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  Comoros  
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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Comoros



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Comoros Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's President Mohamed BACAR has refused to work effectively with the Union presidency. In 2007, BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.
   Geography    Comoros Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
340 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Karthala 2,360 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
NEGL
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
1.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%)
per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
   People    Comoros Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
731,775 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 155,662/female 154,520)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 197,178/female 202,231)
65 years and over: 3% (male 10,203/female 11,981) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 18.7 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.803% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
35.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 68.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 76.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 63.1 years
male: 60.72 years
female: 65.55 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.8% of GDP (2002)
   Government    Comoros Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Union des Comores
local short form: Comores
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore, Anjouan, Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli, Moroni*, Mutsamudu*
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
23 December 2001
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)
head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; election last held 14 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president; note - the post of prime minister has been vacant since May 2002
election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed DJAANFAMI 13.7%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by universal suffrage; to serve for five years);
elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
other: environmentalists
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN Mohamed TOIHIRI
chancery: Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
   Economy    Comoros Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. The political problems caused the economy to contract in 2007. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.262 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$442 million (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20% (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.36% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.5% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$76.68 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$23.39 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$45.09 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.6 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
712.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
755.4 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$32 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Turkey 38%, France 27.5%, Singapore 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$143 million f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 18.2%, UAE 10.8%, South Africa 8.5%, Pakistan 7.2%, Kenya 5.7%, China 5.4%, India 5% (2007)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$232 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Comoran franc (KMF)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007), 391.8 (2006), 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003)
note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro
   Communications    Comoros Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19,100 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
40,000 (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations; fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 5 per 100 persons
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.km
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21,000 (2006)
   Transportation    Comoros Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 136
by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 87, carrier 2, chemical tanker 5, container 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 68 (Bangladesh 2, Bulgaria 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 6, India 2, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 4, Norway 1, Pakistan 4, Philippines 1, Russia 12, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 1, Syria 4, Turkey 8, Ukraine 8, UAE 7, US 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Mayotte, Mutsamudu
   Military    Comoros Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
National Development Army (AND): Comoran Security Force; Comoran Federal Police (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 167,850
females age 16-49: 167,362 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 121,550
females age 16-49: 131,015 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 7,901
female: 7,894 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.8% of GDP (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Comoros Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces are called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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