Mayotte is located in the northern part of theMozambique Channel in the western Indian Ocean off the coast ofSoutheastern Africa, between the northwestern part of the island ofMadagascar and northeasternMozambique on the continent. Mayotte consists of a main island,Grande-Terre (or Maore), a smaller island,Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), as well as several islets around these two. Mayotte's land area is 374 square kilometres (144 sq mi) and, with its 320,901 people according to January 2024 official estimates,[1] is very densely populated at 858 inhabitants per km2 (2,228 per sq mi). The biggest city andprefecture isMamoudzou on the larger Grande-Terre. TheDzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport is located on the neighbouring smaller island of Petite-Terre. The territory is also known as Maore, the native name of its main island.
French is the official language and is spoken as a second language by an increasing part of the population, with 63% of the population 14 years and older reporting in the 2007 census that they could speak it.[4] There are two native languages of Mayotte. The most commonly spoken isShimaore, and the lesser spoken is aMalagasy language calledKibushi, of which there are two dialects; Kibushi sakalava, most closely related to theSakalava dialect of Malagasy, and Kibushi antalaotsi, most closely related to the dialect spoken by theAntalaotra ofMadagascar. Both dialects have been influenced by Shimaore.
The islands were populated from neighbouring East Africa, with a later arrival ofArabs, who brought the religious faith ofIslam. A sultanate was established in 1500. The vast majority of the population today isMuslim. In the 19th century, Mayotte was conquered by Andriantsoly, former king ofIboina on Madagascar. He sold the islands in 1841 to France (Kingdom of France and its laterJuly Monarchy of 1830–1848) and itsoverseas French Empire, and Mayotte integrated to the Crown of France of KingLouis Philippe I (1773–1850, reigned 1830–1848, of the royal dynasty of theHouse of Bourbon-Orleans), then seven years later with the subsequentSecond French Republic (1848–1870) after theFrench Revolution of 1848. In the immediate aftermath of French sovereignty over the islands,slavery was abolished and laborers were imported to the area to work in fields and plantations. Mayotte chose to remain with France[5] after the nearbyComoros declared its independence following their1974 independence referendum.[5] Mayotte however became the 101st department of France (Fifth French Republic) on 31 March 2011 and became anoutermost associated region of the European Union on 1 January 2014, following aMarch 2009 referendum with an overwhelming result in favour of remaining in the status of a French department. The issue of illegal immigration became very important in local political life in the 2010s and 2020s which led France to organizeOperation Wuambushu.
In 2019, with an annual population growth of 3.8%, half the current population was less than 17 years old. In addition, 48% of the population were foreign nationals.[6]Most of the immigrants come from neighboring island state of Comoros, many illegally. Despite being France's poorest department, Mayotte is much richer than other neighboring East African countries and has developed French infrastructure and welfare system, making it a tempting destination for Comorans and other East Africans living in poverty in the region.[7]
The department faces enormous challenges. According to anInstitut national de la statistique et des études économiques (National Institute of Economic Statistics Studies of France – INSEE) report published in 2018, over 83% of the population live under the poverty line according to French standards, compared to 16% in metropolitan France, 40% of dwellings arecorrugated sheet metal shacks, 29% of households have no running water, and 34% of the inhabitants between the age of 15 and 64 do not have a job.[8] These difficult living conditions mainly concern the large population of illegal migrants who crowd into shanty towns.[9]
The term Mayotte (or Maore) may refer to all of the department's islands, of which the largest is known as Maore (French:Grande-Terre) and includes Maore's surrounding islands, most notably Pamanzi (French:Petite-Terre), or only to the largest island. The name is believed to come fromMawuti, contraction of the Arabicجزيرة الموتJazīrat al-Mawt – meaning "island of death" (maybe due to the dangerous reefs circling the island) and corrupted toMayotta in Portuguese, later turned into French. However, the local name isMahore, and the Arabic etymology is doubtful.
The main island,Grande-Terre (or Maore), geologically the oldest of theComoro Islands, is 39 kilometres (24 mi) long and 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide, and its highest point isMount Benara, at 660 metres (2,165 ft) above sea level. Because of thevolcanic rock, the soil is relatively rich in some areas. A coral reef encircling much of the island ensures protection for ships and a habitat for fish.Dzaoudzi was the capital of Mayotte (and earlier the capital of all the colonial Comoros) until 1977, when the capital was relocated toMamoudzou on the main island of Grande-Terre. It is situated on Petite-Terre (orPamanzi), which at 10 square kilometres (4 sq mi) is the largest of several islets adjacent to Maore. The area of the lagoon behind the reef is approximately 1,500 square kilometres (580 sq mi), reaching a maximum depth of about 80m. It is described as "the largest barrier-reef-lagoon complex within the southwestern Indian Ocean".[10]
Mayotte is the oldest of the four large islands of theComoros archipelago,[11] a chain of land emerging from a crescent-shaped submarinerelief at the entrance to theMozambique Channel. Located 295 km (183 mi) west of Madagascar and 67 km (42 mi) southeast ofAnjouan, sometimes visible at sunset in the shade, it is composed of several islands and islets covered with lush vegetation. The two largest islands areGrande-Terre and Petite-Terre, backed by acoral reef.
This 160 km (99 mi) longcoral reef surrounds a 1,100 km2 (420 sq mi) lagoon, one of the largest and deepest in the world.[11] Part of the barrier reef features adouble barrier that is rare on the planet. It protects almost all of Mayotte from ocean currents and waves, except for a dozen passes, including one in the east called the "S-pass". The lagoon, which averages 5 to 10 km (3.1 to 6.2 mi) wide, is up to 100 m (330 ft) deep.
It is dotted with about a hundred coral islets, such asMtsamboro. This reef serves as a refuge for boats and oceanic fauna. The volcanic activity that created the islands makes the soil particularly fertile.
The total area of Mayotte is about 374 km2 (144 sq mi), which makes it by far the smallestFrench overseas department (afterMartinique, which is three times larger at 1,128 km2 (436 sq mi)). However, this area is difficult to assess accurately, given the number of small uninhabited islets, some of which are completely underwater at high tide, but may reveal significant areas at low tide. The main islands are
Grande-Terre, 363 km2 (140 sq mi), is 39 km (24 mi) long and 22 km (14 mi) wide. Its highest points are: Mount Bénara or Mavingoni (660 m (2,170 ft)),Mount Choungui (594 m (1,949 ft)), Mount Mtsapéré (572 m (1,877 ft)), and Mount Combani (477 m (1,565 ft)). It is home to Mamoudzou, which is the economic capital of Mayotte and houses the departmental council and the prefecture;
Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi Island), with Dzaoudzi (official capital of Mayotte) and Pamandzi (where the airport is located). It is 11 km2 (4.2 sq mi);
Mtsamboro is the third largest island (2 km2 (0.77 sq mi)). It is permanently inhabited, mainly byfishermen;
Mbouzi islet (84 ha (210 acres)) is classified as anature reserve;
Bandrélé islet is the fifth largest island;
Sable Blancislet is located near the Saziley Marine Park (marine protected area).
Topography of MayotteDziani lake is the result of an ancientvolcano that went extinct approximately 500,000 years ago.
Mayotte is a primarily volcanic island rising steeply from the bed of the ocean to a height of 660 metres (2,170 ft) on Mont Bénara (OpenStreetMap gives this as 661 metres (2,169 ft)).
Two volcanic centres are reported, a southern one (Pic Chongui, 594 metres (1,949 ft)) with a breached crater to the NW, and a northern centre (Mont M'Tsapéré, 572 metres (1,877 ft)) with a breached crater to the south-east. Mont Bénara is on the curving ridge between these two peaks, approximately at the contact point of the two structures. Volcanic activity started about 7.7 million years ago in the south, ceasing about 2.7 million years ago. In the north, activity started about 4.7 million years ago and lasted until about 1.4 million years ago. Both centres had several phases of activity.[12] The most recent age reported for an ash band is 7000 year BP.[10]
The11 November 2018, seismic event occurred about 15 miles (24 km) off the coast of Mayotte. It was recorded by seismograms in many places, includingKenya, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, and Hawaii located almost 11,000 miles (18,000 km) away.[13] The seismic waves lasted for more than 20 minutes, but despite this, no one felt it.[13][14]Subsequently, the earthquake swarm has been linked to a newly discovered undersea volcano located 50 km (31 mi) away from Mayotte at a depth of 3,500 m (11,500 ft).[15]
Mayotte is surrounded by a typical tropicalcoral reef. It consists of a large outerbarrier reef, enclosing one of the world's largest and deepest lagoons, followed by afringing reef, interrupted by manymangroves. All Mayotte waters are ruled by a National Marine Park, and many places are natural reserves.
The outer coral reef is 195 km (121 mi) long, housing 1,500 km2 (580 sq mi) of lagoon, including 7.3 km2 (2.8 sq mi) ofmangrove. There are at least 250 different species of coral, 760 tropical fish species, and the National Natural Heritage Inventory (INPN) has no fewer than 3,616 marine species, but this is probably a far cry from the actual count. As this region of the world is still poorly inventoried by scientists, the waters of Mayotte continue to harbour many species unknown to science, and allow important scientific discoveries each year.[16]
Mayotte has a great diversity in its plant life: more than 1,300 species are recorded, half of them being endemic, making this island one of the richest in plant diversity in the world compared to its size.[17] 15% of the island is classified as natural reserve; however, the primal forest now covers barely 5% of the island due to illegal deforestation.
Just like many volcanic islands, Mayotte shelters quite a limited mammal biodiversity, the only native species beingflying foxes (Pteropus seychellensis comorensis). However, there are 18 species of reptiles, 23 of terrestrial molluscs, 116 butterflies, 38 dragonflies, 50 grasshoppers, and 150 beetles.[17]
By 2021, there were 30 protected areas on Mayotte, totaling 55 km2 (21 sq mi) or 13.94% of Mayotte's land area, and 100% of Mayotte's marine area.[18] Protected areas on Mayotte includeMayotte Marine Natural Park,Pointes et plages de Saziley et Charifou, and Ilôt Mbouzi National Nature Reserve.
On 3 May 2021, the French government created theForests of Mayotte National Nature Reserve (Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Forêts de Mayotte). The reserve consists of 2,801 ha (6,920 acres) in six mountain forests, covering 51% of Mayotte's reserve forests and 7.5% of Mayotte's total land area. Areas protected by the reserve includeMount Mtsapéré,Mount Combani,Mount Benara, andMount Choungui. The purpose of the reserve is to protect the relict primary forests of the island, restore the island's secondary forests, and protect the island's native flora and fauna.[19][20][21]
In 1500, the Maoresultanate was established on the island. In 1503, Mayotte was observed and named (firstlyEspirito Santo) by Portuguese explorers, but not colonized. The island has known several eras of wealth (especially during the 11th century at Acoua or between 9th and 12th centuries at Dembéni), being an important part of theSwahili coast culture. However, its sister island Anjouan was preferred by international traders due to its better suitability to large boats, and, for a long time, Mayotte remained poorly developed compared to the three other Comoros islands, often being targeted by pirates and Malagasy or Comorian raids.
In the early 19th century, Mayotte was controlled by a mercantile family that claimed Omani origins. TheSultans of Mayotte had political ties with theAnjouan Sultanate during this period. Mayotte was sparsely populated and mainly consisted ofComorian speakers that were politically aligned with the local sultan and the Malagasy who were autonomous.[22]
Andriantsoly, the last sultan of Mayotte, from 1832 to 1843
In 1832, Mayotte was conquered by Andriantsoly, former king ofIboina on Madagascar; in 1833, it was conquered by the neighbouring sultanate ofMwali (Mohéli in French).[23] On 19 November 1835, Mayotte was again conquered by theNdzuwani Sultanate (Anjouan sultanate in French); a governor was installed with the unusual Islamic style ofQadi (from the Arabicقاض, meaning "judge"). However, in 1836, it regained its independence under a last local Sultan. Andriantsoly reconquered the island in 1836, but his depopulated and unfortified island was in a weak position towards the sultans of Comoros, Malagasy kings, and pirates. Seeking the help of a powerful ally, he began to negotiate with the French, installed in the nearby Malagasy island ofNosy Bé in 1840.
Mayotte was purchased by France in 1841, and integrated tothe Crown. In the immediate aftermath, slavery was abolished and laborers were imported to the area to work in fields and plantations. The abolition of slavery led to several slave-owning elites leaving Mayotte as their authority was undermined. However, the freed slaves were often subsequently forced to work under harsher conditions for the French government or colonists in their plantations. Additionally, many of the imported laborers were victims of the slave trade.[24]
Mayotte therefore became a French island, but it remained an island with a sparse population due to decades of wars, as well as by the exodus of former elites and some of their slaves: most of the cities were abandoned, andnature reclaimed the old plantations. The French administration therefore tried to repopulate the island, recalling first of all the Mayotte exiles or refugees in the region (Comoros, Madagascar), proposing the former exiled masters return in exchange for compensation, then by inviting wealthy Anjouan families to come and set up trade. France launched some first major works, such as the realization in 1848 of the Boulevard des Crabes connecting the rock of Dzaoudzi to Pamandzi and the rest of Petite-Terre.
As it had done in the West Indies andRéunion, the French government planned to make Mayotte a sugar island: despite the steep slopes, large plantations were developed, 17 sugar factories were built and hundreds of foreign workers (mainly African, in particular Mozambic Makwas) hired from 1851 onwards. However, production remained mediocre, and the sugar crisis of 1883–1885 quickly led to the end of this crop in Mayotte (which had just reached its peak of production), leaving only a few factory ruins, some of which are still visible now. The last sugar plant to be closed was Dzoumogné in 1955: the best preserved, and now heritage, is Soulou, in the west of the island.
At theBerlin Conference in 1885, France took control over the whole Comoros archipelago, which was actually already ruled by French traders; the colony took the name of "Mayotte and Dependencies".
In 1898, two cyclones razed the island to the ground, and a smallpox epidemic decimated the survivors. Mayotte had to start from the beginning once again, and the French government had to repopulate the island with workers from Mozambique, Comoros and Madagascar. The sugar industry was abandoned, replaced by vanilla, coffee, copra, sisal, then fragrant plants such asvetiver,citronella,sandalwood, and especiallyylang-ylang, which later became one of the symbols of the island.
Map of the Comoros Union (three islands on the left) and the Mayotte French department (right)
Mayotte was the only island in the archipelago that voted in referendums in1974 and1976 to retain its link with France and forgo independence (with 63.8% and 99.4% of votes respectively).UN General Assembly resolutions, which are legally non-binding, have voted not to recognise France's continued rule of Mayotte, and the independentComoros have never ceased to claim the island.[25] A draft 1976United Nations Security Council resolution recognising Comorian sovereignty over Mayotte, supported by 11 of the 15 members of the council, was vetoed by France.[26] It was the only time, as of 2020[update], that France cast a lone veto in the council;[27] the veto was criticized because France was a party to the dispute before the Security Council, and consequently should have abstained from voting, according to some other Council members.[28] As mentioned, theUnited Nations General Assembly adopted a series of legally non-binding resolutions on Mayotte, under the pro-Comoros title "Question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte" up until 1995. In the decades since 1995, the subject of Mayotte has not been discussed by the General Assembly, and all the following referendums over Mayotte independence have shown a strong will of Mayotte people to remain French.
Mayotte became anoverseas department of France in March 2011 in consequence of a29 March 2009 referendum.[29] The outcome was a 95.5% vote in favour of changing the island's status from a French "overseas community" to become France's 101stdépartement.[30] Its non-official traditionalIslamic law, applied in some aspects of the day-to-day life, will be gradually abolished and replaced by the uniformFrench civil code.[31] Additionally, French social welfare and taxes apply in Mayotte, though some of each will be brought in gradually.[32] Comoros continues to claim the island, while criticising the French military base there.[33][needs update]
In 2018, the department experienced civil unrest over migration from the Comoros.[34]
In December 2024,Cyclone Chido caused extreme damage to Mayotte, destroying most homes, administrative buildings and part of the town hall in the capital Mamoudzou.[35] PresidentEmmanuel Macron arrived on the department's largest island,Grande-Terre, on 19 December, and delivered food and health aid. A state of emergency has been declared for the department.[36]
The departmental council in MamoudzouMap of the European Union in the world with overseas countries and territories and outermost regions (prior toBrexit)House at Kawéni, dubbed the biggest shantytown of France[37]
The situation of Mayotte proved to be awkward for France: while a significant majority of the local population did not want to join the Comoros in becoming independent of France, some post-colonial leftist orMarxist-Leninist governments voiced criticism of Mayotte's ongoing ties to France.[citation needed] Furthermore, the peculiar local administration of Mayotte, largely ruled by customary Muslim law, would be difficult to integrate into the legal structures of France, not to mention the costs of bringing the standards of living to levels close to those ofMetropolitan France. For these reasons, the laws passed by the national parliament had to state specifically that they applied to Mayotte.
The status of Mayotte was changed in 2001 towards one very close to the status of thedepartments of France, with the particular designation ofdepartmental collectivity. This change was approved by 73% of voters in areferendum. After the constitutional reform of 2003 it became anoverseas collectivity while retaining the title "departmental collectivity" of Mayotte.
Mayotte became anoverseas department of France (département d'outre-mer, DOM) on 31 March 2011 following the result of the March2009 Mahoran status referendum, which was overwhelmingly approved by around 95% of voters.[38][39] Becoming an overseas department will mean it will adopt the same legal and social system as used in the rest of France. This will require abandoning some customary laws, adopting the standard French civil code, and reforming the judiciary, educational, social and fiscal systems, and will take place over a period of about 20 years.[40]
Since it became an overseas department in 2011, Mayotte possesses a single local assembly, officially called the "Departmental Council" (conseil départemental), which acts both as a regional and departmental council, or asingle territorial collectivity. This was a unique arrangement at the time, but French Guiana and Martinique adopted this arrangement in 2015.
Despite its domestic constitutional evolution from the status of an overseas collectivity to that of an overseas department, effectively becoming a full constituent territory within the French Republic, with regards to the European Union, Mayotte remained an 'overseas country and territory' (OCT) inassociation with the Union (as per Article 355(2) TFEU) and not a constituent territory of the European Union in the same way as the other four overseas departments. However, following a directive of theEuropean Council in December 2013, Mayotte became anoutermost region of the European Union on 1 January 2014.[41] This successful agreement between the 27 member states follows a petition made by the French government for Mayotte to become an integral territory of the European Union nonetheless benefiting from the derogation clause applicable in existing outermost regions, namely Article 349 TFEU, as favoured in a June 2012 European Commission opinion on Mayotte's European constitutional status.[42]
Defence of the territory is the responsibility of theFrench Armed Forces, principally carried out by aForeign Legion Detachment in Mayotte. OneEngins de Débarquement Amphibie – Standards (EDA-S) landing craft (Épée) is to be delivered to naval forces based in Mayotte by 2025. The landing craft will replace aCTM landing craft currently deployed in the territory, to better support coastal operations.[45][46]
About 170 personnel of theNational Gendarmerie are stationed in Mayotte[47] while, as of late 2022, theMaritime Gendarmerie operated the patrol boatsOdet andVerdon in the territory.[48][49] In December 2024, both boats were severely damaged byCyclone Chido. Reports suggested that they might both be beyond repair and would need to be replaced.[50][51] In early 2025 a sister ship of the two vessels, the patrol boatAdour, was transferred to Mayotte from Metropolitan France as a preliminary replacement.[52]
Mayotte is divided into 17communes. There are also 13cantons (not shown here). It is the only department and region of France without anarrondissement.
In 2019, the GDP of Mayotte at market exchange rates was €2.66 billion (US$2.98 bn).[54] In that same year theGDP per capita of Mayotte at market exchange rates, not atPPP, was €9,692 (US$10,850),[54] which was eight times larger than the GDP per capita of theComoros that year,[55] but only 42.8% of the GDP per capita ofRéunion and 26.4% of the GDP per capita ofMetropolitan France. Living standards are therefore lower than in metropolitan France. At the 2017 census, 10% of dwellings in Mayotte had no electricity, 29% of dwellings had no running water inside the dwelling, and 54% of dwellings had no toilets inside the dwelling.[56]
The economy of Mayotte has grown significantly since the end of the 20th century due to financial transfers from the French central state and the gradual transformation of the territory into a full-fledged French department after a 2009 referendum, with considerable upgrading of public services and infrastructure.
The economy of Mayotte grew by an average of +9.3% per year inreal terms from 2001 to 2008, before being affected by the2008 financial crisis and experiencing as a result arecession of −0.4% in 2009.[54] The economy rebounded as early as 2010, driven by the transformation of the territory into an overseas department, decided in a referendum in 2009 and taking effect in 2011. From 2010 to 2017, the economy of Mayotte grew on average by +6.9% per year in real terms, but economic growth slowed to +2.1% in 2018 due to the massive civil unrest experienced by the territory that year, with weeks of demonstrations, roadblocks, and work stoppages paralyzing Mayotte's economy between January and April 2018.[54] Economic growth rebounded to +5.2% in 2019, but Mayotte was affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with growth estimated at only +1.1% in 2020.[54]
Thanks to rapid economic growth, Mayotte has begun to catch up with the rest of France in terms of standards of living. Despite high population growth, Mayotte's GDP per capita managed to rise from 15.4% of Metropolitan France's level in 2000 to 27.3% of Metropolitan France in 2017, but this catching-up process has stalled since 2018 due to the civil unrest that took place in Mayotte that year and its economic consequences.[57][54] Compared toRéunion, Mayotte's GDP per capita rose from 28.7% of Réunion's level in 2000 to 43.7% in 2017, before falling back slightly.[57][54]
The unemployment rate for youth ages 15–29 is 43%.[58] The overall unemployment rate is 30%.[59] 8 out of 10 children in Mayotte live in poverty.[60]
Regional GDP of Mayotte (in euros, current prices)
The local agriculture is threatened by insecurity, and due to a more expensive workforce cannot compete on the export ground with Madagascar or the Comoros union.[citation needed] The major economic potential of the island remains tourism, however hampered by delinquency rates.[citation needed]
Official population figures from past censuses up to 2017.[61] Last INSEE 2024 estimate.[1]
On 1 January 2024, a record 320,901 people were living in Mayotte (official INSEE estimate).[1] According to the 2017 census, 58.5% of the people living in Mayotte were born in Mayotte (down from 63.5% at the 2007 census), 5.6% were born in the rest of the French Republic (eithermetropolitan France oroverseas France except Mayotte) (up from 4.8% in 2007), and 35.8% were immigrants born in foreign countries (up from 31.7% at the 2007 census, with the following countries of birth in 2007: 28.3% born in theUnion of the Comoros, 2.6% in Madagascar, and the remaining 0.8% in other countries).[62][63]
According to a field study conducted by INSEE in 2015–2016, only 35.6% of the adults (18 years of age and older) living in Mayotte were born in Mayotte of mothers themselves born in Mayotte, whereas 37.4% of the adults were either born inAnjouan (in the Union of the Comoros) or born in Mayotte of mothers born in Anjouan, 13.5% were either born inGrande Comore orMohéli (in the Union of the Comoros) or born in Mayotte of mothers born in Grande Comore or Mohéli, 7.9% were either born in France (outside of Mayotte) or in Mayotte of mothers born in France (outside of Mayotte), and 5.7% were either born in foreign countries (other than the Comoros) or in Mayotte of mothers born in foreign countries (other than the Comoros).[64]
Most of the inhabitants of the island are culturally Comorians. The Comorians are a blend of settlers from many areas:South Arabs,Bantus, andMalagasy. Comorian communities can also be found in other parts of the Comoros chain as well as in Madagascar.[citation needed]
In 2017, mothers born in foreign countries (predominantly the Union of the Comoros) were responsible for 75.7% of the births that took place in Mayotte although many of these births were to French fathers: 58% of children born in Mayotte in 2017 had at least one French parent.[65]
Illegal immigration is a huge problem in Mayotte. French Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, has called immigration "a plague" that is "gradually killing" the island. The citizenship laws have been amended, and radar has been introduced.[66][67][68][69]
The largest religion in Mayotte isIslam.[70] The French census does not collect religious data, but theCIA World Factbook estimates that the population is 97% Muslim and 3% Christian.[71]
French is the sole official language of Mayotte. It is the language used for administration, education, most television, and radio, as well as in commercial announcements and billboards.The native languages of Mayotte are:
various non-Shimaore dialects of the Comorian language, essentially imported by immigrants who have arrived in Mayotte since 1974: Shindzwani (the dialect ofAnjouan, or Nzwani), Shingazidja (the dialect ofGrande Comore, or Ngazidja), and Shimwali (the dialect ofMohéli, or Mwali).
Shingazidja and Shimwali on the one hand and Shimaore on the other hand are generally notmutually intelligible. Shindzwani and Shimaore are perfectly mutually intelligible.
No questions regarding the knowledge or use of languages were asked in the 2012 and 2017 censuses, and no question relative to languages will be asked in the future censuses of Mayotte, leaving the now quite outdated census data from 2007 as the last official data on the topic of languages. Improvement in schooling has markedly increased French literacy and knowledge since 2007.
At the 2007 census, 63.2% of people 14 years old and older reported that they could speak French, with large differences with age. 87.1% of those whose age was 14 to 19 years old reported that they could speak it, whereas only 19.6% of those aged 65 and older reported that they could speak it. 93.8% of the population whose age was 14 or older reported that they could speak one of the local languages of Mayotte (Shimaore, Kibushi, Kiantalaotsi, or any of the Comorian dialects, which the census included in the 'local languages'). 6.2% of the population aged 14 and older reported that they spoke none of the local languages and could speak only French.[4]
A survey was conducted by the FrenchMinistry of National Education in 2006 among pupils registered inCM2 (equivalent tofifth grade in the US andYear 6 in England and Wales). Questions were asked regarding the languages spoken by the pupils as well as the languages spoken by their parents. According to the survey, the ranking of mother tongues was the following (ranked by number offirst language speakers in the total population; note that percentages add up to more than 100% because some people are natively bilingual):[72]
Shimaore: 55.1%
Shindzwani: 22.3%
Kibushi: 13.6%
Shingazidja: 7.9%
French: 1.4%
Shimwali: 0.8%
Arabic: 0.4%
Kiantalaotsi: 0.2%
Other: 0.4%
When also countingsecond language speakers (e.g., someone whose mother tongue is Shimaore but who also speaks French as a second language) then the ranking became:" Shimaore: 88.3%" French: 56.9%" Shindzwani: 35.2%" Kibushi: 28.8%" Shingazidja: 13.9%" Arabic: 10.8%" Shimwali: 2.6%" Kiantalaotsi: 0.9%" Other: 1.2%
With the mandatory schooling of children and the economic development both implemented by the French central state, the French language has progressed significantly on Mayotte in recent years. The survey conducted by the Ministry of National Education showed that while first and second language speakers of French represented 56.9% of the population in general, this figure was only 37.7% for the parents of CM2 pupils, but reached 97.0% for the CM2 pupils themselves (whose age is between 10 and 14 in general).[citation needed]
Nowadays there are instances of families speaking only French to their children in the hope of helping their social advancement. With French schooling and French-language television, many young people turn to French or use many French words when speaking Shimaore and Kibushi, leading some to fear that these native languages of Mayotte could either disappear or become some sort ofFrench-based creole.[73]
Education in Mayotte faces challenges. Mayotte has the worst educational outcomes in France.[75] 1/3rd of the youth population are not in school, many from disadvantaged and immigrant backgrounds. According to the Ministry of National Education, over 70% face difficulty reading.[58] A study from the University of Paris-Nanterre in 2023 found that up to 9 percent of Mayotte's school-age population were not enrolled in school. Schools are often overcrowded, and disruptions because of natural disasters worsen the situation.[76]
The island of Mayotte, which has very varied coastal relief, offers fewer sandy beaches than its neighbors Grande Comore, Mohéli, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar, but has a great diversity of coastlines and sand colors (black, brown, gray, red, beige, white). Its lagoon is the largest (1,500 km2 (580 sq mi)) and deepest in this part of the world (and one of the largest on the planet), and its double barrier reef is a biological curiosity that has only a dozen occurrences on our planet, hosting a great diversity of animals, including large cetaceans, which is extremely rare.
Some tourist activities include:
Hiking to the extinct volcano Dziani Dzaha of Petite-Terre and its lake Dziani;
Hiking to Mount Combani and Mount Choungui;
Trek to the governor's house;
Observation of the maki lemurs of the M'Bouzy islet;
Diving and snorkelling on the coral reef among tropical fish in the "Passe en S", in N'Gouja, Saziley or on the outer barrier;
The lagoon allows the observation of green and hawksbill turtles (which come to lay their eggs on deserted beaches), dolphins (common long-billed, spotted, and tursiops in particular), and whales and their calves (which give birth there);
Nautical activities or relaxation on the many beaches of Mayotte;
Swimming and visits to the isolated beaches of the northern and southern white sand islets;
Bivouacs on the deserted islands;
The Soulou waterfall, on the beach of the same name, is a natural curiosity;
The Badamiers mudflat, in Petite-Terre, is a marsh rich in biodiversity and landscapes;
The wrecks like that of the sailing schoonerDwyn Wen in front of the Badamiers (two masts of which are still standing out of the water);
The tour of the island by microlight allows you to observe the reefs from the sky;
The museum of Mayotte, the MuMa at Dzaoudzi, labeled Musée de France.
^The Spectator –France’s crackdown on illegal immigrants comes unstuck – 27 April 2023 : « Mayotte is the same size in land mass as theBritish Isles territory of theIsle of Wight in theIrish Sea – 147 square miles – but whereas the latter has a population of 142,000, Mayotte's is somewhere between 350,000 and 400,000. No one knows the precise figure because of the high rate of illegal immigration. The arrivals live in shanty towns / slums, and crime and disease have risen dramatically as a result.»
^abZinke, J.; Reijmer, J. J. G.; Thomassin, B. A.; Dullo, W.-C.; Grootes, P. M.; Erlenkeuser, H. (2003). "Postglacial flooding history of Mayotte Lagoon (Comoro Archipelago, southwest Indian Ocean)".Marine Geology.194 (3–4):181–196.Bibcode:2003MGeol.194..181Z.doi:10.1016/S0025-3227(02)00705-3.
^abOrnella Lamberti, "L'île aux parfums : mémoires d'une indépendante", dans Glitter – hors-série spécial nouveaux arrivants, Mayotte, 2017
^UNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Mayotte from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 1 September 2021.[1]Archived 1 September 2021 at theWayback Machine
^Laperche, Dorothée (2021)"La réserve naturelle nationale des forêts de Mayotte est créée" Actu-Environnement.com, 5 May 2021. Accessed 1 September 2021.[2]Archived 1 September 2021 at theWayback Machine
^"Décret n° 2021-545 du 3 mai 2021 portant création de la réserve naturelle nationale des forêts de Mayotte". Journal Officiel, République Française. Accessed 1 September 2021.[3]Archived 15 May 2021 at theWayback Machine
^"Forêts de Mayotte". Réserves Naturelles de France. Accessed 1 September 2021.[4]Archived 20 September 2021 at theWayback Machine
^"France Cast UN Veto".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 7 February 1976. Retrieved13 April 2011.The vote was 11–1 with three abstentions – the United States, Britain and Italy.
Hawlitschek, Oliver; Eudeline, Rémy; Rouillé, Antoine (2020).Terrestrial fauna of the Comoros Archipelago. Saint-Joseph, Réunion: Antoine Rouillé.ISBN979-10-699-5956-9.OCLC1240355231.
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