Mayotte
Mayotte
Introduction
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.
Geography
Location
Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates
12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total: 374 sq km
country comparison to the world: 204 land:374 sq km
water:0 sq km
Area – comparative
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
185.2 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
Climate
tropical
marine
hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May)
dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain
generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mlima Benara 660 m
Natural resources
NEGL
Land use
arable land: NA%
permanent crops:NA%
other:NA%
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
cyclones during rainy season
Environment – current issues
NA
Geography – note
part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)
People and Society
Population
209,530 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world:183
Age structure
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.)
Median age
total: 16.7 years
male:15.7 years
female:17.6 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
1.533% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Birth rate
31.67 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Death rate
2.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Net migration rate
-13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Urbanization
urban population: 50% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population
MAMOUDZOU (capital) 6,000 (2009)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over:1.05 male(s)/female
total population:1.08 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 16.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 111 male:16.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female:15.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.83 years
country comparison to the world: 70 male:74.73 years
female:78.99 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
4 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths
NA
Nationality
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective:Mahoran
Ethnic groups
NA
Religions
Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%
Languages
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population
Literacy
86%
Education expenditures
NA
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Department Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form:Mayotte
Dependency status
departmental collectivity of France
Government type
NA
Capital
name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates:12 46 S, 45 13 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Independence
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system
the laws of France where applicable apply
Suffrage
18 years of age
universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)
represented by Prefect Hubert DERACHE (since 22 July 2009)
head of government:President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani DOUCHINA (since March 2008)
cabinet:NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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
Legislative branch
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats
members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections:last held on 9 and 16 March 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
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
note: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
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d’Appel
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
International organization participation
InOC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
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)
note:the flag of France used for official occasions
National anthem
note: as an overseas collectivity of France, “La Marseillaise” is official (see France)
Economy
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$953.6 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP – real growth rate
NA%
GDP – per capita (PPP)
$4,900 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
GDP – composition by sector
agriculture: NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%
Labor force
44,560 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 191
Unemployment rate
25.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 173
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%
Budget
revenues: $420 million
expenditures:$394 million (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.7% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 47
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Agriculture – products
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
fish, livestock
Industries
newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity – production
NA kWh
Electricity – consumption
139.2 million kWh (2005)
country comparison to the world: 184
Exports
$6.5 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 213
Exports – commodities
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon
Imports
$341 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 191
Imports – commodities
food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals
Debt – external
$NA
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar – 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:225
Airports – with paved runways
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)
Ports and terminals
Dzaoudzi
Military
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 34,769
females age 16-49:42,005 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 2,395
female:2,487 (2010 est.)
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of France
a small contingent of French forces is stationed on the island
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international
claimed by Comoros