Housing Investment Landscapes: Mauritius

This country report for Mauritius, authored by Francesca Dier and Davina Wood, forms part of CAHF’s Housing Investment Landscapes series which aims to reduce information asymmetries on who makes investments in the African housing sector–why they are made, and how. With the intention of identifying and championing increased investment in affordable housing, the report includes insights into and analysis of investment activity in housing the depth and breadth of investment in Mauritius’ housing and housing finance sector. This project has collected data and highlights gaps and opportunities in the investment landscape.

Mauritius is a small island state in the Indian Ocean, home to just 1.3 million people. The country’s economy is service-oriented, focused on construction, financial services, and information and communications technology. More recently, the economy has been diversifying into other areas, such as medical tourism and higher education. Mauritius’ urbanisation rate – 0.2 percent in 2016 – is on the lower end of the spectrum for the Southern African region and other upper middle income countries. It is one of only three countries in Africa (Tunisia and Botswana are the other two) that is reported to not have a housing deficit. However, affordability is a key issue for low and middle income Mauritian nationals. Nevertheless, the housing market presents an array of opportunities for potential investors, due to its favourable foreign investment environment. Furthermore, the expected implementation of new regulations should bode well for the improved functioning of land markets and increased investment.