MAYOTTE – Country Information

Population:
Mayotte has a population of 270,371 as of 2019.

Size:
373 sq km / 144 sq mi

Capital City:
Mamoudzou was made the capital of Mayotte in 1977.

Ethnic Groups:
Comoran
French
Makua

The majority of the population is made up of Comoran, a mixture of Bantu, Arab, and Malagasy origin.

Religion:
98% Sunni Muslim
0.6% Christian
0.5% other
0.2% non religious

Languages:
French (official)
Comoran (common)

Many speak Comoran with French as a second language. There are also villages that speak dialects of Malagasy.

Geography:
Volcanic mountains peak at 2000 feet on the island of Mayotte. Coral reef surrounds the island providing protected waters great for scuba diving.

Economy:
The service industry provides the source of employment. Agriculture is also a main part of the economy with their primary exports of ylang-ylang and farmed fish. Despite this Mayotte has a weak economy and is reliant on aid from France.

Interesting Fact:
Mayotte is an overseas department of France comprising the two southeastern-most islands of the Comoros archipelago.

Important Facts:
France gained control over Mayotte in the 1800s, along with the other islands in the Comoros archipelago and Madagascar. Mayotte officially became a French department in 2011.