Mauritius · Africa
How many people die in Mauritius every day?
In Mauritius, about 30 people die every day, roughly one death every 48 minutes. That is about 11,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 151st highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 74.5 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
30
Deaths per year
11,000
Life expectancy
74.5 years
Population
1,300,557
Death rate
8.5 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Mauritius
74.5
World avg
72.8
+1.7 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Mauritius
8.5
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Mauritius by time period
| Per hour | 1.3 |
| Per day | 30 |
| Per week | 211 |
| Per month | 917 |
| Per year | 11,000 |
What people die of in Mauritius
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Mauritius in 2023 was diabetes, which accounted for 18.3% of all deaths, about 6.2 a day. It was followed by heart disease (ischaemic) and stroke.
Deaths from bowel (colorectal) cancer have increased about 4-fold since 2000, from about 57 to 236 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diabetes | 2,264 | 6.2 | 18.3% | +77% |
| 2 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 2,170 | 5.9 | 17.5% | +47% |
| 3 | Stroke | 1,145 | 3.1 | 9.2% | +62% |
| 4 | Kidney diseases | 825 | 2.3 | 6.7% | +4% |
| 5 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 817 | 2.2 | 6.6% | +188% |
| 6 | Hypertensive heart disease | 392 | 1.1 | 3.2% | +81% |
| 7 | Breast cancer | 243 | under 1 | 2% | +212% |
| 8 | Bowel (colorectal) cancer | 236 | under 1 | 1.9% | +314% |
| 9 | Cirrhosis of the liver | 224 | under 1 | 1.8% | +15% |
| 10 | Lung cancer | 183 | under 1 | 1.5% | +99% |
Deaths in Mauritius since 2000
WHO estimates that about 12,398 people died in Mauritius in 2023, 51% more than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 8,195 deaths |
| 2010 | 9,198 deaths |
| 2019 | 10,808 deaths |
| 2023 | 12,398 deaths |
Life expectancy in Mauritius since 1950
A baby born in Mauritius in 1950 could expect to live about 51.9 years. By 2023 that had risen to 74.9, a gain of 23.0 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 51.9 years |
| 1980 | 66.5 years |
| 2000 | 71.8 years |
| 2010 | 73.6 years |
| 2019 | 74.2 years |
| 2023 | 74.9 years |
Mauritius compared with similar countries in Africa
Among the 50 countries in Africa on this site, Mauritius ranks 3rd for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | 30 | 74.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Eswatini | 33 | 57.7 | HIV/AIDS |
| Djibouti | 22 | 62.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Equatorial Guinea | 38 | 60.6 | Malaria |
| Guinea-Bissau | 52 | 59.4 | Malaria |
| Lesotho | 66 | 50.7 | HIV/AIDS |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Mauritius every day?
In Mauritius, about 30 people die every day, or roughly one death every 48 minutes. That adds up to about 11,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Mauritius?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Mauritius. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put diabetes first in 2023, with 18.3% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Mauritius?
Life expectancy at birth in Mauritius is 74.5 years, 1.7 years above the world average of 72.8. That ranks 84th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Mauritius high?
Mauritius records about 8.5 deaths per 1,000 people each year, above the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.