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Title: Mauritius.
Author: United Nations. Department of International Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division, United Nations Fund for Population Activities UNFPA.
Journal: Popul Policy Compend; 1982 Sep; ():1-7. PubMed ID: 12264931.
Abstract:
Focus in this discussion of Mauritius is on the following: the history of the country's demographic situation; government's overall approach to population problems; population data systems and development planning; institutional arrangements for the integration of population within development planning; the government's view of the importance of population policy in achieving development objectives; population size, growth and natural increase; morbidity and mortality; fertility; international migration; and spatial distribution. Mauritius experienced a substantial increase in its population size during the period immediately after World War 2 and reached an estimated total of 501,415 according to the 1952 census. Growth rates declined to 1.6% per year for the 1975-80 period, and the most recent UN projections estimate a population size of about 1.05 million in 1985. The government considers population to be an important area of activity, and it intervenes on a broad range of key demographic variables. The government wants to reduce substantially the rate of demographic growth, primarily by means of reducing fertility. Mauritius has a regular, comprehensive system of demographic data collection. The nation's 2 main sources of demographic statistics are civil registration and the population census. Development planning in the country was initiated shortly after the attainment of independence on March 12, 1968. In recent analyses of various development problems, the government has assigned major importance to population policy and to the need for population programs within development strategies. Over the past several decades, Mauritius has experienced high growth rates, ranging from 3.2% between 1950-55 to 2.6% between 1960-65. Current UN projections estimate that the population of the island will increase to about 1.25 million by the end of the century. The government estimates that the infant mortality rate, which averaged 62.4/1000 live births during the years 1968-72, decreased to 48.6/1000 in the years 1973-77. UN projections for infant mortality indicate a further decrease to an estimated 31.7/1000 in 1982. The government considers levels and trends of mortality to be unacceptable even though there has been a significant improvement in the field of health in the last few years. The crude birthrate in Mauritius has declined rapidly in the past several decades, particularly between 1962-74 when the rate dropped some 38%. The gross reproduction rate has also declined substantially in the past 2 decades, dropping from 2.9 in 1962 to 1.7 in 1974 and 1.5 in 1975-80. The government considers levels and trends of fertility to be unsatisfactory because they are too high. The major emphasis of the government's fertility policy is on family planning programs. The government has adopted other direct measures to modify fertility such as health education and information and communication programs. The government considers levels and trends of immigration to be insignificant and satisfactory. The government considers levels and trends of emigration to be significant and satisfactory. The government considers the prevailing pattern of population distribution to be inappropriate and has developed a longterm national strategy for the physical development of the country as a whole.

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