1988 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1988 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Environment
subject to cyclones during rainy season
Land use
NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other
Language
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy
probably high
Nationality
noun — Mahorais (sing., pi.); adjective — Mahoran
Population
64,481 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 3.71%
Religion
99% Muslim; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic
Special notes
none
Terrain
generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines
Government
Branches
elected 17-member general council; appointed commissioner
Capital
Dzaoudzi
Communists
probably none
Government leaders
Christian PELLERIN, Commissioner of the Republic (since 1983); Younoussa BAMANA, President of the General Council (since 1976) Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Zna M'Oere; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche Maoulida; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RMPR), Abdoul Anizizi
Legal system
represented in French Parliament by one deputy in the National Assembly and one member in the Senate; superior court of appeal
Official name
Mayotte
Type
French overseas territority
Economy
Agriculture
vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra
Budget
144.3 million francs (1982)
Electric power
no data
Exports
5 million francs (1982); ylangylang, vanilla
Fiscal year
calendar year
Fishing
annual catch, about 2,000 tons
Imports
116 million francs (1982); building materials, transport equipment, rice, clothing, flour
Major industries
newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Major trade partners
imports — France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%; exports — France 79%, Reunion 19%, Comoros 10%
Monetary conversion rate
6.62 French francs=US$l (November 1986)
Communications
Airfields
1 total, 1 permanent-surface runway; 1,220-2,439 m
Highways
85 km tarred
Inland waterways
none
Ports
none
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications; includes radiorelay and high-frequency radio communications for links with Comoros and for international communications; 450 telephones (1 per 100 popl.); 1 AM station Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of France ,«