Mauritius
POPULATION 1,210,447
HINDU 52 percent
ROMAN CATHOLIC 26 percent
MUSLIM 16.6 percent
PROTESTANT 2.3 percent
OTHER 3.1 percent
Country Overview
Introduction
Mauritius is situated in the Indian Ocean and forms part of what is generally referred to as the Mascarene Islands (together with the islands of Rodrigues, Seychelles, and Réunion). Its history has been shaped over time by different colonial administrations. During the main part of the seventeenth century, the Dutch administered the island, from 1715 to 1810 it was a French colony, and from 1810 to 1968 it was under British administration. It became independent in 1968.
Because of the diversity of its culture and traditions, Mauritius is known as "the Rainbow Island." The first settlers came mainly from France during the period of French colonization, and they introduced slaves from Africa, Madagascar, and, to a lesser degree, India.
After slavery was abolished in 1835, there was an influx of Indian immigrants. The island also has a community of Chinese who arrived at different times during the colonial years.
The history of religion in the island was linked to that of political changes and colonial administration. During French colonial times, Catholicism was the state religion, and slaves were forced to give up their ancestral customs and traditions.
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