Background: Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other Comoros in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forgo independence.

Area
Total: 375 km²
Land: 375 km²
Comparative: 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:

Population: 86,628 (July 1992), growth rate 3.8% (1992)

Nationality: noun - Mahorais (singular and plural; adjective - Mahoran

Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Religions: Muslim 99%; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic

Birth rate: 50 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1992)

Environment
Current issues: subject to cyclones during rainy season
Current issues note: part of Comoro Archipelago; located in the Mozambique Channel about halfway between Africa and Madagascar

Infant mortality rate: 84 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 59 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1992)

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Country name
Conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte

Government type: territorial collectivity of France

Capital: Mamoutzou

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

Suffrage: universal at age 18
French National Assembly:
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
General Council: last held June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 9, RPR 6, other 2

Executive branch: government commissioner

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (Conseil General)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

International organization participation: FZ
Diplomatic representation:

Flag description: 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: exchange rate conversion - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

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

Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA%

Labor force: NA
Organized labor: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $4.0 million (f.o.b., 1984)
Commodoties: ylang-ylang, vanilla
Partners: France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%

Imports: $21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984)
Commodoties: building materials, transportation equipment, rice, clothing, flour
Partners: France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.3801 (January 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)

Electricity
Production: NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m