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Mauritius vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritius has a population of 1.25M (ranked 156/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Mauritius' land area is 771 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 170th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Mauritius ranks 143/197 ($14.9B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Mauritius ranks 78/197 ($11,991), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Mauritius South Africa
Population
1240121
65683993
Population rank 157/197 24/197
GDP
$14.9B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 143/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$11,991
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 78/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,840
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$13.6B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
91.1%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$10,929
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 54/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$7,203
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 771 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
1,608 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.39
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
38.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
75.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Mauritius and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Mauritius and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Mauritius

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Mauritius South Africa
2024 $14,937,861,786 $401,144,998,374
2023 $14,072,212,290 $381,440,724,491
2022 $12,936,444,123 $407,596,043,068
2021 $11,622,048,697 $419,986,284,375
2020 $11,566,111,138 $337,974,655,408
2019 $14,645,235,205 $389,330,032,224
2018 $14,957,535,716 $405,260,723,893
2017 $13,896,938,315 $381,448,814,653
2016 $12,757,680,847 $323,585,509,674
2015 $12,162,211,503 $346,709,790,459
2014 $13,230,490,082 $381,198,869,776
2013 $12,434,596,541 $400,886,013,596
2012 $11,832,323,837 $434,400,545,086
2011 $11,677,718,382 $458,199,494,831
2010 $10,144,716,155 $417,363,822,802
2009 $9,264,513,545 $329,754,060,647
2008 $10,127,777,060 $316,131,258,616
2007 $8,277,442,915 $333,077,117,254
2006 $7,137,710,413 $303,858,675,364
2005 $6,576,108,447 $288,867,217,197
2004 $6,667,418,752 $255,806,908,595
2003 $5,894,873,920 $197,018,965,309
2002 $4,906,494,249 $129,087,556,612
2001 $4,675,755,867 $135,429,905,923
2000 $4,726,108,622 $151,752,757,215
1999 $4,402,193,195 $151,516,957,079
1998 $4,225,813,976 $152,982,984,557
1997 $4,243,755,308 $168,978,057,328
1996 $4,481,489,762 $163,234,925,381
1995 $4,094,741,652 $171,735,933,897
1994 $3,606,050,873 $153,512,712,382
1993 $3,307,302,126 $147,194,747,566
1992 $3,267,677,814 $146,956,150,987
1991 $2,895,354,736 $135,203,698,238
1990 $2,689,212,760 $126,048,140,142
1989 $2,211,312,823 $108,055,624,082
1988 $2,163,252,449 $103,976,831,871
1987 $1,906,174,438 $96,535,763,418
1986 $1,482,601,552 $73,354,771,399
1985 $1,090,611,325 $64,459,376,087
1984 $1,054,564,759 $84,870,163,366
1983 $1,104,956,573 $96,204,110,942
1982 $1,092,923,636 $85,904,057,409
1981 $1,157,769,444 $93,141,472,164
1980 $1,147,027,924 $89,411,864,402
1979 $1,227,446,632 $63,038,658,089
1978 $1,029,040,323 $51,607,412,902
1977 $834,722,972 $45,328,411,332
1976 $713,510,052 $41,150,460,288
1975 $673,311,287 $42,906,905,672
1974 $669,894,030 $41,389,186,095
1973 $404,285,775 $33,262,772,008
1972 $318,664,900 $24,515,919,217
1971 $251,437,338 $23,411,076,638
1970 $224,125,805 $21,218,391,513
1969 $221,553,613 $19,256,992,297
1968 $206,576,631 $17,124,793,150
1967 $238,439,291 $15,821,393,671
1966 $227,534,083 $14,211,394,315
1965 $230,024,161 $13,068,994,772
1964 $218,914,569 $11,955,995,218
1963 $253,839,558 $10,854,195,658
1962 $197,738,208 $9,813,996,074
1961 $191,757,729 $9,225,996,310
1960 $162,089,564 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/mauritius/south-africa | CC BY

Mauritius and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Mauritius

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Mauritius South Africa
2024 $11,991 $6,267
2023 $11,270 $6,034
2022 $10,247 $6,534
2021 $9,178 $6,829
2020 $9,136 $5,581
2019 $11,568 $6,534
2018 $11,819 $6,914
2017 $10,987 $6,618
2016 $10,095 $5,651
2015 $9,631 $6,112
2014 $10,490 $6,857
2013 $9,877 $7,332
2012 $9,422 $8,077
2011 $9,324 $8,646
2010 $8,113 $7,973
2009 $7,427 $6,375
2008 $8,141 $6,185
2007 $6,677 $6,592
2006 $5,784 $6,077
2005 $5,354 $5,837
2004 $5,461 $5,221
2003 $4,858 $4,062
2002 $4,073 $2,688
2001 $3,909 $2,847
2000 $3,982 $3,218
1999 $3,746 $3,242
1998 $3,642 $3,310
1997 $3,696 $3,700
1996 $3,952 $3,618
1995 $3,648 $3,856
1994 $3,240 $3,489
1993 $3,014 $3,400
1992 $3,013 $3,462
1991 $2,705 $3,243
1990 $2,540 $3,093
1989 $2,103 $2,727
1988 $2,074 $2,702
1987 $1,840 $2,586
1986 $1,442 $2,027
1985 $1,069 $1,839
1984 $1,042 $2,504
1983 $1,103 $2,938
1982 $1,101 $2,717
1981 $1,181 $3,050
1980 $1,187 $3,029
1979 $1,292 $2,202
1978 $1,102 $1,852
1977 $906 $1,671
1976 $787 $1,559
1975 $755 $1,670
1974 $763 $1,656
1973 $467 $1,369
1972 $374 $1,038
1971 $299.6 $1,020
1970 $271.3 $952
1969 $272.7 $891
1968 $258.7 $817
1967 $304 $779
1966 $296 $722
1965 $305 $685
1964 $297.3 $646
1963 $353 $605
1962 $282.3 $563
1961 $281.7 $546
1960 $238.3 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/mauritius/south-africa | CC BY

Mauritius vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Mauritius

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Mauritius South Africa
2026 75.4 66.7
2025 75.3 66.5
2024 75.1 66.3
2023 74.9 66.1
2022 73.5 65.5
2021 72.9 62
2020 74.7 65.2
2019 74.2 66.1
2018 74.5 65.7
2017 75 65.4
2016 74.9 64.7
2015 74.7 64.1
2014 74.6 63.2
2013 74.4 62.4
2012 74.3 61.7
2011 74.1 60.6
2010 73.6 58.9
2009 73.3 57.4
2008 73.1 56
2007 72.9 54.9
2006 72.8 54.2
2005 72.6 53.9
2004 72.5 54
2003 72.3 54.2
2002 72.1 55.6
2001 72 57.2
2000 71.8 58.4
1999 71.4 59.2
1998 70.9 59.9
1997 70.7 60.5
1996 70.5 61.1
1995 70.6 61.6
1994 70.4 62.1
1993 70.4 62.6
1992 70.2 62.8
1991 70.1 63
1990 69.8 62.9
1989 69.5 63
1988 69.4 62.9
1987 69.2 62.7
1986 68.9 62.4
1985 68.7 62.2
1984 68.6 61.8
1983 68.4 61.4
1982 67.9 60.9
1981 67.2 60.4
1980 66.5 60
1979 66 59.5
1978 65.3 59
1977 64.8 58.5
1976 64 58
1975 64.4 57.6
1974 64.2 57.1
1973 64.3 56.7
1972 63.8 56.4
1971 63.8 56
1970 63.7 55.7
1969 62.7 55.4
1968 62.1 55.2
1967 61.7 55
1966 62.1 54.7
1965 62.1 54.4
1964 61.5 54.2
1963 61.1 53.9
1962 60.5 53.6
1961 59.5 53.1
1960 58.4 52.6
1959 57.4 51.9
1958 56.4 51.1
1957 55.7 50.2
1956 55.1 49.2
1955 53.8 48.2
1954 52.2 47.1
1953 51.5 46.1
1952 52.1 45
1951 52.5 44.1
1950 51.9 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/mauritius/south-africa | CC BY

Mauritius and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Mauritius

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Mauritius South Africa
2024 1,245,779 64,007,187
2023 1,248,647 63,212,384
2022 1,262,523 62,378,410
2021 1,266,334 61,502,603
2020 1,266,014 60,562,381
2019 1,265,985 59,587,885
2018 1,265,577 58,613,001
2017 1,264,887 57,635,162
2016 1,263,747 57,259,551
2015 1,262,879 56,723,537
2014 1,261,208 55,594,838
2013 1,258,927 54,678,791
2012 1,255,882 53,782,567
2011 1,252,404 52,995,205
2010 1,250,400 52,344,051
2009 1,247,429 51,728,516
2008 1,244,121 51,114,599
2007 1,239,630 50,528,584
2006 1,233,996 49,998,277
2005 1,228,254 49,490,033
2004 1,221,003 48,991,421
2003 1,213,370 48,500,348
2002 1,204,621 48,019,415
2001 1,196,287 47,566,800
2000 1,186,873 47,159,719
1999 1,175,267 46,730,335
1998 1,160,421 46,223,880
1997 1,148,284 45,666,838
1996 1,133,996 45,123,018
1995 1,122,457 44,541,554
1994 1,112,846 44,004,139
1993 1,097,374 43,297,156
1992 1,084,441 42,443,509
1991 1,070,266 41,687,898
1990 1,058,775 40,746,268
1989 1,051,260 39,628,575
1988 1,043,239 38,480,649
1987 1,036,082 37,326,190
1986 1,028,360 36,180,515
1985 1,020,528 35,042,093
1984 1,012,221 33,892,788
1983 1,001,691 32,739,304
1982 992,521 31,615,339
1981 980,462 30,541,044
1980 966,039 29,518,857
1979 949,888 28,634,162
1978 933,499 27,869,507
1977 921,379 27,118,952
1976 906,507 26,395,450
1975 892,000 25,690,940
1974 878,042 24,989,108
1973 864,819 24,294,263
1972 852,053 23,609,456
1971 839,230 22,942,143
1970 826,000 22,279,984
1969 812,405 21,614,676
1968 798,413 20,957,287
1967 783,917 20,314,066
1966 768,813 19,690,087
1965 753,000 19,089,380
1964 736,381 18,511,361
1963 718,861 17,954,564
1962 700,349 17,418,522
1961 680,757 16,908,035
1960 680,331 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/mauritius/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Mauritius and South Africa

Fertility rate
Mauritius

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Mauritius South Africa
2023 1.39 2.22
2022 1.32 2.23
2021 1.41 2.25
2020 1.44 2.26
2019 1.4 2.26
2018 1.41 2.27
2017 1.44 2.28
2016 1.4 2.26
2015 1.36 2.36
2014 1.43 2.42
2013 1.44 2.43
2012 1.54 2.45
2011 1.55 2.44
2010 1.57 2.44
2009 1.59 2.5
2008 1.67 2.68
2007 1.74 2.55
2006 1.77 2.55
2005 1.88 2.51
2004 1.92 2.44
2003 1.87 2.36
2002 1.94 2.32
2001 1.91 2.37
2000 1.99 2.41
1999 2.05 2.56
1998 1.97 2.63
1997 2.04 2.73
1996 2.12 2.99
1995 2.14 3.17
1994 2.25 3.26
1993 2.21 3.37
1992 2.37 3.48
1991 2.3 3.62
1990 2.32 3.72
1989 2.23 3.98
1988 2.14 4.18
1987 2.05 4.35
1986 1.99 4.41
1985 2.02 4.5
1984 2.16 4.57
1983 2.4 4.63
1982 2.53 4.7
1981 2.67 4.71
1980 2.8 4.78
1979 2.91 4.82
1978 3.01 4.85
1977 3.07 4.94
1976 3.13 5.07
1975 3.2 5.19
1974 3.45 5.3
1973 3.07 5.41
1972 3.41 5.49
1971 3.51 5.57
1970 3.82 5.63
1969 3.97 5.72
1968 4.6 5.78
1967 4.63 5.85
1966 5.46 5.91
1965 5.51 5.89
1964 5.96 5.96
1963 6.18 6.01
1962 5.88 6.05
1961 5.98 6.08
1960 5.9 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/mauritius/south-africa | CC BY

Mauritius and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Mauritius

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Mauritius South Africa
2024 38.5 29.5
2023 38 29.2
2022 37.5 28.9
2021 37.1 28.6
2020 36.8 28.3
2019 36.5 27.9
2018 36.2 27.5
2017 35.8 27
2016 35.4 26.7
2015 35 26.4
2014 34.6 26
2013 34.2 25.7
2012 33.8 25.3
2011 33.4 25
2010 32.9 24.6
2009 32.5 24.3
2008 32 24
2007 31.6 23.8
2006 31.1 23.5
2005 30.7 23.3
2004 30.3 23.1
2003 30 22.8
2002 29.7 22.4
2001 29.4 22.2
2000 29 21.9
1999 28.7 21.6
1998 28.4 21.4
1997 28 21.2
1996 27.6 21.2
1995 27.3 21.5
1994 26.9 22
1993 26.6 21.9
1992 26.3 21.5
1991 26 21.5
1990 25.6 21.3
1989 25.2 21.1
1988 24.7 20.9
1987 24.3 20.7
1986 23.9 20.5
1985 23.5 20.4
1984 23.2 20.2
1983 22.8 20
1982 22.4 19.8
1981 22.1 19.6
1980 21.9 19.4
1979 21.6 19.3
1978 21.3 19.2
1977 21 19.1
1976 20.6 19
1975 20.2 18.9
1974 19.8 18.9
1973 19.5 18.8
1972 19.1 18.8
1971 18.8 18.8
1970 18.5 18.8
1969 18.3 18.8
1968 18.1 18.8
1967 17.9 18.8
1966 17.8 18.8
1965 17.7 18.8
1964 17.6 18.9
1963 17.6 18.9
1962 17.6 18.9
1961 17.5 19
1960 17.4 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/mauritius/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Mauritius and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Mauritius South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$16.2B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.7%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.09%
2024
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.15%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
3,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.47%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.21%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
64.4%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.8%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
73
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.9%
2017
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2017
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
93
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$9.12B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$8.51B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$287M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
316,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
12.9%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
89.6%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Mauritius South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,167 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$25.3
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
4.41 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.54 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
88.9%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
8.6%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.48%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,465 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
21.7%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.88%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Mauritius South Africa
% of world population
0.02%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,784
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
39%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.68 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
61.5
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
48
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
41
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.23
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
12.2
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
141
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
94.3%
2023
91.2%
2024
English speaking
16%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
79.5%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Mauritius South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$616
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$278.8
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
75.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
1.97%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.44
2022
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
66
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
15.2
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
19.6%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
20.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
97
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.9%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.86 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Mauritius South Africa
% of world land
0.001%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
619 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
332 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
150.2 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
1,509 mi
2015
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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