Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Mauritius
Mauritius: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 59.1% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
59.1%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
45th
of 214 countries
All-time high
59.2%
in 2020
All-time low
55.9%
in 1972
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Mauritius, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2024, rural population in Mauritius stood at 59.1%.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Mauritius peaked at 59.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 55.9%, in 1972.
That places Mauritius 45th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Mauritius, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 57.4% | — |
| 1971 | 56.7% | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 55.9% | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 56.1% | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 56.3% | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 56.6% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 56.8% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 57.0% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 57.2% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 57.4% | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 57.6% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 57.9% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 58.1% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 58.3% | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 58.0% | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 57.7% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 57.4% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 57.0% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 56.7% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 56.4% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 56.1% | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 56.2% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 56.3% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 56.5% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 56.6% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 56.7% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 56.8% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 57.0% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 57.1% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 57.2% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 57.3% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 57.4% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 57.6% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 57.7% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 57.8% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 58.0% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 58.1% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 58.2% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 58.3% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 58.4% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 58.6% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 58.7% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 58.8% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 58.9% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 59.0% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 59.1% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 59.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 59.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 59.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 59.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 59.2% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 59.2% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 59.1% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 59.1% | -0.1% |
Mauritius compared with similar countries
- Mauritius's 59.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.5%, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Mauritius's 59.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 54.5%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.7% | 55.9% | 57.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 57.5% | 56.4% | 58.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 56.7% | 56.1% | 57.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.8% | 57.3% | 58.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.9% | 58.4% | 59.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.2% | 59.1% | 59.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mauritius
- 42 Mozambique 60.7% compare
- 43 Vietnam 59.8% compare
- 44 Yemen 59.5% compare
- 46 Bangladesh 58.8% compare
- 47 Madagascar 58.8% compare
- 48 Maldives 57.6% compare
More population data for Mauritius
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.42 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.42 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7958 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1,226 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.011 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.42 (2100)
- Population density 291.3 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 18,891 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Mauritius?
- Rural population in Mauritius was 59.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Mauritius?
- The highest recorded value was 59.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Mauritius?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.9% in 1972.
- How does Mauritius rank for rural population?
- Mauritius ranks 45th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Mauritius?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mauritius data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release