An Enduring Cultural Legacy

Located about 2,000 kilometers off the east coast of Africa, the stunning tropical islands of Mauritius and Réunion lie just 175 kilometers apart. These islands were uninhabited until the colonial era, when France and Britain took control—Réunion became a French territory, while Mauritius came under British rule. By 1910, both powers had brought in large numbers of indentured laborers from South Asia to work on the islands.

Mauritius received the largest number of South Asian indentured workers of any destination—around half a million—who were shipped to its lush, tropical shores. Réunion received a smaller but still significant number, with about 60,000 laborers arriving during the same period.

Mauritius gained independence from Britain in 1968. Today, it is home to approximately 1.2 million people, with Hinduism being the largest religion—practiced by just under half the population. This makes Mauritius one of only three countries in the world, alongside India and Nepal, where Hinduism is the dominant faith. Notably, more than 30% of Mauritians identify as Christian, creating unique opportunities for sharing the love of Christ with Hindu communities.

Réunion, by contrast, remains an overseas region of France and is the only Eurozone territory located in the Southern Hemisphere. While the French census does not collect data on religion or ethnicity, it is estimated that Hindus make up at least 6% of Réunion’s 860,000 residents.

Together, these islands reflect the enduring cultural legacy of the South Asian diaspora and present both challenges and rich opportunities for gospel witness among Hindu populations in the Indian Ocean region.