World Facts Index
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.
Geography of Mayotte
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Location:
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Southern Africa, island in
the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern
Madagascar to northern Mozambique |
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Coordinates:
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12 50 S, 45 10 E |
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Area:
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total: 374 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 374 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly more than twice
the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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185.2 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; marine; hot,
humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry
season is cooler (May to November) |
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Terrain:
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generally undulating, with
deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m |
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Natural resources:
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NEGL |
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Natural hazards:
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cyclones during rainy
season |
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Geography - note:
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part of Comoro Archipelago;
18 islands
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Population of Mayotte
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Population:
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216,306 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 46% (male 46,512/female 46,067)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 56,899/female 48,274)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,756/female 1,726) |
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Median age:
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17 years |
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Growth rate:
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3.77% |
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Infant mortality:
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60.76 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 61.76 years
male: 59.57 years
female: 64.02 years |
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Fertility rate:
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5.79 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran |
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Religions:
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Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman
Catholic) |
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Languages:
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Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
(official language) spoken by 35% of the population |
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Territorial
Collectivity of Mayotte |
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Dependency status:
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territorial collectivity of France |
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Capital:
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Mamoutzou |
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National holiday:
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Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
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Constitution:
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28 September 1958 (French Constitution) |
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Legal system:
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French law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since
16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Denis ROBIN (since 28 July 2008)
head of government: President of the General Council Said Omar OILI (since 8
April 2004)
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. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular
Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR (UMP) [Mansour KAMARDINE];
Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or FRAP; Movement for Department Status
Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA];
Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti Socialiste) [Ibrahim ABUBACAR]; Union
for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE] |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$953.6 million (2005 est.) |
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GDP per capita:
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$2,600 |
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Labor force:
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48,800 |
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Unemployment:
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38% |
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Industries:
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newly created lobster and
shrimp industry, construction |
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Agriculture:
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vanilla, ylang-ylang
(perfume essence), coffee, copra |
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Exports:
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ylang-ylang (perfume
essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon |
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Export partners:
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France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion |
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Imports:
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food, machinery and
equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals |
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Import partners:
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France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |