Mauritius Ranks 8th Globally in AI Readiness for Youth, 2026 Index Shows

Mauritius has been ranked the leading African Commonwealth nation for youth readiness in artificial intelligence, according to the 2026 edition of the Ayre Index, formally known as the AI Commonwealth Youth Readiness Index. The result was noted by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on Friday 13 November 2026.

The Ayre Index evaluates how prepared young people, specifically those aged 15 to 29, are to participate in an economy increasingly shaped by AI technologies. It covers all 56 member states of the Commonwealth, the grouping of nations with historical ties to Britain that includes countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean.

Mauritius achieved a score of 64.4 out of 100, placing it eighth in the overall global ranking. On the African continent, the island nation outperformed both South Africa and Nigeria, two economies considerably larger in population and resources. The result positions Mauritius as a regional benchmark for digital preparedness among young people.

The 2026 report goes beyond raw scores and identifies five priority areas that governments should focus on to strengthen youth integration into the digital economy. The index calls for affordable access to technology as a foundational requirement, recognising that connectivity and device access remain uneven across Commonwealth countries.

It also emphasises education that is oriented toward practical skills rather than purely theoretical knowledge, reflecting a broader global shift in how policymakers view workforce development in the age of AI. The index stresses the importance of building clear pathways between education, employment and entrepreneurship, so that young people can translate digital skills into economic opportunity.

Two additional levers are highlighted as essential for sustainable development, though the full details of those recommendations were not disclosed in the available extract of the report.

What this means: For Mauritius, this ranking reinforces its ambition to position itself as a knowledge-based economy and a technology hub in the Indian Ocean region. For young Mauritians entering the job market, it signals that the country is investing in an environment where AI skills are valued. For investors and businesses considering Mauritius as a base, the ranking adds to the island's credentials as a digitally capable workforce destination. The government's decision to formally note this result at cabinet level suggests it will likely inform future policy, particularly in education and digital infrastructure spending.