Life in Mauritius
The population of Mauritius is diverse, tolerant, and peaceful, and now stands at about 1.3 million.
Ethnic groups make up the population today as follows: Indian (Hindu majority) 68%, Creole (African descent) 25%, Chinese 3%, Franco (French descent) 2%, with the remaining 2% made up of a mix of expatriates. French, Creole, and English are widely spoken by the people of Mauritius, with English being the official business language.
The climate in Mauritius is a tropical luxury. It is hot and humid from November to March and warm and mild the rest of the year. Mauritius is susceptible to cyclones from December to March, but construction standards are sound and early warning services are efficient.
The island is covered in beautiful trees and flowers, and anywhere bougainvilleas flourish is a pleasant place to be.
Retired life mostly revolves around golf and boating, though ocean swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, and kite surfing are also popular. Mauritius offers many quality golf courses, and the ocean provides a haven for boating, sailing, and fishing. Domestic workers are inexpensive and generally reliable.
The island is well-connected by daily direct flights to Africa, Europe, and Asia (including India), making travel convenient. As a small island, social life can be somewhat limited, but Mauritius serves well as a base from which to travel.
Infrastructure in general is well-developed, with an adequate network of paved roads and reliable water and power supply systems. The island also enjoys the benefits of competent medical and dental facilities, with qualified practitioners from India, France, China, and South Africa.
The Mauritian economy has strong ties with India and, to a lesser extent, China. It is also part of the Southern African Development Community (SADCC). The main pillars of the economy are sugar cane/agriculture, textiles, fishing, tourism, and a growing financial and investment banking sector, which facilitates commerce mostly between Asia, India, and Africa on a low-tax, offshore basis.
To be considered for citizenship, you should, generally speaking, have been a permanent resident for five years and have demonstrable links to the country.
Personal income earned in Mauritius is taxed at a maximum rate of 15% and Private banks offer accounts in both local and foreign currencies.
The government of Mauritius provides free education to its citizens from pre-primary to tertiary levels. Since July 2005, the government also introduced free transport for all students. Schooling is compulsory up to the age of 16. Mauritian students consistently rank top in the world each year for the Cambridge International O Level, International A and AS level examinations. The education system in Mauritius is largely based on the British system.
The teaching of English and French are compulsory in all schools. Students also has the option to learn any ancestral languages which are spoken in Mauritius, which include Arabic, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Mandarin, Marathi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Other languages include Italian and Spanish.
Mauritius has capitalized on its sea, sun and sand to market its offering. People who visit the island are drawn by the water and beach activities. But Mauritius has developed a diverse set of attractions over the decades. These include:
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Cultural celebrations and festivals
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Sports and competitions ranging from tennis competitions to beauty contests
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Conferences, shows and exhibitions like concerts and musical shows
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Water-based activities like deep sea fishing, catamaran, parasailing and scuba diving
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Nature-based activities like trekking, paragliding and nature trail hikes
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Heritage attractions
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Wellness and spa services like aqua yoga, wellness and fitness programmes
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Shopping, gambling and night life and,
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Technology-based entertainment like 3-D, 4-D shows and films, drone aerial activities and interactive games
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