1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
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
People and Society
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.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Capital
Mamoutzou
Chief of State
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
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
Executive branch
government commissioner
Flag
the flag of France is used
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
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
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
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)
Independence
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
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
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
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%
Communications
Airports
total: 1 usable: 1 with permanet-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 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
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of France