Population and Vital Statistics - Republic of Mauritius, Year 2009

Highlights

Population

1. As at end of 2009, the population of the Republic of Mauritius stood at 1,277,853 comprising 630,477 males and 647,376 females.
2. Compared to a figure of 1,272,031 at the end of 2008, the population increased by 5,822 or 0.5% during the year 2009.
3. Islandwise, the population as at 31 December 2009 was as follows:

Island of Mauritius 1,239,790
Island of Rodrigues 37,774
Other islands 289

4. The population density was around 626 persons per square kilometre in 2009.

5. Persons aged below 15 years made up 22.2% of the population in 2009. Persons aged 15 - 64 years represented 70.8% and elderly persons aged 65 years and above, 7.0%. The dependency ratio in 2009 was 412 per 1,000 compared to 419 in 2008.

Vital Statistics

6. In 2009, the number of live births registered was 15,344, around 1,028 less than in 2008. The crude birth rate thus decreased from 12.9 per 1,000 mid-year population in 2008 to 12.0 in 2009.
7. There were 9,222 deaths registered in 2009, about 218 more than in 2008 (9,004). The crude death rate consequently rose from 7.1 in 2008 to 7.2 in 2009 per 1,000 mid-year population.
8. The number of infant deaths registered during the year 2009 was 205, lower than the 2008 figure of 236. The infant mortality rate fell from 14.4 per 1,000 live births in 2008 to 13.4 in 2009.
9. The number of still births registered during the year 2009 was 138 compared to 165 in 2008. Consequently, the still birth rate decreased from 10.0 per 1,000 total births in 2008 to 8.9 in 2009.
10. The number of marriages registered during the year 2009 was 10,619 compared to 11,197 in 2008. The crude marriage rate declined from 17.7 persons married per 1,000 mid-year population in 2008 to 16.7 in 2009.