Mayotte

Airports

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanet-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

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

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 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)

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

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%

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

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 are heavily dependent on French financial assistance.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total area: 375 km2 land area: 375 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

185.2 km

Environment

subject to cyclones during rainy season

International disputes

claimed by Comoros

Irrigated land

NA km2

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

Southern Africa, in the northern Mozambique Channel about halfway between Madagascar and Mozambique

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

negligible

Note

part of Comoro Archipelago

Terrain

generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines

Administrative divisions

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Capital

Mamoutzou

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Digraph

MF

Diplomatic representation in US

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

Elections

General Council: last held March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 12, RPR 5 French Senate: last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1993); 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)

Member of

FZ

Names

conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte

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

18 years of age; universal

Type

territorial collectivity of France

Birth rate

49.22 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate

11.22 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic divisions

NA

Infant mortality rate

81.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force

NA

Languages

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 57.35 years male: 55.23 years female: 59.55 years (1993 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Nationality

noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population

89,983 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate

3.8% (1993 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)

Total fertility rate

6.84 children born/woman (1993 est.)