Demographic Crisis: Mauritius Elderly Population to Double by 2061

The population of Mauritians aged 60 and above has risen from 9% in 2000 to 18.7% in 2021, a trend set to continue with an estimated 36.5% by 2061.

The data, sourced from the National Integrated Care for Older People Strategic and Action Plan 2022/26 by the Ministry of Health and Social Security, signifies a considerable demographic shift with socio-economic implications.

Life expectancy has notably increased, with male expectancy at birth rising from 59 to 70.3 years between 1962 and 2020, and female expectancy increasing from 62 to 77.2 years during the same period.

This contributes to a rising median age, which climbed from 17.6 years in 1962 to 37.7 years in 2021, mainly attributed to declining fertility rates, projected to reduce the population from today’s 1.2 million to 933,951 by 2061.

This ageing trend is evident in the projection that individuals aged 60 and over will increase by 44%, from 237,195 in 2021 to 340,541 in 2061.

The proportion of this group relative to the total population is set to nearly double, from 18.7% in 2021 to 36.5% in 2061.

Meanwhile, those aged 15 to 59 are predicted to decrease from 64.6% in 2021 to 51.9% in 2061.

Furthermore, the number of those aged 80 and over will surge by 148%, from 26,432 in 2021 to 65,461 in 2061, resulting in a rise in their proportion from 11.1% to 19.2% within the 60 and above age group.

These demographic transformations pose challenges for Mauritius in terms of addressing the needs of the elderly population.

Source: Defi Media