Mayotte

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

Highways

42 km total; 18 km bituminous

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

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Agriculture

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

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $287.8 million

Budget

revenues NA; expenditures $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Currency

French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Electricity

NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1--5.7598 (January 1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Exports

$4.0 million (f.o.b., 1984); commodities--ylang-ylang, vanilla; partners--France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

NA

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%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

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.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

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

Coastline

185.2 km

Comparative area

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Disputes

claimed by Comoros

Environment

subject to cyclones during rainy season

Extended economic zone

200 nm;

Land boundaries

none

Land use

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

Natural resources

negligible

Note

part of Comoro Archipelago; located in the Mozambique Channel about halfway between Africa and Madagascar

Terrain

generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines

Territorial sea

12 nm

Total area

375 km2; land area: 375 km2

Administrative divisions

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Capital

Dzaoudzi

Communists

probably none

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Diplomatic representation

as a territorial collectivity of France, Mahoran interests are represented in the US by France

Executive branch

government commissioner

Flag

the flag of France is used

Independence

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel) Chief of State President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); Head of Government Government Commissioner Akli KHIDER (since 1983); President of the General Council Youssouf BAMANA (since 1976)

Legal system

French law

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council (Conseil General)

Long-form name

Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte

National holiday

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Zna M'Oere; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche Maoulida; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RMPR), Abdoul Anizizi; Union of the Center (UDC)

Suffrage

universal at age 18 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, others 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

Type

territorial collectivity of France

Birth rate

51 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

12 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate

89 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

NA

Language

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Life expectancy at birth

54 years male, 58 years female (1990)

Literacy

NA%, but probably high

Nationality

noun--Mahorais (sing., pl.); adjective--Mahoran

Net migration rate

0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

NA

Population

72,186 (July 1990), growth rate 3.9% (1990)

Religion

99% Muslim; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic

Total fertility rate

6.8 children born/woman (1990)