Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mauritius
Mauritius: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 43.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mauritius, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Mauritius recorded 43.2% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.
The figure is down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mauritius peaked at 47.3% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 32.9%, in 1950.
That places Mauritius 88th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mauritius, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 32.9% | — |
| 1955 | 35.4% | +7.9% |
| 1960 | 39.6% | +11.8% |
| 1965 | 42.8% | +8.0% |
| 1970 | 46.5% | +8.6% |
| 1975 | 47.3% | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 46.7% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 46.3% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 46.3% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 45.3% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 45.0% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 44.4% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 43.7% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 43.2% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 43.2% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34.1% | 32.9% | 35.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 41.2% | 39.6% | 42.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 46.9% | 46.5% | 47.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 46.5% | 46.3% | 46.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 45.8% | 45.3% | 46.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 44.7% | 44.4% | 45.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 43.5% | 43.2% | 43.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 43.2% | 43.2% | 43.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mauritius
More population data for Mauritius
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7958 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.42 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 18,891 people (2100)
- Population density 291.3 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.011 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mauritius?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mauritius was 43.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Mauritius?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Mauritius?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.9% in 1950.
- How does Mauritius rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Mauritius ranks 88th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Mauritius?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritius data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.