Geography & environment — Mauritius
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Mauritius: Indian Ocean
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Indian Ocean
- Geographic Coordinates
20 17 S, 57 33 E
- Total Area
788 Square Miles 2,040 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
784 Square Miles 2,030 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
4 Square Miles 10 Square Kilometers
- Coastline
110 Miles 177 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
- Highest Point
828 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mont Piton 828 m
- Lowest Point Location
Indian Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
arable land, fish
- Irrigated Land
82 Square Miles 212 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Mauritius has a maritime climate with slight differences between tropical summer and subtropical winter. Humidity is high, and annual rainfall along the central plateau's western slopes totals nearly 200 inches. In Floreal the winter low can drop to 50°F with high winds and rain, making it seem much colder. The summer daytime high is in the 80s with nighttime temperatures about 10°F cooler. Temperatures in Port Louis and at the beach are about 10°F higher than elsewhere on the island. Rainy and dry seasons are not well defined, and vegetation remains green all year. Cyclones threaten the island between November and April.
- Terrain
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
- Location
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
- Total Area
788 Square Miles 2,040 Square Kilometers
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements