Turks and Caicos Islands (2002) | Mayotte (2006) | |
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Administrative divisions | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territorial collectivity of France) |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 32.6% (male 3,101; female 3,004)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 6,266; female 5,651) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 319; female 397) (2002 est.) |
0-14 years: 46% (male 46,512/female 46,067)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 56,899/female 48,274) 65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,756/female 1,726) (2006 est.) |
Agriculture - products | corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish | vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra |
Airports | 8 (2001) | 1 (2006) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2002) |
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Area | total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 374 sq km
land: 374 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC | slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
Background | The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory. | 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. |
Birth rate | 24.18 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) | 40.95 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
Budget | revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-98 est.) |
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $73 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.) |
Capital | Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) | name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates: 12 47 S, 45 14 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Climate | tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry | tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November) |
Coastline | 389 km | 185.2 km |
Constitution | introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988 | 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands |
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte |
Currency | US dollar (USD) | - |
Death rate | 4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) | 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
Debt - external | $NA | $NA |
Dependency status | overseas territory of the UK | departmental collectivity of France |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territorial collectivity of France) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territorial collectivity of France) |
Disputes - international | none | claimed by Comoros |
Economic aid - recipient | $4.1 million (1997) (1997) | $208 million; note - extensive French financial assistance (2004) |
Economy - overview | The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. | Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism. |
Electricity - consumption | 4.65 million kWh (2000) | 87.79 million kWh NA kWh |
Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2000) | - |
Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2000) | - |
Electricity - production | 5 million kWh (2000) | NA kWh |
Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2000) |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m |
Environment - current issues | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater | NA |
Ethnic groups | black | NA |
Exchange rates | the US dollar is used | euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) |
Executive branch | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor |
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Paul KIHL (since 17 January 2005)
head of government: President of the General Council Said Omar OILI (since 8 April 2004) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term; next election to be held in 2010 |
Exports | $13.7 million (1999) | $4.85 million f.o.b. (2004) |
Exports - commodities | lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells | ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon |
Exports - partners | US, UK | France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion (2004) |
Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
Flag description | blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus | unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant); the only official flag is the national flag of France |
GDP | purchasing power parity - $128 million (1999 est.) | - |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.) | - |
GDP - real growth rate | 8.7% (1999 est.) | NA% |
Geographic coordinates | 21 45 N, 71 35 W | 12 50 S, 45 10 E |
Geography - note | about 40 islands (eight inhabited) | part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands |
Highways | total: 121 km
paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2000) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
Illicit drugs | transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe | - |
Imports | $175.6 million (1999) | $256.7 million f.o.b. (2004) |
Imports - commodities | food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials | food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals |
Imports - partners | US, UK | France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (2004) |
Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) | none (territorial collectivity of France) |
Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Industries | tourism, offshore financial services | newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction |
Infant mortality rate | 17.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) | total: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 66.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 4% (1995) (1995) | NA% |
International organization participation | Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau) | UPU |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 14 (2000) | - |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA |
Judicial branch | Supreme Court | Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel |
Labor force | 4,848 (1990 est.) | 44,560 (2002) |
Labor force - by occupation | about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services (1997 est.) | - |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (1998 est.) |
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA% other: NA% |
Languages | English (official) | Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population |
Legal system | based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas | French law |
Legislative branch | unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4 |
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 21 and 28 March 2004 (next to be held in 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - MDM 23.3%, UMP 22.8%, PS 10.2%, MRC 8.9%, FRAP 6.5%, MPM 1.2%; seats by party - MDM 6, UMP 9, MRC 2, MPM 1, diverse left 1 note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.08%, UDF 44.92%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1 |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 73.76 years
male: 71.59 years female: 76.03 years (2002 est.) |
total population: 61.76 years
male: 59.57 years female: 64.02 years (2006 est.) |
Literacy | definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.) |
definition: NA
total population: NA male: NA female: NA |
Location | Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique |
Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Africa |
Maritime claims | exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Merchant marine | none (2002 est.) | - |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the UK | defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island |
National holiday | Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
Nationality | noun: none
adjective: none |
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran |
Natural hazards | frequent hurricanes | cyclones during rainy season |
Natural resources | spiny lobster, conch | NEGL |
Net migration rate | 12.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) | 4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
People - note | destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US | - |
Political parties and leaders | People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN] | Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR (UMP) [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or FRAP; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti Socialiste) [Ibrahim ABUBACAR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE] |
Political pressure groups and leaders | NA | NA |
Population | 18,738 (July 2002 est.) | 201,234 (July 2006 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
Population growth rate | 3.28% (2002 est.) | 3.77% (2006 est.) |
Ports and harbors | Grand Turk, Providenciales | - |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001) |
Radios | 8,000 (1997) | - |
Railways | 0 km | - |
Religions | Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990) | Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
Telephone system | general assessment: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
general assessment: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA international: country code - 269; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros |
Telephones - main lines in use | 3,000 (1994) | 10,000 (2002) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 0 (1994) | 48,100 (2004) |
Television broadcast stations | 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997) | 3 (2001) |
Terrain | low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps | generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks |
Total fertility rate | 3.18 children born/woman (2002 est.) | 5.79 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 10% (1997 est.) | 32.8% (2003) |
Waterways | none | - |