Mayotte

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

Highways

42 km total; 18 km bituminous

Ports

Dzaoudzi

Telecommunications

small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications; includes radio relay and high-frequency radio communications for links to Comoros and international communications; 450 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Agriculture

most important sector; provides all export earnings; crops - vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of food needs

Budget

revenues $NA; expenditures $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985)

Currency

French franc (plural - francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $402 million

Electricity

NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.3801 (January 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)

Exports

$4.0 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: ylang-ylang, vanilla partners: France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Imports

$21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: building materials, transportation equipment, rice, clothing, flour partners: France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Overview

Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island is heavily dependent on French financial assistance.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)

Coastline

185.2 km

Comparative area

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Disputes

claimed by Comoros

Environment

subject to cyclones during rainy season

Land area

375 km2

Land boundaries

none

Land use

arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

Maritime claims

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

negligible

Note

part of Comoro Archipelago; located in the Mozambique Channel about halfway between Africa and Madagascar

Terrain

generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines

Total area

375 km2

Administrative divisions

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Capital

Mamoutzou

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Diplomatic representation

as a territorial collectivity of France, Mahoran interests are represented in the US by France

Elections

General Council: last held June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 9, RPR 6, other 2 French Senate: last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MPM 1 French National Assembly: last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDC 1

Executive branch

government commissioner

Flag

the flag of France is used

Independence

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Leaders

Chief of State: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) Head of Government: Commissioner, Representative of the French Government Jean-Paul COSTE (since NA 1991); President of the General Council Youssouf BAMANA (since NA 1976)

Legal system

French law

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council (Conseil General)

Long-form name

Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte

Member of

FZ

National holiday

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RMPR), Mansour KAMARDINE; Union of the Center (UDC)

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Type

territorial collectivity of France

Birth rate

50 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate

12 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Infant mortality rate

84 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Labor force

NA

Languages

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Life expectancy at birth

55 years male, 59 years female (1992)

Literacy

NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Nationality

noun - Mahorais (singular and plural); adjective - Mahoran

Net migration rate

0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Organized labor

NA

Population

86,628 (July 1992), growth rate 3.8% (1992)

Religions

Muslim 99%; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic

Total fertility rate

6.9 children born/woman (1992)