The largest maternity hospital in France
We say it again and again, so much so that the idea makes people smile: Mayotte, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is France's largest maternity hospital, with a record figure of 9,800 babies born to mothers residing in the territory in 2017, according to INSEE. A staggering figure, yet it only covers a small part of the reality, as it doesn't take into account babies born to mothers from neighboring islands, of which there are many. Firstly, the local population is young, even very young, with an average age of 23, a far cry from the 41 years in mainland France. Secondly, women are having children earlier, mostly in their early twenties, in contrast to the national average, which is in the thirties. Finally, the average number of children per woman is also significantly higher than in the rest of France, with 4.7 children per woman in Mayotte in 2023, compared with 1.68 in France.
A sevenfold increase in population since the 1950s
As a direct consequence of this high birth rate, combined with a falling mortality rate, the population of the archipelago is growing massively. The first official figures for the population of Mayotte date back to 1958, when there were 23,364 inhabitants. At the July 2007 census, Mayotte had a population of 186,452, growing at an annual rate of +3.1%, a record in France. The latest survey dates from 2017 and reveals a figure of 256,518 inhabitants, +3.8% per year since 2012. The 300,000 mark was officially passed on January 1, 2024, but in reality the figures are greatly underestimated due to the presence of a large unofficial population. In 2022, 10,770 children will be born in Mayotte, i.e. 160 more than in 2021 (+ 1.5%). Another direct impact of these births on a territory bounded on all sides by water is the increase in population density. With a record density of 690 inhabitants per km², Mayotte is just behind Île-de-France (1,010.3 inhab/km²). However, it is Petite-Terre, the smaller of the two inhabited islands, that has the highest population density, with around 2,700 inhabitants per km² in Dzaoudzi-Labattoir. This is followed by Mamoudzou, Tsoundzou 2, Cavani and, more generally, the commune of Koungou, all of which have seen very strong growth in recent years.
A population under migratory pressure
Affixed with the promising nickname of the Eldorado of the Comoros, Mayotte is the scene of increasingly frequent dramas linked to the massive immigration weighing down on the island. In 2018, the irregularity rate among the under-25s was estimated at 74%, and the proportion of the population of Comorian origin at 42%. The new status of Mayotte, which became a French department in 2011, its healthcare system and free education for children encourage immigrants to settle there. The vast majority are Comorians from the other three islands of the archipelago, as economic and family ties between the inhabitants of the different islands of the archipelago facilitate closer ties. The SMIC (minimum wage) in Mayotte is ten times higher than in the Comoros. This massive influx is creating local tensions. The border police (PAF), the gendarmerie, customs and the national navy regularly intercept kwassa kwassas (clandestine motor boats) and arrest smugglers (80% of inmates at Majicavo prison are kwassa pilots who have been sentenced to prison terms). These figures are rising steadily; in 2009, over 9,000 people were deported, compared with 12,487 OQTFs (obligation de quitter le territoire français) issued in 2018. In 2018, 215 kwassas were intercepted, with 20% carrying children and 2% pregnant women. Not to mention the hundreds who drown in the Indian Ocean during the chaotic journeys. However, France intends to tighten its policy in the coming years, notably with the arrival of new control vessels, while working to improve living conditions in the Comoros to reduce departures. It should be noted, however, that a new form of immigration has gained momentum since 2018: that of asylum seekers from the Great Lakes region of Africa. Most of these migrants pass through the Comoros to reach Mayotte, using existing networks. However, this type of immigration is unprecedented, opening up new debates and challenges for France.
A population on the move
While the most notorious migration is of course to Mayotte, the fact remains that the Mahoran diaspora is also significant. An estimated 25,000 people left for Metropolitan France or Reunion Island between 2012 and 2017 (INSEE figures), mostly young people under the age of 30 moving for their studies or to find work. Thus, the 15-24 age group is the one with more departures than arrivals, and mainly men.
A multilingual population
The mother tongue of the Mahorais can be either Comorian or Malagasy, with Shibushi. Villages generally have their own language, but language combinations are found in a third of villages and a Bantu or Malagasy dialect elsewhere. Those who speak Malagasy are generally fluent in Comorian or Shimaoré, derived from Swahili (East Africa). With the spread of Islam, Arabic is present not as a language of communication (except for the Syrians present), but for Koranic studies and the reading of sacred texts. French is not the native language of the islanders; it is the language of the "M'zungus" (whites), most of whom speak none of the island's dialects. This linguistic complexity often widens the gap in schools, where French is the only language of instruction - even though it's not the language of many pupils - and in the workplace. In late 2018 and early 2019, round tables were held on Shimaoré and Shibushi (or Kibushi). Discussions focused on the role of the language in the identity of the people of Mayotte, and how to transcribe sounds that do not exist in the French language. Mayotte has set in motion a strong process of transmission and protection of its intangible cultural heritage, which will undoubtedly bring about change.
