The population of Mauritius counts at nearly 1.3 million inhabitants with a high population density of 628 inhabitants per km2 principally in the vicinities of main cities. The composition of the Mauritian population today is the outcome of more than 400 years of occupation by man. Descendants of English and French colonisers, African or Malagasy slaves, Indian indentured labourers or Chinese shopkeepers form the multicultural society of Mauritius.
Indo-Mauritians represent a majority of 68% of the population with 52% hindus and 16% muslims, the Kreols, of slave descent and mostly Catholic represent 27%, 3% Sino-Mauritians of Chinese origin and about 2% of French descent(Franco-Mauritians). Since 1827, English language is the official language in Mauritius but it is the French, Creole and the Bhojpuri that is mostly spoken by people on the streets and at home.
Mauritius is thus known as a multi-racial country where you will will find Hindus temples, Tamil Kovils, Christian churches, mosques and Chinese pagodas co-existing peacefully next to each other.