Mauritius - Case Study Focusing On Population.

Mauritius – Case Study Focusing On Population

Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean just off the east coast of Africa. The island was discovered by the Portuguese in 1505 and subsequently colonised by a number of European countries (Britain, France & Holland) before gaining independence in 1968. The European colonies started what is the major economy in Mauritius today – sugar. After the abolition of slavery in Britain (when the island was under British rule) workers were brought from India, which created a wealth of ethnic groups.

At the beginning of the 20th century the growth of population in Mauritius was relatively slow. Between 1940-1970 the population exploded and nearly doubled. The main reasons for this are cited as being a sudden drop in the death rate after the eradication of malaria, and an increase in general healthcare. Normally countries with a good economy will have a drop in birth rates after a drop in death rates, but not in Mauritius for various reasons. For example the main religions on the island – Hinduism, Islam and Catholicism – both opposed the use of contraception. Also the average marriage age was extremely low, as this is also a part of Hindu tradition and it also ensures a high fertility rate. In the 1970’s the fertility rate was an amazing 6.2 children per woman and the population growth rate was estimated to be 3%, and the mean population density was more than 300 people per km2. The Mauritian government was facing many obstacles in trying to achieve optimum population.

How Has Mauritius Managed To Control Its Population?

Thirty years ago the Island of Mauritius had an incredibly high birth rate of almost 3% per year, or a fertility rate of 6.2 children per woman. The population density was more than 300 people per Km2, and there was poor healthcare and many diseases. Today there has been an economic revival and the fertility rate has dropped to only 3.2 children per woman in the last 10 years (from 6.2). The amazing drop in fertility was not actually due to any particular policy or measure and seemed to ...

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How Has Mauritius Managed To Control Its Population?

The main reasons for this apparently unexpected decline was due to the new social developments taking place in Mauritian society. Women were becoming more socially and economically important and female education was encouraged.

Family planning clinics that were opened in the 1970’s after much dispute with the main religious powers in Mauritius are also one of the reasons for the decline. Women’s legal status was also changing and women become more socially mobile and therefore able to choose when to marry and if to have children. Since the Mauritian government made women’s education their top priority they have had a number of positive results – people are more aware of the need for birth control, and more open minded towards using it, and the average age of marriage has risen – people are getting married much later, and the average family size is decreasing.

Women also have a much more strengthened position in society. Women are now a much larger part of the workforce and increasingly women are beginning to put work ahead of raising a family.

Today the population is continuing to increase but at a much steadier rate – a mere 0.84% compared to 3% 30 years ago. Also the fertility rate has dropped to an acceptable level – now only 1.98 compared to 6.2 30 years ago. In short Mauritius has solved its population crisis and has almost achieved optimum population

It is a good example of how the promotion of women’s status in society can solve excessive population growth.

Teacher Reviews

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Katie Price

5th of Apr 2013

A very good review describing the changes in population along with some explanations for the reasons why. Good use of relevant statistics. There are some areas where more detail and linkages are needed to give a more comprehensive understanding, eg. extended and linked explanations: 'and so... therefore... because'. The use of linked data would also be relevant here eg. % females in education as well as just stats specifically on population growth.

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