Introduction

Background: |  |

`
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 was elected to office. In 2007, Mohamed 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

Location: |  |
`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: |  |
`12 10 S, 44 15 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 2,235 sq km country comparison to the world: 179 land: 2,235 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`340 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
Climate: |  |
`tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)`
Terrain: |  |
`volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Karthala 2,360 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`NEGL`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 35.87% permanent crops: 23.32% other: 40.81% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`1.2 cu km (2003)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%) per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore volcanism: Karthala (elev. 2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`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: |  |
`important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel`

People

Population: |  |
`794,683 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 161`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 41.6% (male 166,141/female 164,788) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 217,046/female 222,093) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 11,053/female 13,562) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 19 years male: 18.7 years female: 19.3 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.696% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 19`
Birth rate: |  |
`34.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33`
Death rate: |  |
`7.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 124`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 81`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 28% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`MORONI (capital) 49,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`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: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 62.63 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 27 male: 70.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 64.2 years country comparison to the world: 172 male: 61.76 years female: 66.72 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`4.72 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 28`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 91% of population rural: 97% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 9% of population rural: 3% of population total: 5% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 50% of population rural: 30% of population total: 36% of population unimproved: urban: 50% of population rural: 70% of population total: 64% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava`
Religions: |  |
`Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%`
Languages: |  |
`Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)`
Literacy: |  |
`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): |  |
`total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 10 years (2005)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`7.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 13`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian); Union des Comores (French); Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic) local short form: Komori (Comorian); Comores (French); Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`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: |  |
`3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*`
Independence: |  |
`6 July 1975 (from France)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 6 July (1975)`
Constitution: |  |
`23 December 2001`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Ikililou DHOININE (since 26 May 2011)
head of government: President Ikililou DHOININE (since 26 May 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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 on 7 November and 26 December 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Ikililou DHOININE elected president; percent of vote - Ikililou DHOININE 61.1%, Mohamed Said FAZUL 32.7%, Abdou DJABIR 6.2%
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
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 on 6 and 20 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - pro-union coalition 19, autonomous coalition 4, independents 1; note - 9 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`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: |  |

`
Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; 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: |  |
`other: environmentalists`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Representative to the UN and Ambassador to the US 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: |  |
`the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros`
Flag description: |  |

`
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, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands) lyrics/music: Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH note: adopted 1978`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
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. Export income is heavily reliant on the three main crops of vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang and Comoros' export earnings are easily disrupted by disasters such as fires. 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 - lacks a comprehensive strategy to attract foreign investment and 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. Political problems have inhibited growth, which has averaged only about 1% in 2006-09. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. In September 2009 the IMF approved Comoros for a three-year $21 million loan. The IMF gave generally positive reports of the country's program performance as of October 2010. The African Development Bank approved a $34.6 million debt-relief package loan for Comoros in September 2010, and Comoros will attempt to qualify for debt relief in 2012 under the IMF and World Bank's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$800 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 $783.4 million (2009 est.) $769.2 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$534 million (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`2.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 1.8% (2009 est.) 1% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$1,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 $1,000 (2009 est.) $1,100 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2001 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`268,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`20% (1996 est.) country comparison to the world: 165`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`60% (2002 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $27.6 million expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`2.21% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 76 5.36% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`10.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 10.5% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$104.7 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 179 $98.36 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$168.6 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 183 $143.7 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$79.75 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 $60.57 million (31 December 2007 est.)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)`
Industries: |  |
`fishing, tourism, perfume distillation`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`22 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`20.46 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 204`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 155`
Oil - imports: |  |
`766.2 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121`
Current account balance: |  |
`$8 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61`
Exports: |  |
`$32 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 203`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Turkey 25.2%, France 20.44%, Singapore 17.44%, Algeria 8.02%, Italy 6.09%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$143 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 206`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment`
Imports - partners: |  |
`France 15.5%, China 14.66%, India 10.55%, UAE 7.88%, Pakistan 5.69%, Kenya 4.51% (2009)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$232 million (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 173`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007) 391.8 (2006) 395.6 (2005) 396.21 (2004) 435.9 (2003)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`25,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 184`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`100,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 185`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations domestic: fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 15 per 100 persons international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion`
Broadcast media: |  |
`national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by Anjouan regional government; national state-owned radio; regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station; a few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.km`
Internet hosts: |  |
`14 (2010) country comparison to the world: 219`
Internet users: |  |
`24,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 186`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`4 (2010) country comparison to the world: 184`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 880 km country comparison to the world: 184 paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (2002)`
Merchant marine: |  |

`
total: 177
country comparison to the world: 37
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 102, carrier 5, chemical tanker 6, container 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 12
foreign-owned: 98 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 8, China 1, Cyprus 2, Greece 3, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 3, Lithuania 3, Monaco 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 2, Pakistan 3, Russia 21, Syria 6, Turkey 16, UAE 11, UK 1, Ukraine 10, US 2) (2010)
`

Ports and terminals: |  |
`Mayotte, Mutsamudu`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Army of National Development (AND): Comoran Security Force, Comoran Coast Guard, Comoran Federal Police (2011)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age for 2-year voluntary military service; no conscription; women first inducted into the Army in 2004 (2011)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 184,236 females age 16-49: 183,363 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 134,562 females age 16-49: 145,797 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 8,831 female: 8,809 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`2.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 50`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`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`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011