Mayotte Geography Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique Geographic coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 375 sq km land: 375 sq km water: 0 sq km AreaÑcomparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 185.2 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November) Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Benara 660 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season EnvironmentÑcurrent issues: NA EnvironmentÑinternational agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA GeographyÑnote: part of Comoro Archipelago People Population: 141,944 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 33,067; female 33,016) 15-64 years: 52% (male 40,009; female 33,380) 65 years and over: 2% (male 1,214; female 1,258) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 5.16% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 46.96 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 9.22 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 13.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 71.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.58 years male: 57.21 years female: 62.02 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.48 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran Ethnic groups: NA Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French Literacy: NA Government Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte Data code: MF Dependency status: territorial collectivity of France Government type: NA National capital: Mamoutzou Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France) Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France) National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: French law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA) head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1977) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France 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 Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000) election results: percent of vote by partyÑNA; noteÑonly nine of the 19 seats were subjected to voting in March 1997; after the election, seats by party were as follows: MPM 8, RPR 5, independent candidates 5, local PS 1 note: Mayotte elects 1 member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001); resultsÑpercent of vote by partyÑNA; seats by partyÑMPM 1; Mayotte also elects 1 member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held as a special election on NA May 2002); resultsÑpercent of vote by partyÑUDF/FD 51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by partyÑUDF/FD 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel) Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Younoussa BAMANA]; Mahoran Rally for the Republic or RPR [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Association for French Mayotte or Association Pour Mayotte Francaise [Didier BEOUTIS]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE] International organization participation: FZ Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France) Flag description: the flag of France is used Economy EconomyÑoverview: 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. GDP: purchasing power parityÑ$63 million (1997 est.) GDPÑreal growth rate: NA% GDPÑper capita: purchasing power parityÑ$600 (1997 est.) GDPÑcomposition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Inflation rateÑconsumer price index: NA% Labor force: NA Unemployment rate: 38% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.) Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry Industrial production growth rate: NA% ElectricityÑcapacity: NA kW ElectricityÑproduction: NA kWh ElectricityÑconsumption per capita: NA kWh AgricultureÑproducts: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra Exports: total value: $3.64 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion Imports: total value: $131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: building materials, machinery and transportation equipment, metals, chemicals, rice, clothing, flour partners: France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 20% DebtÑexternal: $NA Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: extensive French financial assistance Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1Ñ6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993) Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Telephones: 450 Telephone system: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic: NA international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros and other international connections Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 Radios: 30,000 (1994 est.) Television broadcast stations: 0 Televisions: 3,500 (1994 est.) Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi Merchant marine: none Airports: 1 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.) Military MilitaryÑnote: defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island Transnational Issues DisputesÑinternational: claimed by Comoros