Languages

Creole language, a simplified mix of French with English, is the common language linking all the communities together. Otherwise, French is widely spoken but the official language is English. In many homes and among peers, different Indian or Chinese dialects are spoken.

Food

To the image of the multi-cultural or rather multi-ethnical richness of Mauritius, the Mauritian food and cuisine reveals its cultural influences and the shy beginning of interbreeding, to the point that one same dish can be classified as Creole, Mauritian or Indian. The traditional base of Mauritian cuisine is definitely the curries and "rougailles" but instead of cooking and serving it the Indian way, they are simplified and commonly served with white rice and other beans.

Mauritians of all origins have definitely adopted this combination in their everyday food and for many Mauritians of European origin it is the traditional Sunday treat that is looked forward to. [More]

Population

Mauritius is among the most over populated countries with nearly 600 people per Km2. The population of Mauritius consists of several ethnics, religions and cultures. While in some cases one could be tempted to talk about the Mauritian culture, it is a fact that this culture is still in evolution and is more of a composition of the different ancestral cultures. Today, businessmen from Chinese, Indian and French origins work together and may be partners, but in holiday times the one flies to Singapore for shopping, the second to Mumbai for a cultural tour and the latter to Courchevel for a getaway from the summer heat.

Mauritians at large seem to be more open-minded than the administrative and religious institutions. Unfortunately, the major political parties drastically suffering from a lack of imagination often use the ready-made recipe of communalism to raise their troops and are greatly responsible for the cultivation of the communal calculation.

This gets even more complex for the Mauritians of Indian origin who are further segregated by their social system based on castes. It is a well-established fact that the Mauritian Prime Minister must be not only from Indian origin, but must be Hindu and from one particular caste. Mauritians nonetheless keep hope that this will change with time. As a result, each religious celebration and each election revives the problem, but in general and depending on the period, the circumstance and the context, there is more or less harmony between the different segments of the Mauritian population and some respect of each other's differences.

The population of Mauritius can be split into several groups: However, it is difficult to have a clear picture of proportions as the different polls place "Creoles" of African origins, and those of mix ethnics into the single category of "general population." These two sub groups have very few in common in terms of historical background, culture and social status.

The known figures are thus as follows:
Mauritians of:
- Indian origin (68%)
- Creoles (27%)
- Chinese origin (3%)
- French origin (2 %)

2012 welcomed a symbolic yet important improvement on the sensitive subject of ethnic discrimination. Indeed, the supreme court has ruled that candidates to elections will no longer be forced to declared their ethnic group.

Religions

Hindus: 52%
Christians (mainly Roman Catholics): 28%
Muslims: 17%.
Buddhists and others: 3%.

The Mauritians of Indian origin are mainly Hindus, Tamils and Muslims; most of those of Chinese origin observe two religions, i.e. Christianity and Buddhism, while the rest of the population are Christians (mainly Roman Catholics).

Society

Whatever the statistics may be, the influence of the different religions on the politics, society and individuals is striking as Mauritians generally give a lot of importance to certain values such as family, religion and... money.

While Mauritius remains relatively poor, the standard of living has greatly improved in the last 15 years and with this, materialism has unfortunately developed. Those of lower income spend their lives paying back their TV sets, the cars and 4X4's are the main problem of the average Mauritian and how much did the last holidays cost is the main subject of conversation for the wealthiest.

Mauritius like many other countries has people of very different social and educational backgrounds but the racial and religious differences come in addition to these.

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Update January 2013