1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 375 sq km land: 375 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Benara 660 m
Environment--current issues
NA
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
12 50 S, 45 10 E
Geography--note
part of Comoro Archipelago
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Location
Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
cyclones during rainy season
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 47% (male 34,838; female 34,798) 15-64 years: 52% (male 42,073; female 35,068) 65 years and over: 1% (male 1,257; female 1,302) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
46.12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
8.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
NA
Infant mortality rate
69.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 60.02 years male: 57.61 years female: 62.51 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran
Net migration rate
12.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
149,336 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
5% (1999 est.)
Religions
Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
6.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Capital
Mamoutzou
Constitution
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte
Data code
MF
Dependency status
territorial collectivity of France
Executive branch
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA) head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1977) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term
Flag description
the flag of France is used
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territorial collectivity of France)
International organization participation
FZ Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel) Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM BEOUTIS]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Legal system
French law
Legislative branch
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 23 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; note--only nine of the 19 seats were subjected to voting in March 1997; after the election, seats by party were as follows: MPM 8, RPR 5, independents 5, PS 1 note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--MPM 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held as a special election on NA May 2002); results--percent of vote by party--UDF/FD 51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by party--UDF/FD 1
National holiday
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Currency
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Debt--external
$NA
Economic aid--recipient
$107.7 million (1995); note?extensive French financial assistance
Economy--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, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.
Electricity--consumption
NA kWh
Electricity--exports
NA kWh
Electricity--imports
NA kWh
Electricity--production
NA kWh
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)
Exports
$3.64 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra
Exports--partners
France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$85 million (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$600 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities
building materials, machinery and transportation equipment, metals, chemicals, rice, clothing, flour
Imports--partners
France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 20%
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
38% (1991 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
30,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system
small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic: NA international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros and other international connections
Telephones
450
Television broadcast stations
3 (1997)
Televisions
3,500 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
claimed by Comoros