Mayotte

Mayotte is a special part of France located in the Indian Ocean, close to Madagascar and Mozambique. It is made up of two main islands, Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, along with some smaller islets. Though small in size, Mayotte is very crowded, with many people living in a relatively tiny space.

The main language of government is French, but many people speak Shimaore or Kibushi, which are native languages. Most people on Mayotte practice Islam, a tradition brought by Arab visitors long ago. The islands became part of France in 1841 and officially joined as a French department in 2011.

Even though it is part of France, Mayotte faces big challenges. Many people live in poor conditions, and a large number of residents have come from nearby Comoros, seeking better lives. Despite these difficulties, Mayotte has French-style buildings and services, making it different from other nearby places.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Mayotte

See also: List of islands of Mayotte

Mayotte is a group of islands that belong to France. The biggest island is called Grande-Terre, and it is 39 kilometres long and 22 kilometres wide. The highest point on this island is Mount Benara, which is 660 metres above sea level. The soil here is rich in some places because of old volcanic activity.

Around the islands, there is a big coral reef that helps protect boats and provides a home for many fish. This reef also surrounds a large lagoon, one of the biggest and deepest in the world. The lagoon is up to 100 metres deep and has many small coral islets. The total area of Mayotte is about 374 square kilometres, making it the smallest French overseas department. The main towns are Mamoudzou on Grande-Terre and Dzaoudzi on Petite-Terre.

Environment

Geology

Main article: Geology of Mayotte

Mayotte is a volcanic island that rises steeply from the ocean to a height of 660 metres (2,170 ft) at Mont Bénara. There are two main volcanic areas: one in the south and one in the north. Volcanic activity began millions of years ago and has since stopped.

Earthquake swarm

The 11 November 2018, seismic event happened about 15 miles off the coast of Mayotte. It was felt around the world but did not cause any damage. Scientists later found that it was caused by an undersea volcano far from the island.

Marine environment

Mayotte is surrounded by colorful coral reefs and a large lagoon. The waters around the island are protected as a National Marine Park, and many areas are set aside as natural reserves.

The coral reef around Mayotte is 195 km long and home to many kinds of sea life. Scientists have found over 3,600 different marine species, and they believe there are many more still unknown.

Terrestrial environment

Main article: Comoros forests

Mayotte has a rich variety of plants, with more than 1,300 different types, half of which are found only on the island. Unfortunately, most of the original forests have been cut down.

The island has a few types of native mammals, like flying foxes, and many species of insects, reptiles, and molluscs.

Protected areas

By 2021, Mayotte had 30 protected areas covering part of the island's land and all of its sea area. These include the Mayotte Marine Natural Park and several nature reserves.

In May 2021, France created the Forests of Mayotte National Nature Reserve to protect the island's remaining forests and the plants and animals that live there. This reserve covers many of the island's important mountains.

History

For the history of Mayotte before 1974, see History of the Comoros.

In 1500, a kingdom was created on the island. In 1503, Portuguese explorers saw and named Mayotte, but did not settle there. For many years, Mayotte was less important than its nearby islands, often facing attacks from pirates and raiders.

In the early 1800s, Mayotte was controlled by a trading family with ties to nearby areas. The island had few people and was mostly home to speakers of the Comorian language.

In 1841, France took control of Mayotte. After this, slavery was ended, but many people were still forced to work in tough conditions on farms. The French tried to grow sugar, building many farms and hiring workers, but this did not last long. Later, the French grew other crops like vanilla and fragrant plants such as ylang-ylang.

Mayotte chose to stay part of France in votes in 1974 and 1976, unlike the nearby islands which became independent. In March 2011, Mayotte officially became an overseas department of France after a vote.

In December 2024, Cyclone Chido caused major damage to Mayotte, destroying many homes and buildings. President Emmanuel Macron visited and helped with supplies and support.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Mayotte

Further information: Elections in Mayotte

Mayotte has a system of government where people choose their leaders through voting, and there are many different political groups. The main leader of Mayotte's local government is called the President of the Departmental Council. The government of France makes the big decisions for Mayotte.

Mayotte sends two representatives to the French National Assembly and two to the French Senate. This helps Mayotte have a say in the laws of France.

Mayotte decided to become very closely linked with France in 2001, and in 2011 it officially became an overseas department of France. This means Mayotte now uses the same laws and systems as the rest of France, although some changes will take time to happen. Since 2011, Mayotte has one local assembly that handles both regional and departmental matters.

In 2014, Mayotte also became part of the European Union as an outermost region, which helps it get special support from the EU.

Defence

The safety of Mayotte is handled by the French Armed Forces, with help from a special group called the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte. In 2026, a new boat called the Épée will arrive to help with coastal operations, replacing an older boat currently in use.

Around 170 members of the National Gendarmerie work in Mayotte. In late 2022, the Maritime Gendarmerie used two patrol boats named Odet and Verdon. However, in December 2024, these boats were badly damaged by Cyclone Chido and may need to be replaced. In early 2025, a replacement boat named Adour was sent from France to help until new boats can arrive.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Communes of Mayotte

Mayotte is split into 17 smaller areas called communes. There are also 13 cantons, though they are not shown here. Mayotte is special because it is the only department and region in France that does not have an arrondissement.

Transport

Land transportation

Over the past thirty years, France has invested in Mayotte, building more than 230 km of paved roads for cars and motorcycles. There are 90 km of main roads and 139 km of smaller roads. This is a big change from the 1980s when there were very few cars and mostly taxis, military vehicles, and small trucks.

Today, Mayotte has many vehicles, and traffic can get very busy, especially on the main road. There are taxis that cost little, but they don't always run on a schedule. Mayotte does not have a public bus system. Plans for a bus network called Caribus have existed since 2008 to help with traffic, but because of political issues and poor management, building it has not started yet.

Because Mayotte's roads mainly follow one big circle, people often talk about building a train, like on the island of Réunion. The latest idea is called "Treni bile" or "blue train." It would cost 900 million euros, which is too expensive for Mayotte, even though other big projects in the area have cost similar amounts.

Water transport

Mayotte is made up of two islands close together, so getting around can be tricky. The main landing spot in Mamoudzou can only handle small boats. People travel between the islands using passenger ferries and vehicle ferries. These ferries carry millions of passengers, thousands of motorcycles, cars, and trucks each year.

There is a deeper water port at Longoni in Koungou. It is a small stop for ships in the Mozambique Channel. A local company won the right to run the port in 2014 and is working to improve it to become an important commercial port in the area.

Air transport

The only airport on the island is Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport. In 2024, it served about 424,000 passengers. The airport also has a small area for small tour planes and very light aircraft.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Mayotte

The official currency in Mayotte is the euro.

Mayotte's economy has grown a lot since the end of the 20th century. This growth is because of money from the French government and because Mayotte became a full part of France after a vote in 2009. This brought better public services and infrastructure.

From 2010 to 2017, Mayotte's economy grew by about 6.9% each year. However, in 2018, big protests and demonstrations slowed down the economy. It grew again in 2019 but was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Mayotte's main economic hope is tourism, but there are challenges. Local farming struggles to compete with nearby places like Madagascar or the Comoros because of higher costs. There are many small farms on the island, growing food like rice, fruits, and some special crops for perfumes. However, some big farms have moved to other countries where it is cheaper to work.

Fishing is also important, with many types of fish and seafood available. There are efforts to grow fish in farms, but this needs careful management to protect the environment.

Agriculture, livestock, and fishing

There are around 20,000 small farms in Mayotte, with most land used for growing food like rice and fruits. Some farms grow special crops for perfumes, but many have moved to other countries because of higher costs.

Farming often includes raising animals like cattle and goats, but this does not meet all the needs of the island, so many foods are still imported.

Fishing is important, with many types of fish and seafood. There are efforts to manage fishing better and to grow fish in farms, but this must be done carefully to protect the environment.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Mayotte

As of January 1, 2024, about 320,901 people lived in Mayotte. Most people there are from Comoran backgrounds, a mix of different groups including South Arabs, Bantus, and Malagasy people.

Many families in Mayotte speak French, but local languages like Shimaore and Kibushi are also common. French is the main language used in schools and government.

The island has seen many people moving there from nearby places, which has caused some challenges. Leaders have worked to manage these changes and support everyone living there.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Mayotte

The culture of Mayotte comes from many different groups of people coming together over time. It is mainly based on Swahili culture, but also includes Arab-Muslim traditions. You can see this mix in the island's music, singing, and dancing. Music helps people express feelings and shows their faith.

Mayotte has several cultures living together. The main Mahoran culture, inspired by Swahili traditions, is now shared by most people. In the south, some Malagasy culture remains, but it too has been influenced by Mahoran ways. French culture and modern Western ideas are also becoming more common.

Sport

Mayotte competes in the Indian Ocean Island Games every few years. Football is very popular, and teams from Mayotte play in the Coupe de France.

Education

History

Even though Mayotte is part of France, setting up schools there took a long time. In the early 1900s, very few children went to school. Schools for children over six became required only in 1986. The first middle schools opened after World War II, and the first high school opened in 1980. Nursery schools started in the 1990s. Many people on the island did not know French, which made learning harder.

General overview

More than half of Mayotte's people are children, so education is very important but also very challenging. Many people cannot read well, and most do not have school diplomas. French is the language used in schools, but many children do not know it when they start school. This makes it hard for them to learn and do well.

Primary and secondary education

Education in Mayotte is managed by the Rectorat of Mayotte.

There are many schools on the island. In the 2025 school year, over 114,000 students were enrolled. There are nursery schools, primary schools, middle schools, and high schools. Some schools are very crowded, with many students in each class. This makes it hard to give every child good learning support.

Higher education

Main article: University of Mayotte

The University of Mayotte opened in 2011 and became a full university at the end of 2023. It is located in Dembeni and offers many programs, including bachelor's degrees. Students who want to study for a master's degree usually need to go to Réunion or mainland France, except for some teacher-training programs.

There are also other schools on the island for training in nursing and other fields. Some students go to study in mainland France, but many face challenges adjusting to life there. The university on Mayotte is growing to help students learn better and feel more supported.

Media

Mayotte got high-speed internet in April 2012 when it was linked to the Lion 2 submarine cable. Now, 4G mobile service is available across the island, making it easier to connect with France.

There are no newspapers or magazines brought in from outside. Instead, Mayotte has its own local media. It has a public TV channel (Mayotte La Première), a private TV channel (Kwézi TV), several radio stations (Mayotte La Première, Kwézi FM, Yao FM, RMJ, Radio Dziani, Ylang FM, Caribou FM, and others), daily newspapers (Flash Infos, Le Journal de Mayotte, Les Nouvelles de Mayotte, France Mayotte Matin), a weekly paper (Mayotte Hebdo), and other special interest publications (Mayotte Magazine, Memento, Glitter, Swiha, Fantasia, and more).

Tourism

Mayotte has beautiful coastlines with many different colors of sand, though it has fewer white-sand beaches than places like the Seychelles or Mauritius. The island has a very large and deep lagoon, one of the biggest in the world, and a special double reef that is rare and full of sea life, including large whales, which is unusual.

Tourism in Mayotte is growing but is still smaller than in other French islands. By the end of 2024, there were 19 hotels on the island, with the number of hotel rooms increasing by 7% compared to 2023. However, the number of visitors staying in hotels went down to 73%, showing that more rooms were added than the number of tourists coming. In 2023, about 73,000 visitors came to Mayotte, staying for nearly 1.7 million nights and bringing in around €88 million.

People enjoy many activities in Mayotte, like hiking on old volcanoes, watching unique lemurs, diving and snorkeling on coral reefs, and seeing sea turtles and dolphins. There are also chances to swim, relax on beaches, explore remote islands, and visit waterfalls and marshes. The island also has museums and tours led by local guides.

Notable people

Mayotte has been home to many talented individuals. Abdou Baco, born around 1965, is a writer and the founder of the musical group Mobissa. Toifilou Maoulida, born in 1979, was a French footballer who played in 556 games. Manou Mansour, born in 1980, is known as a French poet. El Fardou Ben Nabouhane, born in 1989, is a footballer from Comoros.

Politicians

Several politicians from Mayotte have served in important roles in France. Marcel Henry (1926–2021) was a French senator from 1977 to 2004. Soibahadine Ibrahim Ramadani, born in 1949, also served as a senator. Nourdine Bourhane, born in 1950, was a senior politician. Ibrahim Aboubacar, born in 1965, is a politician in the French National Assembly. Thomas Degos, born in 1971, served as the Prefect of Mayotte from 2011 to 2013.