Mauritius vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 173 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 51.8 times as many people as Mauritius (65.49 million vs 1.27 million). South Africa's economy is 25.4 times the size of Mauritius's ($424.75 billion vs $16.7 billion GDP).
Comparing Mauritius and South Africa: South Africa leads on Annual Forest Area Change Rate (87,566 %) against Mauritius (-2.00 %); Mauritius leads on Televisions (258,000) against South Africa (6); Mauritius leads on Radios (420,000) against South Africa (17). Across 173 compared metrics, Mauritius wins on 77 and South Africa wins on 85.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 66 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 39 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 27.97 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 73.31 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 79.5 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 80% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 27.97 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 67.31 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 420,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 258,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
66 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 85,995★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -2 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 24.06 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 5.55★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | edge of continental margin or 200 nm; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 949.52 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the n | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 5.09 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 5 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.89 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 2.75 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 7 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 23.94 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 124.18★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 860 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1,997 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 177 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 73.48 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 143 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 80.45 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 51 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 51 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 12 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 0.71 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 215 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 51 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 0 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.15 %★ | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 3,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
39 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.36★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 5 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 7 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 1 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 2.17B USD | 5.96B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 4.5 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Mauritius vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Mauritius or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 51.8 times as many people as Mauritius (65.49 million vs 1.27 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Mauritius or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 25.4 times the size of Mauritius's ($424.75 billion vs $16.7 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Mauritius or South Africa?▾
Mauritius is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $13,201 in Mauritius vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).