1991 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1991 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
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 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; land area: 375 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
50 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate
12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate
87 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Labor force
NA
Language
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Life expectancy at birth
54 years male, 59 years female (1991)
Literacy
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Nationality
noun--Mahorais (sing., pl.); adjective--Mahoran
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Organized labor
NA
Population
75,027 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)
Religion
Muslim 99%; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic
Total fertility rate
6.8 children born/woman (1991)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Capital
Dzaoudzi
Communists
probably none
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 NA 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--Prefect, Representative of the French Government Daniel LIMODIN (since NA 1990); 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
Economy
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 (1970-87), $323.8 million
Electricity
NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)
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
$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%
Communications
Airports
1 with permanent-surface runway 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 with Comoros and international communications; 450 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of France _%_