Country Information
| Sovereign State | No (Overseas Department of France) |
| Country Codes | YT, MYT, 175 |
| Official Name | Department of Mayotte |
| Continent | Africa |
| Capital | Mamoudzou |
| Government Type | Overseas Department and Region of France |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Calling Code | +262 |
| Member Of | Not a member of the United Nations, as it is an overseas department of France |
| Population | Approximately 273,000 |
| Total Area | 374 km² |
| Highest Point | Benara (Mount Benara) (660 meters, 2,165 feet) |
| Lowest Point | Indian Ocean (0 meters, 0 feet) |
| GDP Per Capita | EUR 17,500 (approximate) |
| Life Expectancy | 77 years |
| Internet TLD | .yt |
Mayotte National Anthem
La Marseillaise (The Song of Marseille)
(Note: Mayotte uses the national anthem of France, La Marseillaise.)
Arise, children of the Fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us, tyranny’s
Bloody banner is raised, (repeat)
Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They’re coming right into your arms
To cut the throats of your sons, your women!
To arms, citizens,
Form your battalions,
Let’s march, let’s march!
Let an impure blood
Water our furrows! (repeat)
Flags of Neighboring Countries
History of the Mayotte Flag
Mayotte, as an overseas department of France, officially uses the French national flag, known as the Tricolore, which features three vertical bands of blue, white, and red. However, Mayotte also has a local flag that is used unofficially, particularly in cultural and regional contexts.
The local flag of Mayotte is composed of a white field with the island’s coat of arms in the center. The coat of arms depicts a crescent moon and two seahorses, along with the motto “RA HACHIRI” – We are vigilant in Shimaore, a local language. This emblem represents Mayotte’s maritime culture and its historical ties to the Comoros archipelago and the wider Indian Ocean region.
The flag’s history is intertwined with Mayotte’s complex colonial and post-colonial experience. Mayotte chose to remain a part of France when the other islands of the Comoros archipelago voted for independence in the 1970s. The local flag emerged as a symbol of this unique political and cultural identity, differentiating Mayotte from its neighbors.
The use of the local flag is a point of pride for many in Mayotte, representing the island’s distinct identity within the French Republic. While the Tricolore symbolizes the island’s official status as a French department, the local flag signifies its unique regional heritage. The flags of Mayotte thus reflect the diverse cultural and political landscape of this Indian Ocean island.