Explore how Mayotte shows strength during Cyclone Chido and tough economic times.
- Its population density is second only to Paris.
- The unemployment rate is 37%, much higher than in mainland France.
Mayotte is a lovely French territory off the southeastern coast of Africa. It has recently faced the strong impacts of Cyclone Chido. This lovely place in the Indian Ocean has two main islands. They are Grande Terre and Petite Terre.
These islands are east of the Comoros Islands and northwest of Madagascar. Spanning 374 square kilometers, more than double the size of Washington, D.C., Mayotte is inhabited by around 321,000 people.
It has a high population density, second only to Paris and its nearby areas. The average age is 23, much lower than the 41-year average in mainland France.
The history of Mayotte is vibrant and intricate. Arab seafarers founded small sultanates and traded with East Africa and Madagascar.
They were the first settlers of the islands nearly a thousand years ago. In 1843, France took possession of Mayotte, gradually establishing authority over the whole archipelago by 1904.
Even with the shift towards self-governance in 1961, achieving complete independence continued to be out of reach.
In a major referendum in 1974, 95% of the people wanted to separate. Meanwhile, 63% of Mayotte’s residents chose to remain with France.
Later, the other islands of the Comoros declared their independence in 1975. This made Mayotte’s position unique.
Mayotte’s local economy, primarily reliant on public sector services, significantly relies on financial support from France. A report from the national audit office in 2022 noted that a big investment of 1.3 billion euros was made in 2018.
This investment aimed to improve the island’s infrastructure but did not succeed. Mayotte has experienced some level of prosperity, whereas the nearby Comoros struggles with issues of poverty and political unrest.
This leads numerous Comorians to undertake dangerous journeys to Mayotte in pursuit of improved prospects.
The social welfare and taxation systems are similar to those in mainland France, but Mayotte faces significant economic differences.
Unemployment rates rise to 37%, compared to a mere 7.4% in mainland France. Median incomes show a big difference.
Residents earn an average of 3,140 euros. In contrast, people on the mainland earn 23,000 euros. The economic gap is clear, as three out of four individuals are living under France’s national poverty line.
The islands of Mayotte faced two cyclones in 1898. Soon after, a smallpox outbreak occurred, leading to many deaths.
The island used to rely on sugar for its economy. Now, it grows vanilla, coffee, and aromatic plants like ylang-ylang. However, nature’s challenges and economic inequality still affect its story today.
