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.
