2011 Edition

Background

Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence. In March 2009, Mayotte voted overwhelmingly to become France's 101st department - and fifth overseas department - a change scheduled to become official in 2011.

Area

374 sq km 374 sq km 0 sq km

total

374 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

Indian Ocean 0 m Mlima Benara 660 m

highest point

Mlima Benara 660 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

12 50 S, 45 10 E

Geography - note

part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

NA% NA% NA%

arable land

NA%

other

NA%

permanent crops

NA%

Location

Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

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

Age structure

46.5% (male 49,249/female 48,287) 51% (male 49,665/female 57,209) 2.4% (male 2,559/female 2,561) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

46.5% (male 49,249/female 48,287)

15-64 years

51% (male 49,665/female 57,209)

65 years and over

2.4% (male 2,559/female 2,561) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

31.67 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

2.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

16.17 deaths/1,000 live births 16.78 deaths/1,000 live births 15.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

15.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

16.17 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population

Life expectancy at birth

76.83 years 74.73 years 78.99 years (2011 est.)

female

78.99 years (2011 est.)

total population

76.83 years

Literacy

86%

Major cities - population

MAMOUDZOU (capital) 6,000 (2009)

Median age

16.7 years 15.7 years 17.6 years (2011 est.)

female

17.6 years (2011 est.)

male

15.7 years

total

16.7 years

Nationality

Mahorais (singular and plural) Mahoran

adjective

Mahoran

noun

Mahorais (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Population

209,530 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.533% (2011 est.)

Religions

Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1.15 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.15 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.05 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

50% of total population (2010) 2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

50% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Capital

Mamoudzou 12 46 S, 45 13 E UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

12 46 S, 45 13 E

name

Mamoudzou

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

Department Collectivity of Mayotte Mayotte

conventional long form

Department Collectivity of Mayotte

conventional short form

Mayotte

Dependency status

departmental collectivity of France

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Executive branch

President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Hubert DERACHE (since 22 July 2009) President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani DOUCHINA (since March 2008) NA French president elected by popular vote for a five-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; next election to be held in 2014

cabinet

NA

chief of state

President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Hubert DERACHE (since 22 July 2009)

elections

French president elected by popular vote for a five-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; next election to be held in 2014

head of government

President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani DOUCHINA (since March 2008)

Flag description

unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms are a blue upper half with white upturned crescent moon and a red lower half with two yellow ylang-ylang flowers, supported on either side by a white seahorse, and set above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant) the flag of France used for official occasions

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

International organization participation

InOC, UPU

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Legal system

the laws of France where applicable apply

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) last held on 9 and 16 March 2008 (next to be held in 2011) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 8, Diverse Right 4, independents 4, Citizens and Republic Movement 1, Democratic Movement 1, Diverse Left 1; note - political parties are the same as parties in France Mayotte elects two members of the French Senate; elections last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC-UDF 1, UMP 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 1

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 8, Diverse Right 4, independents 4, Citizens and Republic Movement 1, Democratic Movement 1, Diverse Left 1; note - political parties are the same as parties in France

elections

last held on 9 and 16 March 2008 (next to be held in 2011)

National anthem

as an overseas collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

note

as an overseas collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Federation of Mahorans or UMP-RPR [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or FRAP; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA]; Socialist Party or PS [Ibrahim ABUBACAR] (local branch of French Parti Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra; fish, livestock

Budget

$420 million $394 million (2005)

expenditures

$394 million (2005)

revenues

$420 million

Debt - external

$NA

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

139.2 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Exports

$6.5 million (2005)

Exports - commodities

ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon

GDP - composition by sector

NA% NA% NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$953.6 million (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$341 million (2005)

Imports - commodities

food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2005)

Labor force

44,560 (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

25.4% (2005)

Broadcast media

the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Mayotte television and radio station (2008)

Internet country code

.yt

Internet hosts

1 (2010)

Telephone system

small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications NA country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros

domestic

NA

general assessment

small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications

international

country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros

Telephones - main lines in use

10,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

48,100 (2005)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2010)

total

1

Ports and terminals

Dzaoudzi

Manpower fit for military service

34,769 42,005 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

42,005 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

34,769

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

2,395 2,487 (2010 est.)

female

2,487 (2010 est.)

male

2,395

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent of French forces is stationed on the island

Disputes - international

claimed by Comoros