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Population in Mauritius compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mauritius was 1,245,779 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mauritius' population is 1,240,121 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 53 times bigger than Mauritius'.
  • Mauritius is ranked the 157th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.01% for Mauritius vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Mauritius has had an average growth rate of -0.09% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mauritius has increased from 1.23M people to 1.24M (0.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Mauritius vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Mauritius
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mauritius South Africa
2100 573,538 94,767,727
2099 581,815 94,556,931
2098 590,276 94,349,546
2097 598,961 94,158,472
2096 607,840 93,960,605
2095 616,931 93,752,736
2094 626,226 93,527,902
2093 635,745 93,300,398
2092 645,427 93,074,837
2091 655,300 92,826,204
2090 665,341 92,594,033
2089 675,562 92,355,184
2088 685,908 92,112,914
2087 696,380 91,866,024
2086 707,018 91,614,165
2085 717,757 91,385,350
2084 728,558 91,139,318
2083 739,420 90,877,425
2082 750,402 90,615,359
2081 761,382 90,345,492
2080 772,374 90,071,835
2079 783,407 89,801,998
2078 794,452 89,526,224
2077 805,529 89,249,206
2076 816,547 88,986,114
2075 827,526 88,713,215
2074 838,506 88,428,616
2073 849,462 88,149,885
2072 860,405 87,866,246
2071 871,223 87,540,177
2070 882,091 87,209,425
2069 892,850 86,901,512
2068 903,547 86,588,742
2067 914,226 86,268,392
2066 924,869 85,935,310
2065 935,546 85,604,376
2064 946,145 85,244,950
2063 956,652 84,875,503
2062 967,159 84,503,237
2061 977,603 84,132,885
2060 988,022 83,748,999
2059 998,355 83,354,923
2058 1,008,603 82,947,675
2057 1,018,853 82,538,045
2056 1,029,103 82,127,477
2055 1,039,228 81,698,196
2054 1,049,313 81,255,867
2053 1,059,364 80,818,632
2052 1,069,276 80,367,409
2051 1,079,090 79,886,672
2050 1,088,773 79,411,977
2049 1,098,370 78,925,493
2048 1,107,805 78,437,677
2047 1,117,049 77,922,211
2046 1,126,022 77,397,298
2045 1,134,772 76,879,838
2044 1,143,155 76,357,155
2043 1,151,325 75,827,709
2042 1,159,078 75,291,615
2041 1,166,543 74,748,408
2040 1,173,673 74,205,530
2039 1,180,437 73,663,047
2038 1,186,773 73,105,930
2037 1,192,770 72,532,742
2036 1,198,476 71,956,247
2035 1,203,871 71,362,555
2034 1,208,936 70,762,815
2033 1,213,705 70,153,205
2032 1,218,138 69,527,410
2031 1,222,267 68,890,002
2030 1,226,049 68,245,372
2029 1,229,806 67,573,179
2028 1,233,411 66,884,377
2027 1,236,833 66,190,258
2026 1,240,121 65,496,277
2025 1,243,139 64,770,314
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: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mauritius increased by 29,751 people (a 2.41% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mauritius lost 23,626 people (a 1.87% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Mauritius was ranked 151st most populous country in 2006 and is 157th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Mauritius' population will shrink by 12.2% to 1,088,773 people with a rank change from 157th to 160th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Mauritius' population already peaked in 2021 at 1.27M people and is projected to decrease to 574K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Mauritius
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mauritius South Africa
2100 -1.42% 0.22%
2099 -1.43% 0.22%
2098 -1.45% 0.2%
2097 -1.46% 0.21%
2096 -1.47% 0.22%
2095 -1.48% 0.24%
2094 -1.5% 0.24%
2093 -1.5% 0.24%
2092 -1.51% 0.27%
2091 -1.51% 0.25%
2090 -1.51% 0.26%
2089 -1.51% 0.26%
2088 -1.5% 0.27%
2087 -1.5% 0.27%
2086 -1.5% 0.25%
2085 -1.48% 0.27%
2084 -1.47% 0.29%
2083 -1.46% 0.29%
2082 -1.44% 0.3%
2081 -1.42% 0.3%
2080 -1.41% 0.3%
2079 -1.39% 0.31%
2078 -1.38% 0.31%
2077 -1.35% 0.3%
2076 -1.33% 0.31%
2075 -1.31% 0.32%
2074 -1.29% 0.32%
2073 -1.27% 0.32%
2072 -1.24% 0.37%
2071 -1.23% 0.38%
2070 -1.21% 0.35%
2069 -1.18% 0.36%
2068 -1.17% 0.37%
2067 -1.15% 0.39%
2066 -1.14% 0.39%
2065 -1.12% 0.42%
2064 -1.1% 0.44%
2063 -1.09% 0.44%
2062 -1.07% 0.44%
2061 -1.05% 0.46%
2060 -1.04% 0.47%
2059 -1.02% 0.49%
2058 -1.01% 0.5%
2057 -1% 0.5%
2056 -0.97% 0.53%
2055 -0.96% 0.54%
2054 -0.95% 0.54%
2053 -0.93% 0.56%
2052 -0.91% 0.6%
2051 -0.89% 0.6%
2050 -0.87% 0.62%
2049 -0.85% 0.62%
2048 -0.83% 0.66%
2047 -0.8% 0.68%
2046 -0.77% 0.67%
2045 -0.73% 0.68%
2044 -0.71% 0.7%
2043 -0.67% 0.71%
2042 -0.64% 0.73%
2041 -0.61% 0.73%
2040 -0.57% 0.74%
2039 -0.53% 0.76%
2038 -0.5% 0.79%
2037 -0.48% 0.8%
2036 -0.45% 0.83%
2035 -0.42% 0.85%
2034 -0.39% 0.87%
2033 -0.36% 0.9%
2032 -0.34% 0.93%
2031 -0.31% 0.94%
2030 -0.31% 0.99%
2029 -0.29% 1.03%
2028 -0.28% 1.05%
2027 -0.27% 1.06%
2026 -0.24% 1.12%
2025 -0.21% 1.19%
2024 -0.23% 1.26%
2023 -1.1% 1.34%
2022 -0.3% 1.42%
2021 0.03% 1.55%
2020 0.002% 1.64%
2019 0.03% 1.66%
2018 0.05% 1.7%
2017 0.09% 0.66%
2016 0.07% 0.94%
2015 0.13% 2.03%
2014 0.18% 1.68%
2013 0.24% 1.67%
2012 0.28% 1.49%
2011 0.16% 1.24%
2010 0.24% 1.19%
2009 0.27% 1.2%
2008 0.36% 1.16%
2007 0.46% 1.06%
2006 0.47% 1.03%
2005 0.59% 1.02%
2004 0.63% 1.01%
2003 0.73% 1%
2002 0.7% 0.95%
2001 0.79% 0.86%
2000 0.99% 0.92%
1999 1.28% 1.1%
1998 1.06% 1.22%
1997 1.26% 1.21%
1996 1.03% 1.31%
1995 0.86% 1.22%
1994 1.41% 1.63%
1993 1.19% 2.01%
1992 1.32% 1.81%
1991 1.09% 2.31%
1990 0.71% 2.82%
1989 0.77% 2.98%
1988 0.69% 3.09%
1987 0.75% 3.17%
1986 0.77% 3.25%
1985 0.82% 3.39%
1984 1.05% 3.52%
1983 0.92% 3.56%
1982 1.23% 3.52%
1981 1.49% 3.46%
1980 1.7% 3.09%
1979 1.76% 2.74%
1978 1.32% 2.77%
1977 1.64% 2.74%
1976 1.63% 2.74%
1975 1.59% 2.81%
1974 1.53% 2.86%
1973 1.5% 2.9%
1972 1.53% 2.91%
1971 1.6% 2.97%
1970 1.67% 3.08%
1969 1.75% 3.14%
1968 1.85% 3.17%
1967 1.96% 3.17%
1966 2.1% 3.15%
1965 2.26% 3.12%
1964 2.44% 3.1%
1963 2.64% 3.08%
1962 2.88% 3.02%
1961 0.06% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Mauritius declined by 0.23%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Mauritius South Africa
Current population
1240121
65683993
Population rank 157/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.79%
One net population change
3.05 hours
39.7 seconds
One birth every
41.3 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
44.8 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -8 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -2,868 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.23% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 178/197 85/197
One migration net change every
3.16 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,784 +146,370
Net migration rank 103/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 29,142 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 165/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 129/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mauritius
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mauritius South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,784 - 146,370
2024 - -2,787 - 166,972
2023 999 -2,824 602,793 228,222
2022 -757 -2,824 603,636 233,284
2021 -253 -4,324 456,411 458,246
2020 2,405 -5,895 595,873 369,901
2019 1,773 -5,202 652,130 331,124
2018 2,151 -5,084 648,319 318,260
2017 3,415 -5,322 645,975 343,146
2016 2,906 -4,483 641,365 -879,235
2015 3,031 -3,645 668,771 641,150
2014 3,657 -3,691 674,754 272,697
2013 4,281 -3,617 652,427 232,230
2012 5,149 -3,663 643,723 264,091
2011 5,511 -2,465 601,708 65,166
2010 5,877 -2,624 566,834 68,563
2009 6,113 -2,467 554,115 41,528
2008 7,465 -2,589 595,332 36,869
2007 8,429 -2,642 503,567 36,339
2006 8,515 -2,757 487,584 33,159
2005 10,195 -2,840 464,464 31,286
2004 10,745 -3,001 442,540 58,924
2003 10,799 -3,141 415,018 65,604
2002 11,685 -3,150 430,926 50,313
2001 11,723 -3,225 484,801 -60,793
2000 12,224 -2,326 526,963 -136,794
1999 12,341 -1,463 594,643 -126,011
1998 11,489 -1,292 627,027 -82,722
1997 11,943 -1,199 667,969 -98,181
1996 13,041 -1,092 710,868 -193,007
1995 13,020 -1,144 743,488 -98,403
1994 14,355 -1,112 698,609 -268,849
1993 14,814 -1,189 789,220 194,977
1992 15,833 -1,254 794,415 -71,342
1991 15,091 -1,333 827,296 -39,131
1990 15,564 -1,938 835,421 259,718
1989 14,718 -2,463 884,629 255,605
1988 14,084 -1,399 909,221 246,382
1987 13,262 -300 922,330 231,009
1986 12,340 852 903,644 234,378
1985 12,451 615 893,889 244,940
1984 13,665 -258 869,011 290,789
1983 14,525 -1,756 837,013 310,172
1982 15,880 -2,226 807,550 293,195
1981 18,334 -1,559 767,833 279,985
1980 19,321 -1,739 738,415 258,127
1979 19,282 -2,363 716,541 56,323
1978 18,670 -3,129 694,341 62,121
1977 16,769 -3,749 680,929 63,739
1976 16,407 -3,807 675,011 27,333
1975 15,342 -3,869 667,862 38,809
1974 17,561 -4,908 658,438 38,518
1973 13,145 -2,144 651,596 41,125
1972 14,825 -2,408 638,754 38,163
1971 15,441 -960 624,761 32,961
1970 16,190 -1,281 605,102 61,514
1969 15,761 -674 590,794 73,225
1968 17,884 -2,445 571,841 78,932
1967 17,560 -1,257 553,741 81,932
1966 20,758 -4,123 534,862 77,417
1965 20,482 -3,597 506,632 82,514
1964 22,239 -4,850 490,606 76,298
1963 22,069 -5,236 473,821 72,844
1962 20,660 -6,107 455,634 69,771
1961 20,355 -8,984 437,851 57,728
1960 19,931 -7,083 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 30.9% of the population change in Mauritius is from natural causes (a gain of 19,327 people) and 69.1% is from migration (a loss of 43,294 people). In South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 29,142 residents or 2.3% of the population were not native-born in Mauritius, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Mauritius
City Population
Port Louis 149K
Quatre Bornes 81.8K
Curepipe 77.5K
Triolet 23.4K
Goodlands 20.7K
Centre de Flacq 15.8K
Mahebourg 15.8K
Bambous 15.3K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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