Capital of Mauritius: Port Louis — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Mauritius is Port Louis. Mauritius sits in Africa, has a population of 1,299,469, and uses the MUR. Official languages include English, French.
Quick facts
- Capital: Port Louis
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~1,299,469
- Area: 2,040 km²
- Population density: 637 people per km²
- Official languages: English, French
- Currency: MUR
- ISO code: MU
How big is Mauritius?
By population, Mauritius ranks 156th in the world, holding roughly 0.02% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 171st.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Mauritius has 637 people per square kilometre, which is about 11 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Mauritius is the 48th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Mauritius in population are Estonia (1,326,590) and Timor-Leste (1,341,296).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Comoros (1,862 km²) and Luxembourg (2,586 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.
Mauritius uses the MUR, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Mauritius
Port Louis is named in honour of King Louis XV of France, from the time when the French ruled the island. For the four-stripe flag, remember 'Really Blue Yellow Green' from the top: red, blue, yellow, green.
The flag of Mauritius: red, blue, yellow and green
🇲🇺 The flag is four equal horizontal stripes of red, blue, yellow and green. Red stands for independence, blue for the Indian Ocean, yellow for the bright future of independence and green for farming and the island's lush plants. The flag was adopted at independence on 12 March 1968.
Region and neighbours
Mauritius is an island country in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, made up of the main island of Mauritius plus Rodrigues, Agaléga and the St. Brandon shoals. As an island country it has no land neighbours.
Three facts about Mauritius
- The main island was the only known home of the dodo, a flightless bird that died out soon after people settled there.
- Nobody lived on the island when Portuguese sailors visited it in 1507.
- Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis, where about half a million workers from India arrived between 1849 and 1923, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sources: Wikipedia: Mauritius, Wikipedia: Flag of Mauritius, Wikipedia: Port Louis, Wikipedia: Dodo, Wikipedia: Aapravasi Ghat, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Mauritius
- African capitals quiz — match Mauritius to Port Louis
- African flags quiz — spot the Mauritius flag among its neighbours
- Island nations quiz — Mauritius is an island country
Mauritius capital quiz
What is the capital of Mauritius 🇲🇺?
- Addis Ababa
- Port Louis
- N'Djamena
- São Tomé
Show answer
Port Louis
What is the capital of Eswatini 🇸🇿?
- Maputo
- Mbabane
- Antananarivo
- Lusaka
Show answer
Mbabane
What is the capital of Djibouti 🇩🇯?
- Djibouti
- Victoria
- Gitega
- Kampala
Show answer
Djibouti
What is the capital of Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶?
- Dodoma
- Algiers
- Port Louis
- Malabo
Show answer
Malabo
What is the capital of Comoros 🇰🇲?
- Porto-Novo
- Moroni
- Tunis
- Ouagadougou
Show answer
Moroni
Mauritius in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Mauritius belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Mauritius.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Mauritius?
The capital of Mauritius is Port Louis.
What is the population of Mauritius?
About 1,299,469, making it the 156th most populous country in the world.
How big is Mauritius?
2,040 square kilometres, ranking 171st by land area, at a density of 637 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Mauritius use?
The MUR, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Mauritius flag?
The flag of Mauritius is four equal horizontal stripes of red, blue, yellow and green. Red stands for independence, blue for the Indian Ocean, yellow for the bright future of independence and green for farming and the island's lush plants. The flag was adopted at independence on 12 March 1968.
Which countries border Mauritius?
None. Mauritius is an island country in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, made up of the main island of Mauritius plus Rodrigues, Agaléga and the St. Brandon shoals, so it has no land borders with other countries.
How can I remember the capital of Mauritius?
Port Louis is named in honour of King Louis XV of France, from the time when the French ruled the island. For the four-stripe flag, remember 'Really Blue Yellow Green' from the top: red, blue, yellow, green.
More capitals to learn
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