1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Affiliation

(territorial collectivity of France)

Agriculture

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

Airports

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

Area

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

Birth rate

48.84 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)

Capital

Mamoutzou

Climate

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

Coastline

185.2 km

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Death rate

10.84 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Digraph

MF

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Economic aid

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

Electricity

capacity: NA production: NA consumption per capita: NA

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to cyclones during rainy season international agreements: NA

Ethnic divisions

NA

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: Prefect Jean-Jacques DERACQ (since NA); President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1976)

Exports

$4 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: ylang-ylang, vanilla partners: France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

Flag

the flag of France is used

French National Assembly

elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats - (1 total) UDF-CDS 1

French Senate

elections last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MPM 1

General Council (Conseil General)

elections last held March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 12, RPR 5

Highways

total: 42 km paved: bituminous 18 km unpaved: 24 km

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%

Independence

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Infant mortality rate

79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

International disputes

claimed by Comoros

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Labor force

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Languages

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Legal system

French law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 57.81 years male: 55.63 years female: 60.06 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: 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

Member of

FZ

Names

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

National holiday

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $54 million (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$600 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Nationality

noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran

Natural resources

negligible

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

part of Comoro Archipelago

defense is the responsibility of France

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. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.

Political parties and leaders

Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RPR), Mansour KAMARDINE; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Maoulida AHMED; Center of Social Democrats (CDS),

Population

93,468 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

3.8% (1994 est.)

Ports

Dzaoudzi

Religions

Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Terrain

generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines

Total fertility rate

6.77 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

territorial collectivity of France

Unemployment rate

NA%

US diplomatic representation

none (territorial collectivity of France)