When was Mauritius first discovered by Arab sailors?
Arab sailors discovered the uninhabited land around 975, which is the earliest historical evidence of the island. This discovery predates the arrival of Portuguese sailors by over a century.
Questions about Mauritius
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who named Mauritius and when did the Dutch rename the island?
Admiral Wybrand van Warwyck renamed the island Mauritius in 1598 in honor of Prince Maurice of Nassau. This renaming marked the beginning of a long and often tragic history of colonial exploitation.
When did Mauritius become a republic and who was the first president?
Mauritius was proclaimed a republic on the 12th of March 1992, and Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo became the first President. He was replaced by Cassam Uteem later that year under a transitional arrangement.
What happened to the Chagos Archipelago in 1965 and 2025?
The United Kingdom split the Chagos Archipelago away from Mauritius on the 8th of November 1965 to form the British Indian Ocean Territory. On the 22nd of May 2025, the transfer agreement was signed to return sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia to the UK for at least 99 years.
What is the population of Mauritius according to the 2022 Census?
Mauritius had a population of 1,235,260 according to the final results of the 2022 Census. The population on the island of Mauritius was 1,191,280, with 586,590 males and 604,690 females.