# The World Factbook (1990)/Mayotte

page 204
​Mayotte (territorial collectivity of France)
See regional map VII
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:
    Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
    Extended 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: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other
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: 72,186 (July 1990), growth rate 3.9% (1990)
Birth rate: 51 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 89 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 58 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 6.8 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Mahorais (sing., pl.); adjective—Mahoran
Religion: 99% Muslim; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic
Language: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy: NA%, but probably high
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 Général)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supérieur d'Appel)
Leaders: Chief of State President François MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
Head of Government Government Commissioner Akli KHIDER (since 1983); President of the General Council Youssouf BAMANA (since 1976)
Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Zńa M'Oere; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Darouèche Maoulida; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RMPR), Abdoul Anizizi; 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, 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
Communists: probably none
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
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
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $287.8 million
Currency: French franc (plural—francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
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)
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