View source for Mayotte

{{Short description|Overseas department of France}}
{{Redirect|Mahore|the main island of the department|Grande-Terre (Mayotte)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Mayotte
| official_name      = Department of Mayotte<br />{{nobold|{{native name|fr|Département de Mayotte}}}}
| settlement_type    = [[Overseas France|Overseas]] [[Departments of France|department]], [[Regions of France|region]] and [[single territorial collectivity]] of France and [[Special territories of members of the European Economic Area#Outermost Regions|outermost region]] of the European Union
| image_flag         = Flag of Mayotte (Local).svg
| flag_size          = 130px
| image_shield       = Coat of Arms of Mayotte.svg
| shield_size        = 130
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = Département 976 in France (zoom).svg
| map_caption        = 
| motto              = 
| coordinates        = {{Coord|12|50|35|S|45|8|18|E|region:FR-TF_type:isle_scale:500000|display=ti}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = France
| seat_type          = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat               = [[Mamoudzou]]
| parts_type         = [[Departments of France|Departments]]
| parts_style        = list
| parts              = 1
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[Departmental Council of Mayotte|President of the Departmental Council]]
| leader_name        = [[Ben Issa Ousseni]] ([[The Republicans (France)|LR]])
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 374
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = 18th region
| population_footnotes = <ref name=pop>{{Cite web |title=Estimation de population par région, sexe et grande classe d'âge – Années 1975 à 2024 |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/7752095/estim-pop-nreg-sexe-gca-1975-2024.xls |access-date=17 January 2024 |language=fr }}</ref>
| population_total   = 320901
| population_as_of   = Jan. 2024
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = {{hlist|Mahoran}}
| timezone1          = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset1        = +03:00
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    = 
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €2.932&nbsp;billion
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €11,300
| blank_name_sec2    = Currency
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]]) ([[ISO 4217|EUR]])
| website            = [http://www.mayotte.pref.gouv.fr/ Prefecture]<br/>[http://www.cg976.fr/ Departmental Council]
| iso_code           = {{hlist|[[ISO 3166-2:YT|YT]]|[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-976]]}}
| footnotes          = 
| anthem             = {{lang|fr|[[La Marseillaise]]}}<br/>{{Small|("The Marseillaise")}}<br/>{{Center|[[File:La Marseillaise.ogg]]}}
| image_map1         = Mahoré in Comoros (hatched).svg
| map_caption1       = Mayotte in the Comoros
}}

'''Mayotte''' ({{IPAc-en|m|aɪ|ˈ|ɒ|t}} {{respell|my|OT}}; {{langx|fr|Mayotte}}, {{IPA|fr|majɔt||LL-Q150 (fra)-Jules78120-Mayotte.wav}}; {{langx|swb|label=[[Shimaore language|Shimaore]]|Maore}}, {{IPA|sw|maˈore|IPA}}; {{langx|buc|label=[[Bushi language|Kibushi]]|Maori}}, {{IPA|mg|maˈori|IPA}}), officially the '''Department of Mayotte''' ({{langx|fr|Département de Mayotte}}),<ref name=official_name>{{citation|url=http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/DPMayotte_old-2.pdf|title=Mayotte devient le 101e département français le 31 mars 2011|page=4|publisher=Ministère de l'intérieur, de l'Outre-Mer, des collectivités territoriales et de l'immigration|access-date=30 July 2015 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200111/http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/DPMayotte_old-2.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> is an [[Overseas France|overseas]] [[Overseas departments and regions of France|department and region]] and [[single territorial collectivity]] of France. It is one of the [[Overseas departments and regions of France|overseas departments]] of France as well as one of the 18 [[regions of France]], with the same status as the departments of [[Metropolitan France]]. It is an [[Special member state territories and the European Union|outermost region]] of the European Union and, as an overseas department of France, part of the [[eurozone]].

Mayotte is located in the northern part of the [[Mozambique Channel]] in the western Indian Ocean off the coast of [[Southeast Africa|Southeastern Africa]], between the northwestern part of the island of [[Madagascar]] and northeastern [[Mozambique]] on the continent. Mayotte consists of a main island, [[Grande-Terre (Mayotte)|Grande-Terre]] (or Maore), a smaller island, [[Petite-Terre]] (or Pamanzi), as well as several islets around these two. Mayotte's land area is {{convert|374|km2}} and, with its 320,901 people according to January 2024 official estimates,<ref name=pop /> is very densely populated at 858 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup> (2,228 per sq mi). The biggest city and [[prefecture]] is [[Mamoudzou]] on the larger Grande-Terre. The [[Dzaoudzi–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.<ref name=language>{{cite web| url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2569783 | title=LANG1M- Population de 14 ans ou plus par sexe, âge et langues parlées| publisher=[[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]| website=INSEE| access-date=10 October 2013|language=fr}}</ref> There are two native languages of Mayotte. The most commonly spoken is [[Maore dialect|Shimaore]], and the lesser spoken is a [[Malagasy language]] called [[Bushi language|Kibushi]], of which there are two dialects; Kibushi sakalava, most closely related to the [[Sakalava people|Sakalava]] dialect of Malagasy, and Kibushi antalaotsi, most closely related to the dialect spoken by the [[Antalaotra]] of [[Madagascar]]. Both dialects have been influenced by Shimaore.

The islands were populated from neighbouring East Africa, with a later arrival of [[Arabs]], who brought the religious faith of [[Islam]]. A sultanate was established in 1500. The vast majority of the population today is [[Muslim]]. In the 19th century, Mayotte was conquered by Andriantsoly, former king of [[Boina Kingdom|Iboina]] on Madagascar. He sold the islands in 1841 to France ([[Kingdom of France]] and its later [[July Monarchy]] of 1830&ndash;1848) and its [[French colonial empire|overseas French Empire]], and Mayotte integrated to the Crown of France of King [[Louis Philippe I]] (1773&ndash;1850, reigned 1830&ndash;1848, of the royal dynasty of the [[House of Orleans|House of Bourbon-Orleans]]), then seven years later with the subsequent [[Second French Republic]] (1848&ndash;1870) after the [[French 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<ref name="lexpress.fr">{{Cite web|date=12 March 2018|title=Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Mayotte, le 101e département français|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/1/societe/ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-mayotte-le-101e-departement-francais_1991787.html|access-date=5 August 2021|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr}}</ref> after the nearby [[Comoros]] declared its independence following their [[1974 Comorian independence referendum|1974 independence referendum]].<ref name="lexpress.fr"/> Mayotte however became the 101st department of France ([[Fifth French Republic]]) on 31 March 2011 and became an [[Special member state territories and the European Union|outermost associated region]] of the European Union on 1 January 2014, following a [[2009 Mahoran status referendum|March 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 organize [[Operation 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.<ref>Patrick Roger, [https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2019/06/20/le-gouvernement-craint-un-regain-des-tensions-sociales-a-mayotte_5479000_823448.html Le gouvernement craint un regain des tensions sociales à Mayotte ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620142849/https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2019/06/20/le-gouvernement-craint-un-regain-des-tensions-sociales-a-mayotte_5479000_823448.html |date=20 June 2019 }}, Le Monde, 20 June 2019.</ref>
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.<ref>Patrick Meinhardt, [https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/15/comoros-to-accept-migrants-voluntarily-returning-from-mayotte// Comoros to accept migrants voluntarily returning from Mayotte], Africa News, 13 August 2024.</ref> 

The department faces enormous challenges. According to an [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (France)|Institut 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 are [[corrugated 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.<ref>[https://www.ouest-france.fr/mayotte/mayotte-le-gouvernement-annonce-1-9-million-d-euros-pour-le-plan-pauvrete-mayotte-6720980 Mayotte. Le gouvernement annonce 1,9 million d’euros pour le plan pauvreté à Mayotte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218142111/https://www.ouest-france.fr/mayotte/mayotte-le-gouvernement-annonce-1-9-million-d-euros-pour-le-plan-pauvrete-mayotte-6720980 |date=18 February 2020 }}.</ref> These difficult living conditions mainly concern the large population of illegal migrants who crowd into shanty towns.<ref>[https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/frances-crackdown-on-illegal-immigrants-comes-unstuck/ The Spectator – ''France’s crackdown on illegal immigrants comes unstuck'' – 27 April 2023] : « ''Mayotte is the same size in land mass as the [[British Isles]] territory of the [[Isle of Wight]] in the [[Irish 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.''»</ref>

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Mayotte}}

{{see also|List of islands of Mayotte}}
[[File:Mayotte topographic map-fr.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|Topographic map of Mayotte, the "seahorse island"]]
The term Mayotte (or Maore) may refer to all of the department's islands, of which the largest is known as Maore ({{langx|fr|Grande-Terre}}) and includes Maore's surrounding islands, most notably Pamanzi ({{langx|fr|Petite-Terre}}), or only to the largest island. The name is believed to come from ''Mawuti'', contraction of the Arabic {{lang|ar|جزيرة الموت}} ''Jazīrat al-Mawt'' – meaning "island of death" (maybe due to the dangerous reefs circling the island) and corrupted to ''Mayotta'' in Portuguese, later turned into French. However, the local name is ''Mahore'', and the Arabic etymology is doubtful.

The main island, [[Grande-Terre (Mayotte)|Grande-Terre]] (or Maore), geologically the oldest of the [[Comoro Islands]], is {{convert|39|km|mi|0}} long and {{convert|22|km|mi|0}} wide, and its highest point is [[Mount Benara]], <!--({{langx|fr|Mont Bénara}}; [[Shimaore language|Shimaore]]: ''Mlima Bénara'') -->at {{convert|660|m|ft|0}} above sea level. Because of the [[volcanic 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 to [[Mamoudzou]] on the main island of Grande-Terre. It is situated on Petite-Terre (or [[Pamanzi]]), which at {{convert|10|km2|sqmi|0}} is the largest of several islets adjacent to Maore. The area of the lagoon behind the reef is approximately {{Convert|1500|sqkm|sqmi}}, reaching a maximum depth of about 80m. It is described as "the largest barrier-reef-lagoon complex within the southwestern Indian Ocean".<ref name="Zinke2003">{{cite journal |last1=Zinke |first1=J. |last2=Reijmer |first2=J. J. G. |last3=Thomassin |first3=B. A. |last4=Dullo |first4=W.-C. |last5=Grootes |first5=P. M. |last6=Erlenkeuser |first6=H. |title=Postglacial flooding history of Mayotte Lagoon (Comoro Archipelago, southwest Indian Ocean) |journal=Marine Geology |date=2003 |volume=194 |issue=3–4 |pages=181–196 |doi=10.1016/S0025-3227(02)00705-3|bibcode=2003MGeol.194..181Z }}</ref>

=== Topography ===
Mayotte is the oldest of the four large islands of the [[Comoro Islands|Comoros archipelago]],<ref name=":0">Ornella Lamberti, "L'île aux parfums : mémoires d'une indépendante", dans Glitter – hors-série spécial nouveaux arrivants, Mayotte, 2017</ref> a chain of land emerging from a crescent-shaped submarine [[relief]] at the entrance to the [[Mozambique Channel]]. Located {{convert|295|km|abbr=on}} west of Madagascar and {{convert|67|km|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Anjouan]], sometimes visible at sunset in the shade, it is composed of several islands and islets covered with lush vegetation. The two largest islands are [[Grande-Terre (Mayotte)|Grande-Terre]] and Petite-Terre, backed by a [[coral reef]].

This {{convert|160|km|adj=on|abbr=on}} long [[coral reef]] surrounds a {{convert|1100|km2|abbr=on}} lagoon, one of the largest and deepest in the world.<ref name=":0" /> Part of the barrier reef features a [[double 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 {{convert|5|to|10|km|abbr=on}} wide, is up to {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}} deep.

It is dotted with about a hundred coral islets, such as [[Mtsamboro]]. 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 {{convert|374|km2|abbr=on}}, which makes it by far the smallest [[Overseas France|French overseas]] department (after [[Martinique]], which is three times larger at {{convert|1128|km2|abbr=on}}). 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, {{convert|363|km2|abbr=on}}, is {{convert|39|km|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|22|km|abbr=on}} wide. Its highest points are: Mount Bénara or Mavingoni ({{convert|660|m|abbr=on}}), [[Mont Choungui|Mount Choungui]] ({{convert|594|m|abbr=on}}), Mount Mtsapéré ({{convert|572|m|abbr=on}}), and Mount Combani ({{convert|477|m|abbr=on}}). 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 {{convert|11|km2|abbr=on}};
* Mtsamboro is the third largest island ({{convert|2|km2|abbr=on}}). It is permanently inhabited, mainly by [[Fisherman|fishermen]];
* Mbouzi islet ({{convert|84|ha|abbr=on}}) is classified as a [[nature reserve]];
* Bandrélé islet is the fifth largest island;
* Sable Blanc [[islet]] is located near the Saziley Marine Park (marine protected area).

== Environment ==
=== Geology ===
{{main|Geology of Mayotte}}

[[File:2019-03-08-Mayotte-Bathymetry-EQs-Section.png|thumb|right|Topography of Mayotte]]
[[File:Dziani Dzaha in Volcanic Crater in Mayotte.jpg|thumb|[[Dziani lake]] is the result of an ancient [[volcano]] 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 {{convert|660|m|ft}} on Mont Bénara ([[OpenStreetMap]] gives this as {{Convert|661|m|ft}}).

Two volcanic centres are reported, a southern one (Pic Chongui, {{Convert|594|m|ft}}) with a breached crater to the NW, and a northern centre (Mont M'Tsapéré, {{Convert|572|m|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&nbsp;million years ago in the south, ceasing about 2.7&nbsp;million years ago. In the north, activity started about 4.7&nbsp;million years ago and lasted until about 1.4&nbsp;million years ago. Both centres had several phases of activity.<ref name="Volcano Discovery">[https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/mayotte-island.html Volcano Discovery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723071200/https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/mayotte-island.html |date=23 July 2019 }}.</ref> The most recent age reported for an ash band is 7000 year BP.<ref name="Zinke2003" />

==== Earthquake swarm ====
The [[November 11 2018 seismic event|11 November 2018, seismic event]] occurred about {{Convert|15|mi|km}} off the coast of Mayotte. It was recorded by seismograms in many places, including [[Kenya]], Chile, New Zealand, Canada, and Hawaii located almost {{Convert|11000|mi|km}} away.<ref name=forbes/> The seismic waves lasted for more than 20 minutes, but despite this, no one felt it.<ref name=forbes>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/12/03/strange-waves-rippled-across-earth-and-only-one-person-spotted-them/#20938576aaab |title=Strange Waves Rippled Across Earth And Only One Person Spotted Them |first=Trevor |last=Nace |access-date=26 January 2019|magazine=[[Forbes]] |date=3 December 2018}}</ref><ref name=bigthink>{{cite web|url=https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/mystery-seismic-wave?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1|title=An unexplained seismic event 'rang' across the Earth in November |first=Robber |last=Berman |access-date=26 January 2019|date=29 November 2018|publisher=The Big Think Inc.}}</ref>
Subsequently, the earthquake swarm has been linked to a newly discovered undersea volcano located {{Convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from Mayotte at a depth of {{Convert|3500|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2019 |title=Mayotte quake swarm linked to newly discovered undersea volcano |url=https://africatimes.com/2019/05/17/mayotte-quake-swarm-linked-to-newly-discovered-undersea-volcano/ |publisher=Africa Times (AT Editor) |access-date=13 April 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Marine environment ===
[[File:MBouzi Patate Sud Grande Marée.JPG|thumb|Coral reef at low tide at M'Bouzi island]]

Mayotte is surrounded by a typical tropical [[coral reef]]. It consists of a large outer [[Coral reef|barrier reef]], enclosing one of the world's largest and deepest lagoons, followed by a [[fringing reef]], interrupted by many [[mangrove]]s. All Mayotte waters are ruled by a National Marine Park, and many places are natural reserves.

The outer coral reef is {{Convert|195|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, housing {{Convert|1500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of lagoon, including {{Convert|7.3|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of [[mangrove]]. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mayottehebdo.com/actualite/environnement/du-nouveau-dans-le-lagon |title=Du nouveau dans le lagon |last1=Ducarme |first1=Frédéric |date=3 July 2017 |website=Mayotte Hebdo |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>

=== Terrestrial environment ===
{{main|Comoros forests}}

[[File:Ripisylve Mayotte.jpg|thumb|[[Riparian forest]] with great [[mango tree]]s]]
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.<ref name="Naturalistes"/> 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 being [[flying fox]]es (''[[Pteropus seychellensis]] comorensis''). However, there are 18 species of reptiles, 23 of terrestrial molluscs, 116 butterflies, 38 dragonflies, 50 grasshoppers, and 150 beetles.<ref name="Naturalistes">[https://www.naturalistesmayotte.fr/mayotte/ Découvrons Mayotte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623162645/https://www.naturalistesmayotte.fr/mayotte/ |date=23 June 2019 }}, on naturalistesmayotte.fr.</ref>

===Protected areas===
By 2021, there were 30 protected areas on Mayotte, totaling {{Convert|55|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 13.94% of Mayotte's land area, and 100% of Mayotte's marine area.<ref name="mayotte">UNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Mayotte from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 1 September 2021. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/country/MYT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901183327/https://www.protectedplanet.net/country/MYT|date=1 September 2021}}</ref> Protected areas on Mayotte include [[Mayotte Marine Natural Park]], [[Pointes et plages de Saziley et Charifou]], and Ilôt Mbouzi National Nature Reserve.

On 3 May 2021, the French government created the [[Forests of Mayotte National Nature Reserve]] ({{Lang|fr|Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Forêts de Mayotte}}). The reserve consists of {{convert|2801|ha|abbr=on}} 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 include [[Mlima Combani and Mlima Mtsapéré Important Bird Area|Mount Mtsapéré]], [[Mlima Combani and Mlima Mtsapéré Important Bird Area|Mount Combani]], [[Benara|Mount Benara]], and [[Mont Choungui|Mount 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.<ref>Laperche, Dorothée (2021)"La réserve naturelle nationale des forêts de Mayotte est créée" Actu-Environnement.com, 5 May 2021. Accessed 1 September 2021. [https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/reserve-naturelle-nationale-forets-mayotte-37483.php4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901184224/https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/reserve-naturelle-nationale-forets-mayotte-37483.php4|date=1 September 2021}}</ref><ref>"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. [https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000043473720] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515214325/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000043473720|date=15 May 2021}}</ref><ref>"Forêts de Mayotte". Réserves Naturelles de France. Accessed 1 September 2021. [https://www.reserves-naturelles.org/forets-de-mayotte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920055041/https://www.reserves-naturelles.org/forets-de-mayotte|date=20 September 2021}}</ref>

== History ==

{{for|the history of Mayotte before 1974|History of the Comoros}}

In 1500, the Maore [[sultanate]] was established on the island. In 1503, Mayotte was observed and named (firstly ''Espirito 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 the [[Swahili 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. The [[List of sultans on the Comoros#Sultans of and on Mayotte|Sultans of Mayotte]] had political ties with the [[List of sultans on the Comoros#Sultans of and on Ndzuwani (Anjouan)|Anjouan Sultanate]] during this period. Mayotte was sparsely populated and mainly consisted of [[Comorian languages|Comorian speakers]] that were politically aligned with the local sultan and the Malagasy who were autonomous.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lambek |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcjXAAAAMAAJ |title=Knowledge and Practice in Mayotte: Local Discourses of Islam, Sorcery and Spirit Possession |date=1993 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=978-0-8020-2960-7 |pages=41–42 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Andriantsoly.jpg|thumb|[[Andriantsoly]], the last sultan of Mayotte, from 1832 to 1843]]
In 1832, Mayotte was conquered by Andriantsoly, former king of [[Boina Kingdom|Iboina]] on Madagascar; in 1833, it was conquered by the neighbouring sultanate of [[Mwali]] (''Mohéli'' in French).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gibb |first=Sir H. A. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J5U3AAAAIAAJ&dq=sultanate+of+moheli+1833&pg=PA381 |title=The Encyclopaedia of Islam |date=1998 |publisher=Brill Archive |language=en}}</ref> On 19 November 1835, Mayotte was again conquered by the [[Ndzuwani]] Sultanate ([[Anjouan]] sultanate in French); a governor was installed with the unusual Islamic style of [[Qadi]] (from the Arabic {{lang|ar|قاض}}, 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 of [[Nosy Be|Nosy Bé]] in 1840.

Mayotte was purchased by France in 1841, and integrated to [[Louis Philippe I|the 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lambek |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcjXAAAAMAAJ |title=Knowledge and Practice in Mayotte: Local Discourses of Islam, Sorcery and Spirit Possession |date=1993 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=978-0-8020-2960-7 |pages=43 |language=en}}</ref>

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, and [[Passive rewilding|nature 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 and [[Réunion]], 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 the [[Berlin 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 as [[vetiver]], [[Citronella oil|citronella]], [[sandalwood]], and especially [[ylang-ylang]], which later became one of the symbols of the island.

[[File:Comoros-CIA WFB Map.png|thumb|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 in [[1974 Comorian independence referendum|1974]] and [[1976 Mahoran Comoros referendum|1976]] to retain its link with France and forgo independence (with 63.8% and 99.4% of votes respectively). [[United Nations resolution|UN General Assembly resolutions]], which are legally non-binding, have voted not to recognise France's continued rule of Mayotte, and the independent [[Comoros]] have never ceased to claim the island.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.diploweb.com/Le-bras-de-fer-franco-comorien-au-sujet-de-Mayotte.html|title=Bras de fer franco-comorien au sujet de Mayotte|website=www.diploweb.com|access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref> A draft 1976 [[United Nations Security Council]] resolution recognising Comorian sovereignty over Mayotte, supported by 11 of the 15 members of the council, was vetoed by France.<ref>{{cite news|title=France Cast UN Veto|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8O0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6434,579759&dq=france+mayotte+veto&hl=en|access-date=13 April 2011|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=7 February 1976|quote=The vote was 11–1 with three abstentions – the United States, Britain and Italy.}}</ref> It was the only time, {{as of|2020|lc=y}}, that France cast a lone veto in the council;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick |publisher=UN |title=Security Council – Veto List |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Procedure of the UN Security Council |last1=Sievers |first1=Loraine |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2014 |isbn=9780199685295 |edition=4th |location=Oxford |pages=345–346 |last2=Daws |first2=Sam}}</ref> As mentioned, the [[United 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 an [[overseas department]] of France in March 2011 in consequence of a [[2009 Mahoran status referendum|29 March 2009 referendum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/lefigaromagazine/2009/03/14/01006-20090314ARTFIG00183--enquete-sur-le-futur-101-e-departement-.php| title=Enquête sur le Futur 101e Département|language=fr| date=13 March 2009}}</ref> The outcome was a 95.5% vote in favour of changing the island's status from a French "overseas community" to become France's 101st [[département]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/comorosandmayotte/5072354/Mayotte-votes-to-become-Frances-101st-dpartement.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/comorosandmayotte/5072354/Mayotte-votes-to-become-Frances-101st-dpartement.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Mayotte votes to become France's 101st ''department'' |work=The Telegraph|date=29 March 2009 |access-date=1 April 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Its non-official traditional [[Islamic law]], applied in some aspects of the day-to-day life, will be gradually abolished and replaced by the uniform [[Napoleonic Code|French civil code]].<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2009/03/29/mayotte-vote-en-faveur-de-la-departementalisation_1174015_823448.html#ens_id=1173404 Mayotte vote en faveur de la départementalisation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330221524/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2009/03/29/mayotte-vote-en-faveur-de-la-departementalisation_1174015_823448.html#ens_id=1173404 |date=30 March 2009 }}, ''Le Monde'', 29 March 2009.</ref> Additionally, French social welfare and taxes apply in Mayotte, though some of each will be brought in gradually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.connexionfrance.com/Mayotte-department-101-France-Outre-Mer-overseas-Indian-Ocean-12618-view-article.html |title=Mayotte becomes 101st department |work=The Connexion |date=31 March 2011 |access-date=2 April 2011 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210219/http://www.connexionfrance.com/Mayotte-department-101-France-Outre-Mer-overseas-Indian-Ocean-12618-view-article.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Comoros continues to claim the island, while criticising the French military base there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gadebate.un.org/en/67/comoros|title=Comoros|date=26 September 2012|website=General Assembly of the United Nations|access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=February 2021|reason=Remarks from 2009 and 2011 sources about transitions that WILL occur need to be reviewed and, I'm guessing, removed as faits accomplis.}}

In 2018, the department experienced civil unrest over migration from the Comoros.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 March 2018|title=Uneasy Calm on Mayotte after Anti-Immigration Protests|url=https://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/uneasy-calm-mayotte-anti-immigration-protests/|access-date=4 February 2021|website=Future Directions International|language=en-AU|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208190214/https://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/uneasy-calm-mayotte-anti-immigration-protests/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

{{Further|2024 Mayotte crisis}}<!--- Add here for now. Can be expanded into content. --->

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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cyclone Chido: "S'il n'y a pas de morts ou de blessés, ça serait vraiment un miracle", selon le président de l'association des maires de Mayotte|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/france/mayotte/cyclone-chido-s-il-n-y-a-pas-de-morts-ou-de-blesses-ca-serait-vraiment-un-miracle-selon-le-president-de-l-association-des-maires-de-mayotte_6955169.html|language=fr|date=14 December 2024|access-date=14 December 2024|publisher=[[France Info (radio network)|France Info]]}}</ref> President [[Emmanuel Macron]] arrived on the department's largest island, [[Grande-Terre, Mayotte|Grande-Terre]], on 19 December, and delivered food and health aid. A state of emergency has been declared for the department.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Mayeni |title=Cyclone Chido: Macron visits Mayotte as thousand still missing after storm |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgxnnl151yo |work=BBC |date=19 December 2024}}</ref>

== Politics ==
{{main|Politics of Mayotte}}

{{Further|Elections in Mayotte}}
[[File:Le conseil départemental (Mamoudzou, Mayotte) (34746660561).jpg|thumb|The departmental council in Mamoudzou]]
[[File:EU OCT and OMR map en.png|thumb|left|Map of the European Union in the world with overseas countries and territories and outermost regions (prior to [[Brexit]])]]
[[File:House in Kawéni, Mayotte.jpg|thumb|upright|House at Kawéni, dubbed the biggest shantytown of France<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/galeries-photos/photo/20180514.OBS6595/photos-mayotte-la-vie-miserable-a-kaweni-plus-grand-bidonville-de-france.html|title=PHOTOS. Mayotte : la vie misérable à Kawéni, plus grand bidonville de France|website=Nouvelobs.com|date=16 May 2018|access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref>]]
The politics of Mayotte takes place in a framework of a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] government and of a [[multi-party system]], whereby the President of the [[Departmental council of Mayotte|Departmental Council]] is the head of the local assembly. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the French government.

Mayotte also sends two [[Member of Parliament|deputies]] to the [[National Assembly of France|French National Assembly]] and two senators to the [[Senate of France|French Senate]]. The deputies represent [[Mayotte's 1st constituency]] and [[Mayotte's 2nd constituency]].

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 or [[Marxist-Leninist]] governments voiced criticism of Mayotte's ongoing ties to France.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} 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 of [[Metropolitan 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 the [[departments of France]], with the particular designation of [[departmental collectivity]]. This change was approved by 73% of voters in a [[2000 Mahoran status referendum|referendum]]. After the constitutional reform of 2003 it became an [[overseas collectivity]] while retaining the title "departmental collectivity" of Mayotte.

Mayotte became an [[overseas department]] of France (''département d'outre-mer'', DOM) on 31 March 2011 following the result of the March [[2009 Mahoran status referendum]], which was overwhelmingly approved by around 95% of voters.<ref name="DW">{{cite news |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14957924,00.html |title=EU shores spread to Indian Ocean island |publisher=Deutsche Welle |first=Elise |last=Cannuel |date=31 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2011/03/31/mayotte-embrouillamini-autour-de-son-accession-au-statut-de-departement_1501415_823448.html |title=Mayotte accède à son statut de département dans la confusion |newspaper=Le Monde}}</ref> 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.<ref name="RFI">{{cite news |url=http://www.rfi.fr/france/20110331-mayotte-devient-le-101eme-departement-francais|title=Mayotte devient le 101ème département français |publisher=Radio France Internationale |first=Marina |last=Mielczarek |date=31 March 2011}}</ref>

Since it became an overseas department in 2011, Mayotte possesses a single local assembly, officially called the "[[Departmental Council of Mayotte|Departmental Council]]" (''conseil départemental''), which acts both as a regional and departmental council, or a [[single 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) in ''association'' 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 the [[European Council]] in December 2013, Mayotte became an [[outermost region]] of the European Union on 1 January 2014.<ref name="CD 2013/61/EU">{{cite web | url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:353:0005:0006:EN:PDF | title=Council Directive 2013/61/EU of December 2013 | date=17 December 2013 | access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Secretary-General of the European Commission |title=Commission Opinion under Article 355(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on a French Government initiative to amend the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union |url=https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/EU/XXIV/EU/08/45/EU_84522/imfname_10032623.pdf |website=parlament.gv.at |publisher=COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION |access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>

In recent national elections, Mayotte has been a stronghold for the [[right-wing populist]] [[National Rally]] party, and gave its presidential candidate [[Marine Le Pen]] her highest vote percentage in the [[2022 French presidential election]] first round.<ref name="BAMBA 2022">{{cite web | last=BAMBA | first=Nicolas | title=Why Marine Le Pen's far-right political agenda has taken hold in French Mayotte | website=France 24 | date=19 April 2022 | url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220419-why-marine-le-pen-s-far-right-political-agenda-has-taken-hold-in-french-mayotte | access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="Saunders 2022">{{cite web | last=Saunders | first=Tom | title=Marine Le Pen is winning the French election in a majority Muslim island in the Indian Ocean | website=inews.co.uk | date=21 April 2022 | url=https://inews.co.uk/news/world/marine-le-pen-is-winning-the-french-election-in-a-majority-muslim-heartland-in-the-indian-ocean-1584572 | access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>

== Defence ==
Defence of the territory is the responsibility of the [[French Armed Forces]], principally carried out by a [[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte]]. One ''Engins 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 a [[Chaland de transport de matériel|CTM landing craft]] currently deployed in the territory, to better support coastal operations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Nationale Dossier d'Information, p. 19 |url=https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |date=January 2023 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Cols Bleus |language=fr |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304112422/https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/first-two-eda-s-next-gen-amphibious-landing-crafts-delivered-to-french-dga/|title=First Two EDA-S Next Gen Amphibious Landing Craft Delivered to French DGA|date=25 November 2021|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126153129/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/first-two-eda-s-next-gen-amphibious-landing-crafts-delivered-to-french-dga/|url-status=live}}</ref>

About 170 personnel of the [[National Gendarmerie]] are stationed in Mayotte<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mayotte.gouv.fr/Politiques-publiques/Prevention-des-risques-et-securite/Securite/Securite-publique/Commandement-de-Gendarmerie | title=Commandement de Gendarmerie / Sécurité publique / Sécurité / Prévention des risques et sécurité / Politiques publiques / Accueil – les services de l'État à MAYOTTE }}</ref> while, as of late 2022, the [[Maritime Gendarmerie]] operated the patrol boats [[Vedette côtière de surveillance maritime|''Odet'']] and ''Verdon'' in the territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.homelandsecurity-technology.com/projects/vedette-cotiere-de-surveillance-maritime-boats/ |title=Vedette Côtière de Surveillance Maritime (VCSM) Boats |publisher=Homelandsecurity Technology |date= |accessdate=28 August 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207152543/https://www.homelandsecurity-technology.com/projects/vedette-cotiere-de-surveillance-maritime-boats/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/forces-prepositionnees/forces-souverainete/forces-armees-zone-sud-locean-indien|title=Forces armées dans la Zone-sud de l'océan Indien|date=14 February 2022 |access-date=26 December 2022|publisher=Ministère des Armées}}</ref> In December 2024, both boats were severely damaged by [[Cyclone Chido]]. Reports suggested that they might both be beyond repair and would need to be replaced.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/mayotte-la-gendarmerie-maritime-doit-remplacer-ses-vedettes-coulees-par-le-cyclone-chido|title=Mayotte : la Gendarmerie maritime doit remplacer ses vedettes, coulées par le cyclone Chido |work=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=fr |date=6 February 2025 |access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/mayotte-une-vedette-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-et-le-remorqueur-de-la-marine-jetes-a-la-cote |title=Mayotte : une vedette de la Gendarmerie maritime et le remorqueur de la marine jetés à la côte |work=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=fr |date=18 December 2024 |access-date=18 December 2024}}</ref> In early 2025 a sister ship of the two vessels, the patrol boat ''Adour'', was transferred to Mayotte from Metropolitan France as a preliminary replacement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/french-gendarmerie-maritime-adour-coast-surveillance-vessel-news-photo/2210685959 |title=FRANCE-OVERSEAS-MAYOTTE-POLITICS: French Gendarmerie Maritime "Adour" coast surveillance vessel sails as France's President Emmanuel Macron patrols with officials on board a boat of the border police, who fights against illegal immigration, as part of his visit on the cyclone-hit French overseas territory of Mayotte, off the coast of Mamoudzou on April 21, 2025.|website=Getty Images |date=21 April 2025 |access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref>

== Administrative divisions ==
{{main|Communes of Mayotte}}

Mayotte is divided into 17 [[communes of France|communes]]. There are also 13 [[Cantons of the Mayotte department|cantons]] (not shown here). It is the only department and region of France without an [[Arrondissements of France|arrondissement]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Number on Map
!Name
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population
!Individual map
!Labelled map
|-
|1
|[[Dzaoudzi]]
|6.66
|17,831
|[[File:Locator map of Dzaoudzi 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
| rowspan="17" |[[File:Mayotte administrative1.PNG|frameless|350x350px]]
|-
|2
|[[Pamandzi]]
|4.29
|11,442
|[[File:Locator map of Pamandzi 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|3
|[[Mamoudzou]]
|41.94
|71,437
|[[File:Locator map of Mamoudzou 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|4
|[[Dembeni]]
|38.8
|15,848
|[[File:Locator map of Dembeni 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|5
|[[Bandrélé]]
|36.46
|10,282
|[[File:Locator map of Bandrele 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|6
|[[Kani-Kéli]]
|20.51
|5,507
|[[File:Locator map of Kani-Kéli 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|7
|[[Bouéni]]
|14.06
|6,189
|[[File:Locator map of Bouéni 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|8
|[[Chirongui]]
|28.31
|8,920
|[[File:Locator map of Chirongui 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|9
|[[Sada, Mayotte|Sada]]
|11.16
|11,156
|[[File:Locator map of Sada 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|10
|[[Ouangani]]
|19.05
|10,203
|[[File:Locator map of Ouangani 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|11
|[[Chiconi]]
|8.29
|8,295
|[[File:Locator map of Chiconi 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|12
|[[Tsingoni]]
|34.76
|13,934
|[[File:Locator map of Tsingoni 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|13
|[[M'Tsangamouji]]
|21.84
|6,432
|[[File:Locator map of M'Tsangamouji 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|14
|[[Acoua]]
|12.62
|5,192
|[[File:Locator map of Acoua 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|15
|[[Mtsamboro]]
|13.71
|7,705
|[[File:Locator map of Mtsamboro 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|16
|[[Bandraboua]]
|32.37
|13,989
|[[File:Locator map of Bandraboua 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|-
|17
|[[Koungou]]
|28.41
|32,156
|[[File:Locator map of Koungou 2018.png|frameless|62x62px]]
|}

== Transport ==

* [[Waterways]]
** Ferry between [[Dzaoudzi]] and [[Mamoudzou]].
* Highways:
** Total: {{convert|93|km|mi}}
*** ''Paved'': {{convert|72|km|mi}}
*** ''Unpaved'': {{convert|21|km|mi}}
* Ports and [[harbour]]s:
** [[Dzaoudzi]]
** "Longoni" (Koungou)
* Airport: [[Mayotte Airport|Dzaoudzi Pamandzi International Airport]]
** With paved runways: 1 (2002)

== Economy ==
[[File:Agropaysage mahorais.jpg|thumb|Agricultural landscape of Mayotte, containing most of the typical crops: [[coconut tree]]s, bananas, [[breadfruit]], [[papaya|papaya tree]], [[mango tree]]s, and [[manioc]] ]]
{{main|Economy of Mayotte}}

The official currency in Mayotte is the [[euro]].<ref name=EURO>{{cite web| url=http://www.finances.gouv.fr/notes_bleues/nbb/nbb208/outre.htm| title=L'évolution du régime monétaire outre-mer| author=[[Minister of the Economy, Industry and Employment (France)]]| access-date=30 November 2008| language=fr| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041119035715/http://www.finances.gouv.fr/notes_bleues/nbb/nbb208/outre.htm| archive-date=19 November 2004}}</ref>
  		  	
In 2019, the GDP of Mayotte at market exchange rates was €2.66&nbsp;billion (US$2.98 bn).<ref name="GDP">{{cite web | url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/5020211 | title=Produits intérieurs bruts régionaux et valeurs ajoutées régionales de 2000 à 2020 | publisher=[[INSEE]]|access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref> In that same year the [[GDP per capita]] of Mayotte at market exchange rates, not at [[Purchasing power parity|PPP]], was €9,692 (US$10,850),<ref name="GDP" /> which was eight times larger than the GDP per capita of the [[Comoros]] that year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/October/weo-report?c=632,&s=NGDPDPC,&sy=2019&ey=2026&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title= World Economic Outlook Database: October 2021|author=[[International Monetary Fund|IMF]]|access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref> but only 42.8% of the GDP per capita of [[Réunion]] and 26.4% of the GDP per capita of [[Metropolitan 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Recensement 2017 – Quatre logements sur dix sont en tôle en 2017 |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4202864?sommaire=4199393 |author=[[INSEE]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+GDP (nominal) per capita in 2019 (US$)
|-
| <small>{{Color box|#e43114|border=darkgray}} $500–1,000 {{Color box|#f57e00|border=darkgray}} $1,000–2,000 {{Color box|#eea800|border=darkgray}} $2,000–5,000 {{Color box|#2288ff|border=darkgray}} $5,000–10,000 {{Color box|#2259ff|border=darkgray}} $10,000–20,000 </small> 
|}
{{Image label begin|image=Mayotte in its political environment.png|width=600}}
{{Image label small|x=0.303|y=0.138|scale=600|text=[[Tanzania|<span style="background:#eea800;color:white">1,080</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.62|y=0.25|scale=600|text=[[Comoros|<span style="background:#eea800;color:white">1,360</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.71|y=0.33|scale=600|text=<span style="background:#2259ff;color:white">10,850</span>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.25|y=0.49|scale=600|text=[[Mozambique|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">507</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.78|y=0.52|scale=600|text=[[Madagascar|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">512</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.05|y=0.31|scale=600|text=[[Malawi|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">544</span>]]}}
{{Image label end}}

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 in [[real versus nominal value (economics)|real terms]] from 2001 to 2008, before being affected by the [[2008 financial crisis]] and experiencing as a result a [[recession]] of −0.4% in 2009.<ref name="GDP" /> 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.<ref name="GDP" /> Economic growth rebounded to +5.2% in 2019, but Mayotte was affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, with growth estimated at only +1.1% in 2020.<ref name="GDP" />

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.<ref name=Eurostat>{{cite web|url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nama_10r_2gdp&lang=en |title= Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices by NUTS 2 regions|author=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="GDP" /> Compared to [[Réunion]], Mayotte's GDP per capita rose from 28.7% of Réunion's level in 2000 to 43.7% in 2017, before falling back slightly.<ref name=Eurostat /><ref name="GDP" />

The unemployment rate for youth ages 15–29 is 43%.<ref name="Chevalier">{{Cite web |last=Chevalier |first=Quentin |date=17 April 2023 |title=Mayotte: The Education Crisis |url=https://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/2023/04/17/mayotte-the-education-crisis/ |access-date=20 June 2025 |website=Libraries Without Borders |language=en}}</ref> The overall unemployment rate is 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mayotte : les spécificités de l'archipel en 8 questions |url=https://www.vie-publique.fr/questions-reponses/289198-mayotte-les-specificites-de-larchipel-en-8-questions |access-date=20 June 2025 |website=www.vie-publique.fr}}</ref> 8 out of 10 children in Mayotte live in poverty.<ref name="Human Rights Watch">{{cite web |title=France: Many Children in Overseas Territory Lack Education |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/19/france-many-children-in-overseas-territory-lack-education |website=hrw.org |date=19 June 2025 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=16 July 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|+ style="margin-bottom: 0.5em"| <big>Regional GDP of Mayotte</big><br /><small>(in euros, current prices)</small>
! !! &nbsp;2000&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2005&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2010&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2015&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2016&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2017&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2018&nbsp; !! &nbsp;2019&nbsp;
|-
|align=center| '''Nominal GDP''' <small>'''(€ bn)'''</small>|| align=center| 0.56 || align=center| 0.92 || align=center| 1.43 || align=center|  2.08 || align=center| 2.21 || align=center| 2.42 || align=center| 2.50 || align=center| 2.66 
|-    
|align=center| '''GDP per capita''' <small>'''(euros)'''</small> || align=center| 3,800 || align=center| 5,300 || align=center| 7,100 || align=center| 8,800 || align=center| 9,000 || align=center| 9,500 || align=center| 9,400 || align=center| 9,700 
|-
|align=center| '''GDP per capita as a %'''<br />'''of [[Metropolitan France]]'s''' || align=center| 15.4% || align=center| 18.7% || align=center| 22.8% || align=center| 26.2% || align=center| 26.5% || align=center| 27.3% || align=center| 26.4% || align=center| 26.4% 
|-
|align=center| '''GDP per capita as a %'''<br />'''of [[Réunion]]'s''' || align=center| 28.7% || align=center| 31.0% || align=center| 38.1% || align=center| 42.6% || align=center| 42.5% || align=center| 43.7% || align=center| 42.6% || align=center| 42.8%
|-
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center" | <small>Sources: [[Eurostat]];<ref name=Eurostat /> [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]].<ref name="GDP" /></small>
|}

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|date=June 2020}} The major economic potential of the island remains tourism, however hampered by delinquency rates.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of Mayotte}}

{{Historical populations
| title= Historical population
| percentages = pagr
| 1958 |23364
| 1966.621917808 |32607
| 1978.498630137 |47246
| 1985.594520548 |67205
| 1991.61369863 |94410
| 1997.594520548 |131320
| 2002.578082192 |160265
| 2007.580821918 |186452
| 2012.639344 |212645
| 2017.679452055 |256518
| 2024 |320901
| footnote=Official population figures from past censuses up to 2017.<ref name=census>{{cite web| url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3284395| title=256 500 habitants à Mayotte en 2017| publisher=[[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]| website=INSEE|access-date=1 January 2018|language=fr}}</ref> Last INSEE 2024 estimate.<ref name=pop />
}}

On 1 January 2024, a record 320,901&nbsp;people were living in Mayotte (official INSEE estimate).<ref name=pop /> 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 (either [[metropolitan France]] or [[overseas 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 the [[Comoros|Union of the Comoros]], 2.6% in Madagascar, and the remaining 0.8% in other countries).<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/3713016/ip1737.xls | title=Figure 3 – Répartition de la population de Mayotte en 2017, par lieu de naissance et nationalité| publisher=[[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]| website=INSEE|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/tableau.asp?reg_id=27&ref_id=popop008| title=Population de Mayotte selon le lieu de naissance – RP 07| publisher=[[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]| website=INSEE|access-date=4 October 2013|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005123309/http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/tableau.asp?reg_id=27&ref_id=popop008|archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref>

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 in [[Anjouan]] (in the Union of the Comoros) or born in Mayotte of mothers born in Anjouan, 13.5% were either born in [[Grande Comore]] or [[Mohéli]] (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).<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2656589 | title=Migrations, natalité et solidarités familiales – La société de Mayotte en pleine mutation | publisher=[[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]| website=INSEE|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Tsingoni minaret.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Tsingoni Mosque]] is the oldest active mosque in France.]]
Most of the inhabitants of the island are culturally Comorians. The Comorians are a blend of settlers from many areas: [[South Arabia|South Arabs]], [[Bantu peoples|Bantus]], and [[Malagasy people|Malagasy]]. Comorian communities can also be found in other parts of the Comoros chain as well as in Madagascar.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

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.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3596190?sommaire=3596198 | title=Les naissances en 2017 – État civil – Fichiers détail | publisher=[[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]| website=INSEE|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=LIBERATION |last2=AFP |title=Un «fléau» qui «nécrose Mayotte» : dans «Ouest-France», la violente charge de Manuel Valls contre l'immigration |url=https://www.liberation.fr/societe/immigration/un-fleau-qui-necrose-mayotte-dans-ouest-france-la-violente-charge-de-manuel-valls-contre-limmigration-20250126_G65ZKNDGYNGCZLERUOGZTWJXQA/ |access-date=20 June 2025 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2025 |title=New school term in Mayotte off to difficult start six weeks after cyclone Chido |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20250127-new-school-term-in-mayotte-off-to-difficult-start-six-weeks-after-cyclone-chido |access-date=20 June 2025 |website=RFI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=France tightens birthright citizenship for Mayotte, raising fears about limits closer to home |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/france-tightens-birthright-citizenship-for-mayotte-raising-fears-about-limits-closer-to-home/ |access-date=20 June 2025 |website=www.courthousenews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2008 |title=Hope is a boat to Mayotte |url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/report/76277/comoros-hope-boat-mayotte |access-date=20 June 2025 |website=www.thenewhumanitarian.org |language=en}}</ref>

=== Religions ===
[[File:Mosquée - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|Passamaïnty mosque]]
The largest religion in Mayotte is [[Islam in Mayotte|Islam]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7970450.stm |title=Europe &#124; Mayotte backs French connection |work=BBC News |date=29 March 2009 |access-date=1 April 2011}}</ref> The French census does not collect religious data, but the [[CIA World Factbook]] estimates that the population is 97% Muslim and 3% Christian.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CIA – The World Factbook – Mayotte|url=http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/reference/factbook/geos/mf.html|access-date=10 May 2021|website=teacherlink.ed.usu.edu|archive-date=30 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430172940/http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/reference/factbook/geos/mf.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The main religious minority, Roman Catholicism, has no proper diocese but is served, together with the [[Comoros]], by a missionary jurisdiction, the [[Apostolic Vicariate of Comoros Archipelago]].

=== Languages ===
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:
*[[Maore dialect|Shimaore]], a dialect of [[Comorian language|Comorian]] (a close relative of [[Swahili language|Swahili]])
*[[Bushi language|Kibushi]], a western dialect of [[Malagasy language|Malagasy]] (the predominant language of Madagascar) heavily influenced by Shimaore and Arabic
*Kiantalaotsi, another western dialect of the Malagasy language also heavily influenced by Shimaore and Arabic

Kibushi is spoken in the south and north-west of Mayotte, while Shimaore is spoken elsewhere.

Besides French, other non-indigenous languages are also present in Mayotte:
*Arabic, essentially learned in the [[Madrasah|Quranic schools]]
*various non-Shimaore dialects of the Comorian language, essentially imported by immigrants who have arrived in Mayotte since 1974: Shindzwani (the dialect of [[Anjouan]], or Nzwani), Shingazidja (the dialect of [[Grande Comore]], or Ngazidja), and Shimwali (the dialect of [[Mohéli]], or Mwali).

Shingazidja and Shimwali on the one hand and Shimaore on the other hand are generally not [[Mutual intelligibility|mutually intelligible]]. Shindzwani and Shimaore are perfectly mutually intelligible.

==== 2012 and 2017 censuses ====

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.

==== 2007 census ====

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.<ref name=language />

==== 2006 survey ====

A survey was conducted by the French [[Minister of National Education (France)|Ministry of National Education]] in 2006 among pupils registered in [[Education in France#Primary education|CM2]] (equivalent to [[fifth grade]] in the US and [[Education in England#Post-16 education|Year 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 of [[first language]] speakers in the total population; note that percentages add up to more than 100% because some people are natively bilingual):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ac-mayotte.fr/IMG/pdf/Interv_BARRETEAU_CM2.pdf |title=Premiers résultats d'une enquête sociolinguistique auprès des élèves de CM2 de Mayotte |first=Daniel|last=Barreteau|access-date=17 May 2007 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614075940/http://www.ac-mayotte.fr/IMG/pdf/Interv_BARRETEAU_CM2.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2007}}</ref>
*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 counting [[second 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|date=October 2025}}

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 of [[French-based creole languages|French-based creole]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malango-mayotte.fr/culture/le_shimaore_fout_le_camp.htm|title=Le shimaoré fout le camp|first=Malango|last=Mayotte|date=2 October 2009|access-date=10 October 2013|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218063245/http://www.malango-mayotte.fr/culture/le_shimaore_fout_le_camp.htm|archive-date=18 December 2013}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
* Abdou Baco (born ca. 1965), writer and founder of the musical group ''Mobissa''
* [[Toifilou Maoulida]] (born 1979), French former footballer who played 556 games
* [[Manou Mansour]] (born 1980), French poet
* [[El Fardou Ben Nabouhane]] (born 1989), Comorian footballer

=== Politicians ===
* [[Marcel Henry]] (1926–2021), politician, French [[Senate (France)|senator]] from 1977 to 2004
* [[Soibahadine Ibrahim Ramadani]] (born 1949), politician, former senator
* [[Nourdine Bourhane]] (born 1950), former senior politician
* [[Ibrahim Aboubacar]] (born 1965), politician at the [[National Assembly (France)|French National Assembly]]
* [[Thomas Degos]] (born 1971), [[List of colonial and departmental heads of Mayotte|Prefect of Mayotte]] from 2011 to 2013

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Mayotte}}

{{Expand section|date=January 2022}}
=== Sport ===
Mayotte competes at the quadrennial [[Indian Ocean Island Games]]. Football is popular, with teams from the territory playing in the [[Coupe de France]].<ref name="White 2021">{{cite web | last=White | first=Adam | title=Team from Indian Ocean island of Mayotte to play Ligue 1 Bordeaux in Coupe de France | website=Get French Football News | date=1 December 2021 | url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2021/team-from-indian-ocean-island-of-mayotte-to-play-ligue-1-bordeaux-in-coupe-de-france/ | access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref>

=== Education ===
Education in Mayotte faces challenges. Mayotte has the worst educational outcomes in France.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-18 |title=France: Overseas Territory’s Education Barriers |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/18/france-overseas-territorys-education-barriers |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Chevalier"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 June 2025 |title=France: Many Children in Overseas Territory Lack Education {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/19/france-many-children-in-overseas-territory-lack-education |access-date=20 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}
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 ({{Convert|1500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}) 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 schooner ''Dwyn 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.

== See also ==
{{portal|Geography|Africa|France}}
* [[Outline of Mayotte]]
* [[2008 invasion of Anjouan]]
* [[Administrative divisions of France]]
* ''[[Caring for the Lagoon]]'', a documentary on the preservation of Mayotte's lagoon
* [[List of colonial and departmental heads of Mayotte]]
* [[Communications in Mayotte]]
* [[Islam in Mayotte]]
* [[Islands administered by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans]]
* [[Music of the Comoro Islands]]

== Citations ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last1=Hawlitschek |first1=Oliver |last2=Eudeline |first2=Rémy |last3=Rouillé |first3=Antoine |year=2020 |title=Terrestrial fauna of the Comoros Archipelago |location=Saint-Joseph, Réunion |publisher=Antoine Rouillé |isbn=979-10-699-5956-9 |oclc=1240355231}}

==External links==
{{Commons and category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{Wikiatlas}}
* [https://www.mayotte.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://www.cg976.fr/ Departmental Council website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.ilemayotte.com IleMayotte.com], the Mayotte Portal.
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mf.html Mayotte]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921084632/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mf.html |date=21 September 2012 }}. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [http://www.mayotte-tourisme.com/ Comité du tourisme de Mayotte] – official tourism website {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151046/mayottes-lagoon Mayotte] on the Earth Observatory ([[NASA]]).

{{Mayotte topics}}
{{French overseas departments and territories}}
{{Regions of France|current}}
{{Departments of France}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries}}
{{EU Outermost regions}}
{{Indian Ocean}}
{{Countries of Africa}}
{{Somali Plate}}
{{Irredentism}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mayotte| ]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Comoros archipelago]]
[[Category:Dependent territories in Africa]]
[[Category:Disputed islands]]
[[Category:Disputed territories in Africa]]
[[Category:Countries in East Africa]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where French is an official language]]
[[Category:Irredentism]]
[[Category:Island countries of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Islands of Africa]]
[[Category:Islands of Overseas France]]
[[Category:Outermost regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Overseas departments of France]]
[[Category:Southeast African countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1974]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of France]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the Comoros]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Regions of France]]