Mayotte ( Mayotte) is a country in Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique. Mayotte geographic coordinates 12 50 S, 45 10 E; area 374 sq km; area comparative slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC; land boundaries 0 km; coastline 185.2 km; maritime claims exclusive economic zone:<; climate tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season; terrain generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks; elevation extremes Benara 660 m; natural resources NEGL; land use NA%; irrigated land NA sq km; natural hazards cyclones during rainy season; environment current issues NA; geography note part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands;

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Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence. government type NA; capital Mamoutzou; administrative divisions none (territorial collectivity of France); independence none (territorial collectivity of France); national holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution); legal system French law; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Mayotte population 193,633 (July 2005 est.); age structure 1.7% (male 1,666/female 1,651) (2005 est.); median age 15.87 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 3.93% (2005 est.); birth rate 41.58 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 1.1 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 68.51 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 63.62 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 5.89 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate NA%; hiv people with aids NA; hiv deaths NA; nationality Mahoran; ethnic groups NA; religions Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic); languages Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population; literacy NA%;

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