MAYOTTE
(territorial collectivity of France)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 375 km2; land area: 375 km2
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 185.2 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: claimed by Comoros
Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November)
Terrain: generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep
ravines
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%
Environment: subject to cyclones during rainy season
Note: part of Comoro Archipelago; located in the Mozambique Channel
about halfway between Africa and Madagascar
PEOPLE
Population: 75,027 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)
Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: 87 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 59 years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: 6.8 chill~en born/woman (1991)
Nationality: noun--Mahorais (sing., pl.); adjective--Mahoran
Religion: Muslim 99%; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic
Language: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: NA
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
Type: territorial collectivity of France
Capital: Dzaoudzi
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Executive branch: government commissioner
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (Conseil
General)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Leaders:
Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981);
Head of Government--Prefect, Representative of the French
Government Daniel LIMODIN (since NA 1990);
President of the General Council Youssouf BAMANA (since NA 1976)
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: universal at age 18
Elections:
General Council--last held NA June 1988 (next to be held June
1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(17 total) MPM 9, RPR 6, other 2;
French Senate--last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held
September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) MPM 1;
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
Communists: probably none
Member of: FZ
Diplomatic representation: as a territorial collectivity of France,
Mahoran interests are represented in the US by France
Flag: the flag of France is used
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 is
heavily dependent on French financial assistance.
GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues NA; expenditures $37.3 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (1985)
Exports: $4.0 million (f.o.b., 1984);
commodities--ylang-ylang, vanilla;
partners--France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%
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%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh
per capita
Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Agriculture: most important sector; provides all export earnings;
crops--vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of food
needs
Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-87), $323.8 million
Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 42 km total; 18 km bituminous
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m
Ports: Dzaoudzi
Telecommunications: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications; includes radio relay and high-frequency
radio communications for links with Comoros and international
communications; 450 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France