenya3.4
62Mauritius3.6
63Malawi3.7
64=El Salvador3.8
64=Gambia3.8
64=Israel3.8
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
16
Pos.202216
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
115Micronesia2.67
116Canada1.33
117Marshall Islands2.67
118=Mauritius1.32
118=Finland1.32
120Thailand1.32
121Cyprus1.31
122Luxembourg1.31
Africa Avg3.97
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
Smoking in the 2020s
Lower is better
38
Pos.Smoking in the 2020s
%38
1Nigeria3.3%
2Ghana3.4%
3Panama5.2%
...
90Uruguay20.5%
91Tunisia20.6%
92S. Africa20.7%
93Mauritius21.0%
94Algeria21.2%
95=Netherlands21.3%
95=Germany21.3%
97Yemen21.4%
Africa Avg12.4%
World Avg20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
Suicide Rate in the 2010s
Lower is better
39
Pos.Suicide Rate in the 2010s
Per 100k39
1=Jordan1.00
1=Sao Tome & Principe1.00
1=Antigua & Barbuda1.00
...
112Argentina8.95
113Singapore9.08
114=China9.15
114=Mauritius9.15
116Gabon9.25
117Fiji9.67
118Togo9.77
119Kyrgyzstan10.02
Africa Avg7.70
World Avg9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
123Laos123
124Antigua & Barbuda124
125Burkina Faso125
126Mauritius126
127Congo, DR127
128Gabon128
129Ivory Coast129
130Mongolia130
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
34
Pos.1976
%34
1Bangladesh4.7
2Vietnam5.1
3Nepal5.4
...
64Zimbabwe16.3
65=N. Korea16.8
65=Brunei16.8
67Mauritius17.0
68Seychelles17.4
69=Haiti20.2
69=Yemen20.2
71Djibouti20.5
Africa Avg13.4
World Avg27.1
q=191.
Adult Obesity
Lower is better
41
Pos.2022
%41
1Vietnam2.1%
2Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.2%
3Ethiopia2.4%
...
71Spain19.2%
72Lesotho19.3%
73Kazakhstan19.3%
74Mauritius19.5%
75Norway19.8%
76Vanuatu19.9%
77Gabon20.0%
78Papua New Guinea20.1%
Africa Avg13.7%
World Avg24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
35
Pos.2022
Per 100035
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
73Hungary21.9
74Djibouti22.7
75Chile22.8
76Mauritius24.0
77Jordan24.9
78Mongolia25.0
79Bahamas25.1
80Morocco25.5
Africa Avg84.6
World Avg43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s)
Higher is better
36
Pos.Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s)
Avg %36
1=Luxembourg99.0
1=Oman99.0
1=Niue99.0
...
75=Uruguay95.6
75=Spain95.6
75=Malaysia95.6
78Mauritius95.5
79Croatia95.3
80Czechia95.1
81Kenya94.9
82Bermuda94.8
Africa Avg82.9
World Avg88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.
7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015)
Higher is better
32
Pos.2015
Avg %32
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
18Cuba97.9
19Belgium97.8
20Thailand97.8
21=Mauritius97.6
21=Fiji97.6
23Kuwait97.5
24Morocco97.5
25=Monaco97.3
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.
Infant Mortality (2020s)
Lower is better37
Pos.Infant Mortality (2020s)
Per 100037
1San Marino2.11
2Finland2.59
3Luxembourg2.60
...
75Turkey13.98
76Libya14.17
77Seychelles14.49
78Mauritius14.97
79El Salvador15.03
80Kosovo15.11
81Armenia15.18
82Bahamas15.20
Africa Avg71.63
World Avg32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Mauritius's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #mauritius #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Morocco46.5
2Burundi47.8
3Mali51.0
4Madagascar52.4
5Nigeria55.8
6Rwanda56.4
7Uganda57.8
8Kenya57.9
9Mauritius58.1
10Ghana58.6
11Tunisia60.1
12Niger61.3
13Tanzania61.6
Africa Avg78.58
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
20Uganda57.8
21Kenya57.9
22Portugal58.0
23Mauritius58.1
24Germany58.2
25Ghana58.6
26Thailand59.5
27Spain59.5
World Avg84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"43. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Mauritius ranks 23rd in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is formulated from 21 data sets. Mauritius does better than average for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, energy to GDP efficiency44 (but high for Africa) and in its environmental performance45. But, there's bad news too. Mauritius does worse than average when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person46 and in its forested percent change 2000-202047.

Mauritius was subject to a massive oil spill in August 2000, and the government handled it so poorly, and the effects on the environment so disastrous, that there was widespread civil unrest against the government over several months48.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
47
Pos.Total47
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
181Honduras-6.3%
182Equatorial Guinea-6.5%
183N. Korea-6.7%
184Mauritius-7.5%
185Liberia-7.5%
186Bolivia-7.9%
187Singapore-7.9%
188Guinea-Bissau-8.0%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
45
Pos.201845
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
87Ecuador57.4
88Algeria57.2
89Cape Verde56.9
90Mauritius56.6
91St Lucia56.2
92Bolivia56.0
93Barbados55.8
94Georgia55.7
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
44
Pos.2022
Avg44
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
77Poland1.01
78Montenegro1.03
79Lesotho1.03
80Mauritius1.03
81Macedonia1.04
82Austria1.04
83Japan1.05
84Benin1.06
Africa Avg0.83
World Avg1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.International Accords on the Environment
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
20Armenia72%
21Montenegro72%
22Peru72%
23Mauritius72%
24Brazil71%
25Chile71%
26S. Africa71%
27Cyprus71%
Africa Avg56.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Mauritius is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change; it was one of 18 countries who enacted Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in its first year (1975) and one of 30 who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on its first day; and also, signed the Paris Agreement within the first few months in Q2 2016.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
46
Pos.2021
kg46
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
93Vietnam52.6
94Dominican Rep.53.5
95Peru54.0
96Mauritius54.2
97Saudi Arabia55.1
98Zimbabwe56.0
99Belize56.6
100Japan57.2
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

6.1. Birds 49

#birds #conservation #environmentalism #over_exploitation #overpopulation

At the end of the 17th century Francois Leguat in Mauritius reported that "this island fairly abounded with Wild Geese and Ducks, Moorhens, Quails, Sea and Land Tortoises, but now all these have become scarce"50. Birds are especially at risk in small islands. "About 171 of the planet's bird species and subspecies are believed to have become extinct: 155 of them (about 91%) are from small islands"51.

It was in Mauritius was where the infamous Dodo went extinct. The last one was seen in 1662 when it was caught and eaten by sailors. Humans introduced pigs and rats to the islands, both of which decimated local populations of ground-nesting birds and many other species. Carelessness was one main cause of this tragic over-exploitation and sometimes-accidental destruction. Reports of the loss of the Dodo and of our other environmental impacts were spread far and wide, amidst rising concern. European colonies had gained experience of how to manage island life better, in a sustainable manner, but it was impossible to slow the commercial tide of exploitation, and difficult to sway policy-makers back home. 'Alliances of island administrators, settlers and visiting scientists attempt[ed] to reset the course of the small tropical islands, several centuries ago'. "In the past 400 years, the basic elements of the dodo story have been repeated on numerous occasions"51 and the fight looks much the same today, with groups such as AOSIS, a federation of dozens of island nations, being at the loud forefront of the fight against climate change on behalf of almost-powerful small islands.50

7. Mauritius's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)52
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank52
1S. Africa63.3
2Seychelles63.4
3Tunisia68.7
4Mauritius69.1
5Egypt75.6
6Morocco81.0
7Algeria87.5
8Gabon87.6
9Cape Verde87.7
10Libya92.8
11Botswana104.8
12Kenya107.0
13Djibouti107.9
Africa Avg124.71
q=54.
Modernity & Learning (2025)52
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank52
1Finland6.1
2Iceland8.1
3Denmark8.8
...
77Uzbekistan68.5
78Tunisia68.7
79Venezuela68.8
80Mauritius69.1
81China69.3
82Lebanon69.8
83UAE71.4
84USA72.0
World Avg84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark53. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia53. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots54.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)55

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe53, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia53.

For more, see:

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric #research #science

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2956
2Israel4.1156
3Japan3.5856
...
92Burkina Faso0.2057
93Vietnam0.1958
94=Panama0.1858
94=Mauritius0.1859
96=Oman0.1760
96=Kazakhstan0.1760
98=Bolivia0.1657
98=Kyrgyzstan0.1658
Africa Avg0.36
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
80Kyrgyzstan80
81Saudi Arabia81
82Uganda82
83Mauritius83
84UAE84
85Tonga85
86Georgia86
87Benin87
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Metric System Adoption Rate
Higher is better
61
Pos.2025
%61
1=Slovakia100
1=Poland100
1=Portugal100
...
55=Armenia95
55=Belarus95
55=Georgia95
55=Mauritius95
55=Chile95
55=Azerbaijan95
55=Ecuador95
55=Colombia95
Africa Avg90
World Avg92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Mauritius officially adopted metric in 187862. Progression:

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education
Higher is better
63
Pos.201863
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
79Vietnam69.4%
80Venezuela69.2%
81Qatar67.5%
82Mauritius66.9%
83Oman66.4%
84Jamaica66.3%
85Egypt65.3%
86Argentina64.8%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
64
Pos.2021
Years64
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
54Kuwait15.3
55Japan15.2
56Liechtenstein15.2
57Mauritius15.2
58Belarus15.2
59Croatia15.1
60Montenegro15.1
61Hungary15.0
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s)
Higher is better
Pos.Internet Users (2020s)
1=Iceland99%
1=Kuwait99%
1=UAE99%
...
101Peru74%
102St Kitts & Nevis74%
103Guyana74%
104Mauritius74%
105Panama73%
106Colombia73%
107Moldova72%
108Egypt72%
Africa Avg41.0%
World Avg67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
65
Pos.2017
Ratio65
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
85=Paraguay0.0
85=Chile0.0
85=US Virgin Islands0.0
85=Mauritius0.0
89=Botswana0.0
89=El Salvador0.0
89=Kenya0.0
89=Cameroon0.0
Africa Avg0.04
World Avg3.82
q=176.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
66
Pos.202466
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
74Georgia43.4%
75Dominican Rep.43.4%
76Ecuador43.3%
77Mauritius42.9%
78Jordan42.6%
79Egypt42.5%
80Panama41.6%
81Paraguay41.2%
Africa Avg32.3%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

8. Mauritius's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Africa (2025)67
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank67
1Mauritius48.7
2=Seychelles67.2
3Tunisia77.0
4Botswana81.9
5Cape Verde82.8
6Morocco84.6
7S. Africa84.7
8Egypt91.9
9Senegal92.9
10Ghana93.2
11Namibia95.2
12Sao Tome & Principe96.1
13Kenya96.7
Africa Avg109.31
q=53.
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)67
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank67
1Denmark10.4
2Netherlands11.8
3Finland12.2
...
34Taiwan45.2
35Costa Rica46.8
36Malaysia47.3
37Mauritius48.7
38UAE49.1
39Uruguay51.4
40Croatia51.6
41Barbados51.9
World Avg80.47
q=183.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 39 datasets, including multiple decades of data on resisting corruption, Creativity and Culture, overall happiness, Open Trading, Aid and Development, passport utility (so far), personal financial stability, World Giving Index, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #freedom #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

Corruption
Higher is better
68
Pos.2022
Points68
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
55=Malta51.0
55=Saudi Arabia51.0
57=Croatia50.0
57=Mauritius50.0
59Namibia49.0
60Vanuatu48.0
61=Jordan47.0
61=Malaysia47.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
24St Lucia24
25Canada25
26Italy26
27Mauritius27
28Malta28
29Singapore29
30Spain30
31Romania31
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Happiness
Higher is better
69
Pos.2024
Score69
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
75Kyrgyzstan5.9
76Dominican Rep.5.8
77Mongolia5.8
78Mauritius5.8
79Libya5.8
80Moldova5.8
81Greece5.8
82Venezuela5.7
Africa Avg4.42
World Avg5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
22Moldova22
23Hungary23
24Jordan24
25Mauritius25
26Zimbabwe26
27Canada27
28Trinidad & Tobago28
29Timor-Leste (E. Timor)29
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Passport Reach (2020s)
Higher is better70
Pos.Passport Reach (2020s)
Q70
1Singapore192.2
2Japan192.0
3S. Korea190.7
...
58Antigua & Barbuda151.3
59Trinidad & Tobago150.3
60Costa Rica150.0
61Mauritius147.8
62St Lucia146.5
63Grenada145.5
64Panama144.2
65Macau144.0
Africa Avg62.9
World Avg108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s
Higher is better
71
Pos.Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s
Score71
1Denmark9.06
2Switzerland9.00
3Finland8.96
...
34UAE7.79
35Latvia7.76
36Cape Verde7.76
37Mauritius7.76
38Chile7.75
39Romania7.72
40Slovakia7.68
41Greece7.62
Africa Avg5.48
World Avg6.46
q=165.
World Giving Index
Higher is better
72
Pos.2022
%72
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
81=Croatia37.0
81=Moldova37.0
81=Israel37.0
81=Mauritius37.0
81=Lithuania37.0
86=Panama36.0
86=El Salvador36.0
86=Saudi Arabia36.0
Africa Avg38.2
World Avg39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
73
Pos.2023
Score73
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
20Belgium1.52
21Qatar1.52
22Australia1.53
23Mauritius1.55
24Norway1.55
25Estonia1.56
26Slovakia1.58
27Latvia1.58
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
53France53
54Australia54
55Italy55
56Mauritius56
57Zambia57
58Romania58
59Vietnam59
60Malawi60
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
31Greece31
32Bulgaria32
33S. Korea33
34Mauritius34
35Bosnia & Herzegovina35
36Romania36
37Uruguay37
38Liberia38
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better
74
Pos.201974
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
73=Turkey9.00
74Libya9.10
75Iran9.20
76Mauritius9.40
77=Seychelles9.60
77=Moldova9.60
79=Jamaica10.00
79=Samoa10.00
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
75
Pos.2023
%75
1Slovakia24.1%76
2Slovenia24.3%76
3Belarus24.4%77
...
95Senegal36.2%76
96=Lithuania36.7%76
96=Yemen36.7%78
98Mauritius36.8%79
99Dominican Rep.37.0%80
100Solomon Islands37.1%81
101=Chad37.4%80
101=Burkina Faso37.4%76
Africa Avg40.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Mauritius - only for 3 years between 1980 and 2019.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:82:

20102020
Hindu48.5%48.3%
Christian32.8%32.9%
Muslim17.4%17.5%
Unaffiliated0.733%0.753%
Buddhist0.398%0.395%
Other0.191%0.19%
Jewish<0.1%<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)83.

Links:

10. The Status of Mauritius as a Tax Haven 49

#africa #bahamas #bermuda #bob_geldoff #british_virgin_islands #cayman_islands #civilisation #crime #democracy #economics #globalism #governance #indonesia #inequality #internationalism #ireland #malta #mauritius #multinationals #netherlands #panama #tax #tax_evasion #tax_havens #USA

Over 200,000 leaked documents from the offshore law firm Conyers Dill & Pearman show how companies structure investments through Mauritius to drastically reduce or completely avoid paying taxes in countries where they actually operate.84

Mauritius built a sophisticated legal and treaty system to create favorable tax treaties with 46 countries, almost all very poor ones, that allows corporate profits to be routed through Mauritius at very low tax rates. Major global firms, including KPMG, helped in this endeavour. The result is deprivation of tax to the poor government of many developing nations, especially in Africa.84

USA corporations such as Aircastle and Pegasus Capital Advisers use Mauritius as a Tax Haven, harming their own country and the places they operate84. A batch of telecommunications companies do it; Vodafone85, and African heavyweight corporations MTN Group86 and Airtel (Bharti Airtel, also strong in Asia)87. Aside from immoral corporations, wealthy individuals also use Mauritius to avoid paying tax. Bob Geldoff's private equity firm ('8 Miles') is one example - the sheer hypocrisy adding to his disgrace after he campaigned so publically for African interests, but now acts to undermine local funding for infrastructure by siphoning off tax across Africa.84

Civilisation relies upon taxation. Workforces are educated, nations are defended. The rule of law, which makes business possible, is secured through state apparatus. The roads on which logistics rely, the national infrastructure that supports electricity and food suppliers, the judicial system: it is all funded through tax. But not all people pay fair. Billionaires manage to pay just 0% to 0.5% of their wealth in tax, significantly less than all others88. The United Nations say that 46% of the world's wealth is owned by the richest 1% of the population89, and economists think somewhere between 10% and 50% of it all is held in tax havens90,91, forcing the poor to pay a much higher proportion and causing true damage to democracies and developing countries alike, generating grievances and resentment92.93

Large multinationals excel at tax evasion by exploiting holes between tax jurisdictions91, by making their accounting artificially complicated94, and by hiding profits in low-tax countries (at a rate of $1 trillion per year)95. Some of the most well-known corporate tax evaders include the tech giants Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Netflix94,96; Nike90, and, the fashion and textile industry as a whole has produced a long and terrible legacy of using modern-day slave-labour97 in low-tax special economic zones in places like Indonesia98.99

Tax havens can be found in Panama90,100, the Netherlands90,101, Malta90, the Cayman Islands90,100, Guernsey100,102, Jersey100,102, the British Virgin Islands90,102, the USA's states of Delaware, Wyoming, Nevada and South Dakota plus Puerto Rico100; the Isle of Man100, Mauritius90, Bermuda90,100, the Bahamas100, Ireland103, Luxembourg100, Macao100, Singapore100 and Switzerland100. They support the same financial schemes that also allow organized criminals, drug lords, violent gangs and terrorist groups to launder money.

The complexity of taxes, and the international flows of money, mean that it has moved beyond the ability of any government to fix the problem of tax evasion on its own104,105,106,91. Co-operation is the only possible way to collect tax from the reluctant wealthy, selfish corporations, and antisocial criminal gangs. Since the late 2010s, a multinational scheme saw banks in over 140 places begin to share banking information to catch tax cheats and "offshore tax evasion has declined by a factor of about three in less than 10 years"107 but still, the rich and powerful manage to pay less than struggling citizens107

"Tax Evasion" by Vexen Crabtree (2021)